Discover opportunities to create and thrive.
From residencies and workshops to funding pathways and artist development, this is where you can find opportunities to support your practice.
Home / Whai Wāhi
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Creative Pathways
Develop your creative practice through structured opportunities at Toi Aro. This includes residencies, programmes, and collaborative initiatives designed to support you at different stages.
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Workshops & Classes
Learn, experiment, and build your skills through workshops, masterclasses, and artist-led sessions across a range of disciplines.
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Residencies
Access time and space to focus on your work. Our residencies support artists to develop ideas, test new work, and share it within a creative environment.
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Funding & Support
Toi Aro connects artists with funding opportunities, creative support, and resources across Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Aotearoa.
Not sure where to start? Contact our team today.
Mō ngā ringa toi
Creative Pathways
This is your space. Your platform. Your next step.
How We Support Artists
Toi Aro supports artists at different stages of their practice — from exploring ideas to producing and sharing work.
Grounded in a tuakana–teina approach, artists grow through shared learning, guidance, and collaboration.
Explore the steps below to see how artists develop, create, and sustain their practice at Toi Aro.
1.
Develop Your Practice
Turn ideas into action. Find opportunities, support, and pathways to grow your creative practice.
2.
Create New Work
Access time, space, and support to develop ideas, experiment, and bring new work to life.
3.
Grow it
Access funding, resources, and support to grow your practice.
Ngā Noho Toi
Residencies
Time. Space. Momentum. Our residencies back you to make the work, test it, and share it - all in one place.
About this opportunity
Toi Aro residencies support artists to develop, test, and share new work within a connected creative environment.
Designed for artists at different stages, residencies provide space to focus on your practice while being part of a wider community of makers.
What You’ll Receive
Residencies offer the time, space, and connections to develop your work and explore new ideas.
Studio and facility access
Dedicated creative development time
A network of artists and practitioners
Opportunities to experiment and refine work
Pathways to share your work publicly
Who Can Apply
Residencies are open to artists and creative practitioners working across a range of disciplines.
Applications are welcome from individuals and collectives at different stages of their practice, including emerging and established artists.
Inclusive Opportunities
Toi Aro is committed to supporting a diverse range of artists and creative practitioners.
We welcome and encourage applications from Deaf and disabled artists, and aim to create residency opportunities that are accessible, supportive, and responsive to different needs.
If you have specific access requirements, we encourage you to get in touch to discuss how we can support your application and participation.
Apply for a residency
We welcome applications from artists at all career stages. Tell us about your practice and what you're hoping to make at Toi Aro.
How We Support You
Toi Aro supports artists to access funding, resources, and opportunities that strengthen creative practice and enable new work. While we don’t directly provide funding, we connect artists with the wider systems, organisations, and support available across Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Aotearoa.
Ngā Pūtea Me Te Tautoko
Funding & Support
Support to help you develop your work, grow your practice, and access opportunities.
Funding Opportunities
A range of funding options are available to support creative work — from project-based grants to longer-term development funding.
Toi Aro can connect you with relevant networks and provide guidance to support your application.
Creative New Zealand
Supports artists, practitioners, and organisations through funding for projects, development, and public outcomes.
Apply for project funding →
Explore arts grants and opportunities →
Wellington City Council
Supports local creative activity through grants and initiatives that contribute to a vibrant arts and culture sector.
Explore Wellington City Council funding →
Community grants and creative support →
Other Funding Sources
Depending on your practice, you may also be eligible for funding through:
Philanthropic trusts and foundations
Community and regional grants
Industry-specific funding bodies
Professional Support
Building Your Practice
Alongside funding, artists may need support to prepare applications, develop proposals, and manage their work.
Support from Toi Aro may include:
Developing project proposals and applications
Budgeting and planning for creative work
Understanding contracts and agreements
Connecting with mentors and collaborators
Business and Financial Guidance
Managing Your Work
Toi Aro can support artists and creatives who are often working as independent practitioners or small businesses.
You may need to consider:
Registering as a sole trader or business
Managing income, expenses, and tax obligations
Understanding GST and invoicing
Accessing guidance from organisations such as Inland Revenue (IRD)
Visit IRD for guidance on working for yourself →
Tuakana–Teina
Mentorship & Collaboration
We don’t work alone here. Tuakana-teina means backing each other, sharing knowledge, and building something bigger together. This is a space where artists lift artists.
Tuakana–Teina
Tuakana–teina is a way of working that centres shared learning, guidance, and support. It reflects relationships where knowledge is passed between people — sometimes from more experienced to less experienced, and at other times in reverse.
At Toi Aro, this approach shapes how artists, organisations, and communities connect, creating an environment where people learn from one another and grow together.
How it Works at Toi Aro
Tuakana–teina is expressed through collaboration, mentorship, and everyday interactions within the space. Artists share skills, test ideas, and support one another across different practices and stages of experience.
Whether through formal programmes or informal exchange, this creates a culture where creativity is strengthened through connection and collective learning.