d/Deaf and/or Disabled Artist Development Residency Program in New Zealand

Deadline: 15-Sep-2026

The d/Deaf and/or Disabled Artist Development Residency by Toi Aro supports one d/Deaf and/or disabled artist based in the Wellington Region, New Zealand, to develop new creative work. The selected artist receives a NZ$3,750 artist fee before tax, an eight-week part-time studio residency, and funding for an interpreter, mentor, companion, or other access support person.

About the d/Deaf and/or Disabled Artist Development Residency

The residency is designed to provide dedicated time, space, financial support, and access assistance for an artist to explore and develop their creative practice. Build momentum toward future exhibitions or opportunities. Share work-in-progress with a small invited audience. The residency is particularly intended for artists who would benefit from additional development time, studio access, and tailored accessibility support. Residency Benefits and Funding The selected artist receives several forms of support during the residency.

Key benefits include:

Artist fee: NZ$3,750 before tax.

Residency duration: Eight weeks.

Format: Part-time studio residency.

Studio access: Dedicated space for artistic development and experimentation.

Access support: Funding for a paid interpreter, mentor, companion, or another support person selected by the artist.

Work-in-progress showing: An opportunity to share developing work with invited guests.

Professional development: Advice on pitching future exhibition proposals to Toi Aro.

The access support is designed to be flexible and can be arranged according to the individual artist’s needs. What Can Artists Develop During the Residency? Artists can propose projects that require dedicated time and space to develop.

A proposal may involve:

Creating a new artwork. Developing a performance. Exploring a new artistic medium. Expanding an existing artistic practice. Testing an experimental concept. Researching and developing ideas for a future exhibition. Creating work that benefits from community engagement or feedback. Applicants do not necessarily need to present a completely new idea. Existing artistic practices can also be expanded if the residency provides meaningful opportunities for development. Who Is Eligible? The residency is specifically intended for d/Deaf and/or disabled artists who meet the geographic and residency requirements.

Applicants must:

Identify as d/Deaf and/or disabled. Be an artist currently living in the Wellington Region. Intend to remain in New Zealand for at least one year after the residency. Be able to verify their Wellington address if shortlisted. Be able to verify their New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency status if shortlisted. The residency is intended for individual artists rather than organizations or groups. Who Is the Residency For? The opportunity is particularly relevant to artists who need dedicated time and resources to develop their creative practice. It may be suitable for artists who: Have a new artistic idea they want to explore. Need studio space to experiment with new work. Want to develop an existing project further. Would benefit from an interpreter or other access support. Want to receive professional feedback on their developing work. Are preparing for future exhibitions or artistic opportunities. Why This Residency Matters Accessibility can be an important factor in an artist’s ability to develop and present creative work. This residency combines artist development funding with tailored access support, allowing the selected artist to determine what assistance is most useful for their practice. The program also goes beyond providing studio space. The work-in-progress showing creates an opportunity to receive feedback, while pitching advice can help the artist prepare for future exhibition opportunities. As a result, the residency can support both creative development and longer-term professional growth. How the Residency Works The residency follows an artist-development model rather than requiring the selected artist to produce a fully completed work immediately.

The process generally involves:

Selection of one artist One eligible artist is selected for the residency. Eight-week development period The artist works part-time in the provided studio space. Creative exploration The artist develops new work, tests ideas, or expands an existing practice. Access support The artist receives support from an interpreter, mentor, companion, or another chosen support person according to their needs. Work-in-progress showing Developing work is shared with invited guests. Future opportunity development The artist receives advice about pitching future exhibition proposals to Toi Aro. What Should an Application Demonstrate? A strong application should clearly explain what the artist wants to develop and why this residency is useful for that development.

Applicants should consider explaining:

What artistic idea or project they want to explore. Whether the proposal is new work or an extension of existing practice. Why an eight-week development period would be valuable. How access to studio space will contribute to the work. What stage the project is currently at. What they hope to achieve by the end of the residency. What access support they may require. How the opportunity could contribute to their longer-term artistic practice. The proposal should focus on the development process and potential of the work, rather than simply describing a finished artwork. Access Support One of the important features of the residency is its provision for individualized access assistance. The selected artist can receive support from a person such as: An interpreter. A mentor. A companion. Another support person selected by the artist. The type of support can be tailored to the artist’s individual requirements. Applicants should therefore communicate their access needs clearly so that appropriate arrangements can be considered. Common Mistakes to Avoid Applicants should carefully check th