City Champions Local Creativity with Inaugural Artists in Residence
The City of Kalamunda is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever Artist in Residence Program, an initiative designed to support local artists and strengthen community connections through creativity.
Delivered as part of the City’s Arts and Culture Strategy 2023–2028, the program provides selected artists with funding, resources, and dedicated space to develop their work while engaging the community through events such as workshops, talks, exhibitions, or open studios.
Following a strong response to the open call, with 11 diverse applications received, two local artists have been selected for the pilot round of the program: Muriel Hillion, a dynamic performing artist, and Jae Criddle, a sculptor and ceramicist with a growing national profile.
Mayor Margaret Thomas said the residency reflects the City’s firm commitment to growing a vibrant creative sector in the Perth Hills.
“This program sends a clear message: the City of Kalamunda values and invests in its artists. Creative work has the power to connect, heal, and inspire—and we want our community to experience that first-hand,” she said. “By opening our spaces to artists and giving them the tools to thrive, we’re not only supporting cultural expression, we’re building pride of place and enriching everyday life.”
The City of Kalamunda provides each artist with a studio space at the Historic Lesser Hall or Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, a $3,000 grant, and paid opportunities to run public workshops, talks, or exhibitions. The program is designed to foster both professional development and meaningful community participation.
“This is just the beginning,” Mayor Thomas said. “Our vision is to grow the residency program into a signature initiative that nurtures local talent, attracts new creative voices, and reinforces Kalamunda’s reputation as a thriving cultural destination in WA.”
More information will be released in the lead up to the residency launch.
To stay up to date on events and opportunities to participate, visit: www.kalamunda.wa.gov.au
ARTIST INFORMATION:
Residency 1: Muriel Hillion (May 12–29, 2025)
Muriel Hillion is a performer and cultural leader who specialises in Maloya, the traditional music and dance of Réunion Island. A resident of Darlington for the past eight years, Muriel is bringing this joyful, communal art form to the hills for the very first time.
Known for her inclusive, participatory approach to performance, Muriel will collaborate with locals to co-create a community sharing that blends movement, rhythm, and storytelling. Her residency also forms part of the development of Sanctuary Within, a major new work that will premiere at the Fremantle Biennale 2025.
“Maloya was born as a tool of resilience and unity. I’m excited to introduce it to Kalamunda—to invite people in, no matter their background, to connect through shared movement and voice,” Muriel said.
Residency 2: Jae Criddle (June 15 – July 5, 2025)
Jae Criddle, a sculptor and printmaker based in Kalamunda, will use her residency to push the boundaries of her ceramic practice. Her project, titled ‘Follies’, draws on architectural oddities, geological textures, and a playful exploration of function and form.
Through experimentation with slip-cast fabric, local rock textures, and scale, Jae is developing a new body of work that will culminate in an exhibition and possible inclusion in The Wedge: Australian Ceramics Triennale later this year.
“This residency gives me the rare luxury of time, focus, and space—things that are hard to come by when juggling creative work with everyday life,” Jae said. “It’s also a way for me to connect more deeply with the Kalamunda arts community and landscape, which has already been such a source of inspiration.”