Whakamanu Exchange Residency 2026

05 May to 17 May. Free entry.

Ōtautahi Residency Info:
A practitioner based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, will visit Ōtautahi Christchurch from 18-23 July. They will be invited back down from 29 October-1 November, to participate in a Māori Camera Club wānanga organised by The Physics Room, and deliver an event which could be a talk, workshop, etc. during this return visit.

For practitioners based in Ōtautahi, please see Puku and Samoa House Library's pages for details on the exchange to Tāmaki Makaurau.

They will receive:

• Central Christchurch accommodation (with The Art Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora)
• Flights from Auckland to Christchurch
• $1500 stipend
• Research support and space at The Physics Room
• Hosting and support from residency facilitators James Tapsell-Kururangi, Jane Wallace and Geo Thompson-Skipworth.

Who should apply:

• Early career artists or curators, who have begun their visual arts practice publicly and are working toward establishing it into new directions
• Based primarily in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
• Somebody who will benefit from expanding their inter-island relationships
• Someone who works collaboratively and facilitates connections within artistic communities in their practice
• Someone who can independently develop a residency schedule and manage their time with the support of the facilitators
• Someone available to participate in the specified dates
• Someone interested in contributing to a three-day collaborative photography wānanga grounded in the kaupapa of the Māori Camera Club, led by artists Conor Clarke and Bridget Reweti and held at Te Whatu Manawa Māoritanga o Rehua Marae. Applicants from all cultural backgrounds are welcome.

How to apply:

• A bio or introduction (max 200 words): who are you and what are your current artistic interests?
• A statement of intent (max 200 words) including specific reasons to visit the place of exchange. How would your research be expanded into this new place? Are there any specific people, organisations, places or artworks you’d like to connect with?
• The reference details of someone you’ve worked collaboratively with
• We accept applications as one page pdf, or under 3 minute video or audio format. Label your email as: Ōtautahi Whakamanu Exchange Residency Application and send your response: whakamanuresidency@gmail.com. Applications are due by the end of Sunday 17 May.

Partners:
The Physics Room is a contemporary art space dedicated to developing and promoting contemporary art and critical discourse in Aotearoa, based in central Ōtautahi Christchurch.

The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora is run by an independent charitable trust and comprises the largest collection of heritage buildings in the country. Located in Ōtautahi Christchurch, it is home to over 70 entities including galleries, museums, cinemas, boutique retailers, artisan eateries and bars, accommodation, engaging events, stunning venues and much more.

Puku is a gallery and project space at the Parnell Train Station in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, curated by Liam Jacobson for the Te Tuhi Curatorial Internship.

Samoa House Library is an independent art library and alternative education platform, located in the Samoa House building at 283 Karangahape Road, Tāmaki Makarau Auckland. It is an artist-run and community-grown space that first emerged in response to the closures of specialist art libraries at The University of Auckland.

Felixe Laing is a curator and arts worker who is interested in the role of hosting within the arts and expanding the format of art residencies. She is based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.