Call for Proposals for Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens 2027 Exhibition

Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens invites artists to submit proposals for their 2027 exhibition, running December 2026 through November 2027. Set in a stunning rural garden just 45 minutes from Auckland on the Kaipara Coast Highway (SH 16), this is a rare chance to show your work in a richly varied outdoor landscape featuring grassy slopes, ponds, wetland areas, formal gardens, native bush, an orchard, an amphitheatre, and sweeping views of the Kaipara Harbour.

The exhibition's theme this year centres on ecology — artists are invited to consider the garden as a living system of soil, water, light, plants, insects, fungi, animals, and people, and to think about how an artwork placed within that system becomes part of it.

Proposals are welcomed across all art forms with a focus on sculpture. You can submit new concepts, works in development, or existing pieces. The gardens are 4-star accredited by New Zealand's Gardens Trust, attract a broad public audience, and offer excellent visibility for artists looking to connect with potential collectors and clients.

Importantly, Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens does not take a commission on any sales made during the exhibition.

To apply, submit your proposal online via the Kaipara Coast Plant Centre & Sculpture Gardens website, or email your proposal directly to curator Shea O'Neill at shea@sheaoneill.com. For more information, visit www.sculpturegardens.co.nz.

Deadline for submissions: Friday, 24 July 2026.