Organizer Information
The opportunity is hosted by Te Tuhi, a contemporary art space and gallery based in East Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Tuhi operates as both an exhibition venue and an active commissioning platform, with a strong focus on supporting experimental contemporary practice, critical discourse, and emerging artist development.
The residency is supported by the Lou and Iris Fisher Charitable Trust, which has a long-standing history of investing in early-career artists through awards, scholarships, and now studio-based residencies. Since 1981, the Iris Fisher initiative has evolved through several formats—including the Iris Fisher Art Awards, the Iris Fisher Art Award (1984–2005), and the Iris Fisher Scholarship (2007–2024)—demonstrating sustained institutional commitment to nurturing emerging artistic voices in Aotearoa.
Te Tuhi’s broader institutional mission includes fostering artistic research, enabling production contexts for contemporary artists, and providing curatorial and critical support structures that help artists develop long-term practices rather than short-term outputs.
Title & Description
Iris Fisher Artist Studio Residency
The Iris Fisher Artist Studio Residency is a three-month studio-based residency designed for an emerging visual artist or collective. The residency provides dedicated time, space, financial support, and institutional mentorship to support the development of new work and the evolution of artistic practice.
The program is explicitly research- and process-oriented rather than outcome-driven. Artists are not required to produce a final exhibition or finished work. Instead, the emphasis is on experimentation, material exploration, and conceptual development within a professional studio environment.
Hosted at Te Tuhi’s Papatūnga Artist Studio, the residency situates artists within a shared working context where dialogue, peer interaction, and institutional support form part of the creative environment. The residency reflects a broader commitment to supporting artists at pivotal early-career stages, particularly those who demonstrate potential to contribute meaningfully to contemporary art practice both in Aotearoa and internationally.
Categories
- Visual Art (primary focus)
- Contemporary Art Practice
- Painting, Sculpture, Installation
- Mixed Media / Interdisciplinary Practice
- Collective / Collaborative Art Practice
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident
- Be emerging artists or collectives
- Has not had a significant solo exhibition to date
- Be able to commit at least 25 hours per week in the studio
- Be able to engage in a practice-focused residency period of 12 weeks
Additional considerations:
- Out-of-town applicants are eligible but must arrange their own accommodation in Auckland
- Applicants must be willing to use the residency to meaningfully advance their artistic practice
- A final report and feedback submission is required at the end of the residency
The program is specifically aimed at early-career artists with demonstrable potential but without extensive institutional exposure through major solo exhibitions.
Program Benefits & Awards
- A 3-month studio residency at Papatūnga Artist Studio within Te Tuhi
- Shared studio access (7 days per week, 9am–5pm, with possible extended access)
- A total stipend of NZD $15,000 (paid as $5,000 per month)
- Mentorship and curatorial guidance from Te Tuhi’s exhibitions team
- Access to workshop facilities and institutional resources (by arrangement)
- Inclusion in a professional artistic environment focused on research and development
The residency prioritizes artistic growth, experimentation, and professional mentorship rather than production obligations or exhibition deliverables.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Full name, contact details, and short biography
- A project proposal including:
- Intended activities during the residency
- Methods and working approach (including collaborators, if any)
- Proposed timeline
- Desired institutional support from Te Tuhi
- Definition of a successful residency outcome
- 2–3 samples of relevant past work (or work demonstrating practice direction)
- A visual arts CV
- Contact details for two referees
Optional:
- Applications may also be submitted in audio or video format
- Applicants may contact Te Tuhi for clarification or discussion prior to submission
How to Apply?
Applications must be emailed as a single PDF (or approved alternative format) to: exhibitions@tetuhi.art
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 6 July 2026
- Residency Duration: 3 months
Location
Pakuranga, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
Additional Details
The Papatūnga Artist Studio is a shared, 80m² professional workspace designed for production, research, and artistic development. It includes kitchen access and workshop facilities (available by arrangement). The space supports multiple artists and encourages collaborative or parallel practices.
There are material and process restrictions in place to ensure safe and compatible shared use. Prohibited or restricted practices include:
- Open flames
- Toxic or chemical processes
- Spray painting
- Dust-generating processes
Selection criteria include:
- Artistic ambition (clarity and strength of proposal and practice samples)
- Artistic impact (urgency and relevance of the residency at this career stage)
- Feasibility (practical viability of proposed approach within residency constraints)
The residency is particularly oriented toward artists at a transitional career stage who would benefit from concentrated time, institutional mentorship, and structured studio access.