COMMODE Studios
Call for Proposals

COMMODE is providing an opportunity for takatāpui and queer artists and collectives to undertake a ten month studio residency. We are looking for practitioners who are willing to work in close dialogue with COMMODE, taking responsibility for the development and testing of ideas through a sustained studio practice.

Proposals may be submitted by individual artists, artists in the process of initiating a collective, or established collectives represented by one or two members. We welcome submissions across all artistic disciplines, provided the practice is artist-led, research-driven and responsive to the studio context.

The residency will run for a period of ten months. COMMODE will provide free, private studio space for the duration of the residency, alongside curatorial support, critical and professional feedback, and the possibility of an optional public outcome at the conclusion of the residency. COMMODE does not provide accommodation or a stipend as part of this residency at this time.

Residents are expected to participate in regular check-ins with COMMODE, adhere to COMMODE’s health and safety policies, and acknowledge COMMODE in any public presentation of work produced during the residency.

Overview

Duration:
10 months, February - December 2026

Location:
Anvil House
138 Wakefield Street
Te Aro, 6011
Te Whanganui a Tara
Aotearoa

Eligibility:
Artists and collectives must be Wellington-based for the full residency period.

What we provide:

  • Free, private studio space for the full duration of the residency.

  • Curatorial support from COMMODE.

  • Critical and professional feedback, tailored to the needs of the artist or collective.

  • Optional public outcome such as an exhibition, event, screening, publication, or other negotiated format

  • COMMODE will cover the full cost of the studio rent.

Residents are expected to:

  • Participate in regular check-ins with COMMODE across the ten months.

  • Actively use the studio as a site of research and practice.

  • Adhere to COMMODE’s health and safety policies.

  • Acknowledge COMMODE in any public presentation, exhibition, or dissemination of work produced during the residency.

  • Public outcomes are optional, but all residents must be open to dialogue around how their work might be shared or contextualised.

This residency is open to:

  • Takatāpui and queer artists.

  • Artist collectives and collaborative practices.

  • Artists working across any medium or discipline.

We encourage applications from artists at all stages of practice, particularly those whose work:

  • Is research-led, experimental, or process-based.

  • Engages queer, takatāpui, decolonial, or politically critical frameworks.

  • Rejects extractive or market driven models of art making.

What to submit:

Please submit one PDF (max 10 pages) containing:

  1. Project proposal (up to 500 words) outlining your interests, questions, or intentions for the residency

  2. Artist or collective bio (up to 200 words)

  3. Examples of recent work (images, links, or documentation)

  4. CV(s) (max 2 pages per artist)

Fully formed outcomes are not required. Proposals grounded in experimentation or unresolved questions are strongly encouraged.

Selection criteria:

Applications will be assessed on:

  • Strength, clarity and urgency of the proposal

  • Alignment with COMMODE’s values and curatorial approach

  • Capacity to engage meaningfully with the residency structure

  • Feasibility within the ten-month timeframe

Key dates:

  • Applications open: Thursday 18 December 2025

  • Applications close: Sunday 25 January 2026

  • Residency begins: Friday 20 February 2026

How to apply:

Email your PDF to: info@commode.co.nz

Subject line: COMMODE Studios Application – Your Name / Collective Name

Any questions, contact: info@commode.co.nz