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Home‍ ‍/‍ ‍Get Involved ‍/‍ ‍All Opportunities

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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.

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  • A woman with blonde hair and earrings is sitting at a desk, coloring or drawing in a book with charcoal or pastel materials. She is wearing a white top and jewelry, focused on her artwork with art supplies and sketchbooks in the background.

    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.

    Learn More
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    Workshops & Classes

    Learn, experiment, and build your skills through workshops, masterclasses, and artist-led sessions across a range of disciplines.

    See What's On
  • A man with dark, curly hair and a beard, wearing a brown jacket, sitting with arms crossed at a white desk with a laptop, in an office or classroom setting. The wall behind him has colorful sticky notes and printed photos or artwork pinned up, including images of landscapes and a sign reading 'VICIO'.

    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.

    Learn More
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    Funding & Support

    Toi Aro connects artists with funding opportunities, creative support, and resources across Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Aotearoa.

    Learn More

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

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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.

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Apply for a residency

Residencies are currently closed. Subscribe, to keep up to date with news and updates.

Ngā pūtea me te tautoko

Funding & Support

Support to help you develop your work, grow your practice, and access opportunities.

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.

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.

Wellington City Council

Supports local creative activity through grants and initiatives that contribute to a vibrant arts and culture sector.

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

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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

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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)

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.