TheySwarm, hosted by TextaQueen, is a peer-mentoring artist residency and covid-realist studio for queer & trans disabled artists of the global majority in a shopfront on Johnston Street, Collingwood, Narrm – unceded Wurundjeri Country. 

The inaugural residency in 2024 hosted Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha (read about their time here). 2026 welcomes Raju Rage for a residency and collaborative project with TextaQueen funded by Creative Australia and British Council, with a Makeshift Workshop: From the Margins at Arts House on 13 & 20 August 2026, and a TheySwarm Salon on Sat 22 August – BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU!

Free. Bookings essential. BOOK HERE.

Please read our  Best Practices Agreement here  before booking for and/or visiting TheySwarm. 

TheySwarm hosts Riff Raff Reading Room, open-by-appointment first full weekends of the month starting 7 & 8 March 2026.

 

TheySwarm peer-mentoring residencies have happened via project grants from funding bodies, applied for by both the interested artist and host – after getting to know each other’s practices and values over an extended time – there currently isn’t a formal application process.

 If you’re a disabled/neurodiverse QTBIPOC artist, writer, or other creative – in Narrm or able to visit Narrm (or virtually collaborate) – interested in plotting a collaborative collective-liberation-dreaming creative project with Texta, get in touch. Responses on crip time – outside of grants for collaborative projects, Texta organises TheySwarm via their voluntary labour with the help of paid support workers –  on unpredictable spoons with chronic conditions, while trying to maintain a creative practice. TheySwarm is not a business or organisation, it’s an evolving project run by one punk goth crip (Texta) and a few helpful hands. 

There are also two long-term, private studios upstairs. An upstairs studio is available from September 1st 2026. 

TheySwarm Access Information

The downstairs studio space and bathroom is step free with permanent ramps (no hand rails) at a safe incline.

The entry is accessible for wheelchairs but the bathroom is not *yet* accessible for wheelchairs. Please contact for plans, photos & more access info.

Thanks to City of Yarra, MatchLab and everyone who donated to the Australian Cultural Fund campaign towards the access renovations we have been able to do – now step free with gallery lighting. Thanks to Lauren for UV & Plus-Life machine. We are working towards an accessible bathroom as soon as we can. 

TheySwarm is a COVID-safer / COVID-realist space.

Masks are required – bring your own or N95s and fragrance free hand sanitiser provided. Two-three air purifiers operate in the main space, one in bathroom + UV. Please do not attend in-person if unwell.

Low scent, low stimulation environment. Please be as fragrance-free as possible. Lounge chairs, sofa, ergonomic chairs with no hand rests and other seating. One cat and a chihuahua live here but usually not in public areas. 

How to get here

152 Johnston Street Collingwood VIC 3066 – put ‘Collingwood’ in your Maps app else you may be directed to 152 in Fitzroy.

Ring buzzer on panel for entry.

Public transport: Buses 200 and 207, alight at Palmer St/Johnston St, Stop ID 852.

For additional buses along Hoddle St, alight at Johnston St/Hoddle St, Stop ID 934.

Tram no. 86, alight at Johnston St/Smith St #19, Stop ID 6052.

Train Mernda or Hurstbridge, alight Victoria Park Station (wheelchair accessible), Stop ID 14332.

Parking: 2 hour free parking is available along Johnston St. All-day paid parking is available on Wellington St