Call for Exhibition & Creative Project Proposals 2027

Northart is calling for exhibition and creative project proposals for its 2027 programme. Artists, curators, collectives, and community groups working across all contemporary visual arts disciplines are warmly invited to apply.

As Kaipātiki's community art gallery, Northart has been championing contemporary art and creative participation for over 25 years. While the Northcote Town Centre redevelopment is underway, the gallery is operating from its 26 m² Satellite Gallery at 1 Ernie Mays Street. Rather than treating this as a limitation, Northart is actively extending its reach outward — through pop-up, offsite, and public-space programming across the Kaipātiki community.

What they're looking for

Alongside gallery-based exhibitions, Northart is especially keen on proposals that go beyond the gallery walls — activating public spaces, building partnerships with local organisations, and creating meaningful opportunities for people to engage with contemporary art throughout Kaipātiki.

Strong proposals will contribute to one or more of Northart's four goals:

1. Improving economic outcomes for artists and arts educators

2. Connecting and amplifying creativity across Kaipātiki through collaboration

3. Making art and artistic expression part of everyday life

4. Developing community connections through participation

Programme priorities for 2027

Northart particularly encourages proposals that

• Engage with the Kaipātiki community in public, outdoor, or unexpected spaces
• Are Māori-led or deliver Māori outcomes — there is a dedicated annual Māori-led exhibition slot, and projects developed with mana whenua, marae, and kōhanga reo networks are warmly welcomed
• Reflect and involve Kaipātiki's Chinese and migrant communities, including bilingual approaches and work by migrant-background artists
• Are inclusive by design — child-friendly, accessible to all abilities, and open to people who face cost or caregiving barriers
• Build partnerships across communities, organisations, and creative disciplines
• Align with Auckland and national festivals and events
• Create opportunities for participation, learning, and dialogue for all ages

Exhibitions are normally supported by two to three workshops or participation activities, and Northart will work with you to develop and deliver these.

Venue

Proposals may be for the Satellite Gallery, offsite or public-space projects, or a combination of both. The Satellite Gallery is an intimate 26 m² space, so proposals should be scaled accordingly or make the case for an offsite format.

Submissions are open now until 13 September. A downloadable copy of the full call for proposals is available on the Northart website.