The Changing Room — Call for Proposals 2027

Gus Fisher Gallery, in partnership with The Chartwell Trust, is calling for proposals for The Changing Room 2027 — a programme offering three exhibition opportunities per year for Aotearoa-based artists.

The Changing Room is designed to support emerging to mid-career artists in realising ambitious, newly commissioned work. Housed in a genuinely distinctive heritage space — once used as a dressing room during the building's broadcasting days — the gallery features four heritage windows, terrazzo flooring, and an antechamber on entry. It's a space that rewards artists who think creatively about site, atmosphere, and materiality.

Three artists will be selected for exhibition periods running across:

• February – May 2027
• June – August 2027
• September – December 2027

What you'll receive:

• A combined display and materials fee of $6,000 NZD
• Technical assistance
• Curatorial dialogue throughout the process
• The opportunity to programme a public event as part of the gallery's wider programme
• Promotion via the Gus Fisher Gallery website and social media
• Professional photographic documentation
• A commissioned critical essay by an independent writer

Who selects? Proposals are assessed by two esteemed alumni of Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland, in consultation with gallery staff. Selection is based on the strength and originality of the idea and its planned realisation. Ambitious proposals that push your practice forward are strongly encouraged.

Practical considerations for the space:

• The floor cannot be drilled into — large sculptural elements must be freestanding or wall-fixed
• The ceiling is not weight-bearing; only very light items can be suspended
• Walls are plasterboard with wooden skirting; floors are heritage terrazzo
• Artists can extend into the antechamber (partially terrazzo walls)
• Windows may be temporarily covered to block ambient light
• Three evenly spaced power points are available
• All modifications must be fully reversible after the exhibition

Space dimensions: gallery ceiling height 4,150mm; antechamber ceiling height 3,660mm. A floorplan and 3D views are available on request.

To apply: Submit a single PDF to gusfishergallery@auckland.ac.nz by 11:59pm on Thursday 1 October 2026. Your written proposal should be no more than 2 pages and cover: your idea, how you intend to use the space, and how this opportunity supports your practice at this point in your career. You may also include optional supporting materials (working drawings, up to 10 images or video links, a short bio or CV, and a preferred timeline).

Applicants will be notified of outcomes by November 2026. One-off feedback on proposals may be available on request at staff discretion.

Credit: Lucy Meyle, Phone Tree, 2026. Installation view. Photography by Sam Hartnett.