Applications close 4pm Wednesday 28 October 2026

Successful applicants will be notified by early December 2026

The McCahon House Parehuia Artist Residency – Offshore Pathways is awarded to one outstanding mid-career visual artist who is actively developing international pathways for their practice. 

Alongside a six-week residency at Parehuia to focus on their artistic practice, the successful artist will participate in a tailored programme of international connections and exchange. This will build on the artist’s existing international interests, with introductions to artists, curators and arts professionals identified as relevant to their practice and areas of international development.

The opportunity is open to artists from Aotearoa (based here or offshore) working across the visual arts who have demonstrated significant artistic talent and excellence through an established body of work. Applicants should be at a point in their career where they are actively developing their international practice and have already begun to establish connections, experience or opportunities beyond Aotearoa, and who have a sense of how they would like to advance their international goals.

The residency is supported by Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa through the Arts Organisations and Groups Fund, and by McCahon House’s Tomorrow Group patrons.

The residency is offered for 6 consecutive weeks, 13 September - 24 October 2027 (note: dates are approximate and will be confirmed on selection).

Application Criteria 
 
Applicants must be a mid-career visual artist who can show an interest in or provide international potential in their work. 

How do we define mid-career? 

An artist who has confidence and a sense of clarity of their arts practice, as well as how to utilise the residency and ensure that it is transformational and advances their career.    

• Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand at the time of entry. 
• Applicants must be able to reside and work full-time at Parehuia during the term of the residency. 
• The McCahon House Trust strategic priorities for the Parehuia Artist Residency – Offshore Pathways residency in 2027 are: 
  
  - The timing of the residency is a 'game changer' for a mid-career artist - extending their creative and professional capacity to reach their international goals, and
  - The Parehuia location and environment enable a sense of focus and intention.
• The artist must show a practice that has been sustained and have received community acknowledgement – this can be shown through their CV, in particular their exhibition history, published texts, critical reviews and/or awards. The artist must have a sufficient body of work which clearly demonstrates current practice and development. 

The Residency 

The residency includes: 

• 6 weeks accommodation in a fully furnished architecturally designed two-bedroom house and studio along with a monthly stipend.
• Support from the McCahon House team and Trust for the duration of your residency.
• Bespoke mentoring and advice from accomplished arts colleagues with experience and knowledge of international engagement and markets and may include commissioning a writer. The bespoke programme will be determined in consultation with the selected artist.
• A bespoke engagement event such as an open studio, artist talk, conversation, workshop etc. held at Parehuia. The format, focus and timing will be decided in consultation with the McCahon House team.

Please see the Application Form for further information and a full list of benefits and conditions. 

Selection Panel

Applications are considered by our independent selection panel.

The panel membership includes a spread of cultural and artistic knowledge, as well as gender and geographical networks across Aotearoa. It comprises three colleagues from the visual arts community – gallery directors, curators, critics, writers, academics, senior practitioners, and will have one representative from our Parehuia alumni. The Panel will meet in November. 

The Panel membership will be made public after the artists have been selected and announced.