The Hansen Little Foundation, represented by Jane Hansen, has a long and generous history of supporting the VAS with this program being the most valuable and exciting to date.

Commencing in 2024, the Foundation has funded, to the value of $10,000, a year long program for early-mid career artists to actively participate in a variety of VAS programs and cultivate their own artistic journey and place at VAS. The program continues in 2026 with a new cohort of five artists. In order to be eligible for this program, the chosen artists undertook a rigorous selection process which evaluated technical proficiency in their chosen media as well as creative expression.

The 2026 VAS Hansen Little Coterie residents are: Scott Bamford, Annie Forbes, Ramanpreet Kaur, Lachlan McKenzie and Marlon McKinnon. Throughout the year, these artists have distinguished themselves with outstanding works and awards in major VAS exhibitions including the 9 x 5 Exhibition Cigar Box Prize (Scott Bamford). The five artists have each undertaken studio training with VAS mentors, participated in Portrait Painters in Action, and qualified for all three of the VAS seasonal select exhibitions.

Their final exhibition together as the Coterie showcases their work over the past year of residency, with one artist to be selected as the VAS Hansen Little Featured Artist and receive a solo show opportunity in the VAS Cato Gallery.

The VAS, in partnership with the Hansen Little Foundation, is proud to present the 2026 VAS Hansen Little Coterie Exhibition.

To read more about the Hansen Little Coterie program, including applications for 2027, please click here.