sonic artist in residence

call for applications

Toi Pōneke Arts Centre and the New Zealand School of Music - Te Kōkī (NZSM) are pleased to announce the annual Sonic Artist-in-Residence, with a call for submissions.

Application Deadline

Applications close on Tues 5th August at 5pm. Interviews with shortlisted candidates will be the week of Mon 25 August. The successful candidate will be notified by Monday 1 September 2025.                            

overview

The Toi Pōneke/NZSM Sonic Artist-in-Residence is a 3-month part-time position (.6FTE) for an established Wellington-based sonic artist to develop a body of work that may include performances, installations, workshops and so forth. The position is funded by Toi Pōneke, with the NZSM and Toi Pōneke as host organisations. A studio space is provided by Toi Pōneke for the duration of the residency, and the Residency will culminate in a 3-week exhibition in April/May 2026 at Toi Pōneke Gallery.

During the residency, the candidate will have access to the Lilburn Studios, the Sonic Arts Lab and library facilities at the New Zealand School of Music, as well as other NZSM rooms, equipment and resources, depending on the nature of the work undertaken and subject to the availability of these resources.

The successful candidate will be provided with logistical support and assistance publicising the activities associated with the residency. The successful candidate will be provided with a stipend of $10,000 to help support them during their 12-week residency. There is a budget of $700–$1,000 to help pay for exhibition and public programme costs. At the completion of the residency, the successful candidate will be required to provide a report and provide feedback on their residency to both NZSM and Toi Pōneke.

Eligibility

Applicants must be:

• Applicants must be established sound artists of proven merit, with a track record of substantial and sustained creative activity. Alongside a strong portfolio of creative work, indicators of merit might include peer esteem, such as awards/prizes, inclusion in festivals, international performances, positive reviews, releases, commissions/invitations from leading organisations, and keynotes/conference presentations. These indicators should be provided in an accompanying CV.

• Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or have a New Zealand resident visa, be Wellington-based at the time of application, and be intending to live in New Zealand for at least one year after they complete the residency. Applicants may not be enrolled as a student at the NZSM or be on a full-time teaching contract at VUW during the period of the residency.

• Preference will be shown to candidates that propose projects seeking interaction with the NZSM, other Toi Pōneke residents, and the greater Wellington art community and general public.

Terms and conditions

The successful applicant will be expected to do at least 25 hrs/week while on residency over the 12 weeks. They will be paid a stipend of $10,000 (the first instalment of $8,000 will be paid at beginning of residency (29 Sept 2025) and the second instalment of $2,000 will be paid on the completion of the report due by 14 Jan 2026. 

Successful applicants will be required to:

• Sign the Toi Pōneke/NZSM Residency Agreement

• Agree to the Toi Pōneke Arts Centre Artist Studio Agreement

• Sign the Toi Pōneke Exhibition Pack agreement.

selection process

The selection committee will comprise at least 3 members of the staff of the NZSM and Toi Pōneke, plus two external experts. The committee will base their decision on the artistic standards and track record of the applicant, as evidenced through a CV and portfolio of representative works, as well as the potential of the proposed work, both in terms of its artistic vision and its engagement with the sound arts community in Wellington and beyond. In addition, shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview with the appointment panel to articulate their vision for the proposed work.

How to apply

1. Download and fill out the application form.

2. The application should comprise of a single application document (PDF) that includes the following 6 sections, ideally in the following order:

a)    Cover letter

b)    Work Proposal: see below for more details

c)     Curriculum Vitae: a short CV (no more than 3 pages) that includes your contact details, qualifications, creative experience, a list of recent sound artworks, and any recent indicators of peer esteem, such as awards/prizes, festival inclusion or commissions by prominent organisations/performers.

d)    Short biography (1–2 paragraphs)

e)    A high-resolution headshot

f)     Portfolio/showreel: a link/URL to an online portfolio/showreel of at least 4 representative works in the domain of sonic art.

Work Proposal

The Work Proposal section of the application document must include the following:

a)    A proposed outline of intended creative outputs, a tentative timetable for completion, and a critical narrative on the overall concepts/themes/ideas behind the works, that makes the case for their intended impact and artistic innovation.

b)    A budget of ($700–$1,000) will be available to be spent on costs towards the exhibition and/or public programme events as part of the residency. A brief summary of what you might spend this budget on should be included as part of the work proposal.

c)    In order to develop relationships within the greater Wellington arts community, applicants are encouraged to articulate how their proposed work will engage with the broader community. The Programme Director (Composition) and Dr. Thomas Voyce (NZSM) may be able to help facilitate connections or provide advice in this regard.

Contact

Any questions regarding this opportunity please contact:

Michael Norris, NZSM Programme Director (Composition)
021 211 0138, michael.norris@vuw.ac.nz

Sascha Perfect, Toi Pōneke Public Programmer
021 971 186, Sascha.Perfect@wcc.govt.nz

key dates

APPLICATION PROCESS 2025

Wednesday 16 July: Applications open
Tuesday 5 August: Applications close at 5pm
25–29 August: Interviews with shortlisted candidates
1 September: Successful candidate announced

RESIDENCY PERIOD 2025

29 September–21 December 2025

EXHIBITION PERIOD 2026

3-week exhibition: 25 April - 15 May 2026