Short Description
Whanganui X Dundee: Textile Legacies is a residency programme that connects indigenous and ancestral textile practices between Whanganui, New Zealand and Dundee, Scotland to foster meaningful cultural and creative exchange. The project initiates a new connection between two UNESCO Cities of Design, supporting the development of contemporary textile design specialists through a reciprocal international residency.
The long-standing textile traditions of Whanganui and Dundee are powerful expressions of place-based cultural identity. At the same time, these histories also carry complex legacies — including the impacts of colonisation, war, and cultural suppression — which have shaped and, at times, disrupted cultural development. In the resurgence of traditional textile techniques in both cities, we see not only a reconnection to ancestral knowledge but also a recognition of how design heritage continues to shape contemporary identities and creative practices.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to practicing designers and design specialists working within textiles and/or connected fields. Applicants must live, work or have a studio located within a DD postcode (for example, DD1 1DB).
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
- The residency will last 1 month (4 weeks) in March 2026. Within 1 month of returning to Dundee, the resident will be expected to complete an evaluation form and meet with the UNESCO City of Design Dundee team to discuss their trip.
- The resident will be provided with a stipend of £560.00 per week, totalling £2,240.00 for the residency’s duration. This will be paid in full, in advance of the resident travelling to New Zealand, by UNESCO City of Design Dundee.
- All international travel will be paid for directly by UNESCO City of Design Dundee and UNESCO City of Design Whanganui. Local travel is expected to be covered by the resident’s weekly stipend.
- The selected resident will stay in Tylee Cottage, a dedicated residency accommodation building managed by Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery. A renovated historic building from 1853, Tylee Cottage has hosted more than 50 residents from across New Zealand and further afield.
Entry Fee
None
Location
Dundee, Scotland
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 19 November 2025
Website Link: https://cityofdesigndundee.com/open-call-textile-legacies/
