Mitch Cairns Named Inaugural Neil Balnaves Fellow

Mosman Art Gallery, in partnership with The Balnaves Foundation, has awarded the inaugural Neil Balnaves Fellowship to acclaimed Australian artist Mitch Cairns. Established in honour of the late Neil Balnaves AO, the Fellowship recognises Balnaves’ long-standing commitment to Mosman’s cultural life and his contribution to Australian art and philanthropy.

The two-year Fellowship will support Cairns in developing a major new exhibition connecting three sites of artistic and poetic resonance: Ian Hamilton Finlay’s celebrated garden Little Sparta in Scotland; Mosman Art Gallery’s Grand Hall; and the Mosman Art Trail, which features The Balnaves Gift—one of Australia’s most significant collections of Impressionist and early twentieth-century art. The project will culminate in a presentation at Mosman Art Gallery and the publication of new research.

Cairns said the Fellowship arrives at a pivotal moment in his practice. “As an artist whose work is underpinned by a love of the poetic and the interplay between language and image, this opportunity is both refreshing and inspiring. As I mark twenty years of practice, the Fellowship allows me to meaningfully consolidate these ideas through an ambitious new exhibition in the Grand Hall, alongside a new publication.”

The Fellowship extends the long-term collaboration between Mosman Art Gallery, the Balnaves family and The Balnaves Foundation, whose partnership has supported acquisitions, commissions, education programs and public engagement initiatives. It also deepens the legacy of Neil Balnaves, a dedicated Mosman resident whose personal art collection—now part of the Gallery’s holdings—celebrates the history and natural beauty of the area.

Hamish Balnaves, CEO of The Balnaves Foundation, said the Fellowship continues his father’s vision for accessible and community-focused arts engagement. “Neil greatly admired Mosman, and his collection was gifted to the Gallery for the public to enjoy. This Fellowship builds on that gift by connecting it to Mosman’s heritage. It’s a tribute to my father’s passion for the arts and his lifelong commitment to making art accessible to all. We are excited to see Mitch’s exhibition come to life.”

The Neil Balnaves Fellowship will be awarded twice, with applications for the second Fellowship opening in mid-2027.