McCahon House Parehuia Artist Residency – Offshore Pathways 2027

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

The residency runs for six consecutive weeks from approximately 13 September to 24 October 2027, based at Parehuia — an award-winning architecturally designed house at French Bay in the foothills of the Waitakere Ranges, about 30 minutes from central Auckland.

What's included:

• Six weeks of fully furnished two-bedroom accommodation (queen and twin bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, laundry) with electricity, phone and fibre included
• Exclusive use of an adjoining studio (approximately 7.5 x 5m, with sink, bench, dehumidifier and fibre internet)
• A total stipend of $7,500 NZD (including a $750 bond returned on completion of residency obligations)
• Unlimited access to the restored Colin McCahon House Museum on the adjacent property
• A bespoke programme of international connections and exchange, tailored to the artist's goals — including introductions to relevant artists, curators and arts professionals
• Mentoring and advice from arts colleagues with international expertise, which may include commissioning a writer
• A bespoke engagement event (such as an open studio, artist talk or workshop) held at Parehuia
• Ongoing support from the McCahon House team and Trust

Who can apply:

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents (based in Aotearoa or offshore), working across the visual arts. You should be a mid-career artist — someone with clarity and confidence in your practice — who has an established body of work, a sustained exhibition history, and has already begun building international connections, experience or opportunities. You should have a clear sense of your international goals and how a residency at this moment would be genuinely transformational.

Conditions:

Selected artists are expected to participate in an audience engagement event during their residency, write a post-residency report, donate one artwork to the Parehuia Collection archive, and donate one original or limited-edition artwork for Trust fundraising purposes (production costs up to $500 covered by the Trust). Artists based outside Auckland or New Zealand are responsible for their own travel costs.

Note: Due to the steep hillside setting, the property has stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.

Applications are assessed by an independent panel of visual arts professionals including gallery directors, curators, critics, writers and academics. The panel meets in November 2026, with successful applicants notified by early December 2026.

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.