Call for proposals

The Changing Room

Gus Fisher Gallery is delighted to announce it is calling for proposals for The Changing Room 2026, supported by The Chartwell Trust.

The Changing Room offers three exhibition opportunities for Aotearoa-based artists per year. The initiative enables emerging to mid-career artists to realise ambitious projects by supporting the creation of newly commissioned artworks. Through The Changing Room, Gus Fisher Gallery furthers its support of artists and its commitment to showcasing career-defining and transformative contemporary art projects.

Proposals are welcomed from artists looking to present new ideas and experimental practices in a unique heritage space. Formerly used a dressing room during the building’s early days as a broadcasting studio, The Changing Room features four heritage windows, terrazzo flooring and an antechamber on entry.

Proposals will be selected for the strength of idea and its planned realisation, with original concepts highly encouraged. Artists will be selected by two esteemed alumni of Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland in consultation with Gus Fisher Gallery staff. ⁠One-off feedback on proposals may be available if requested and is at the discretion of staff.

The Changing Room projects will run alongside concurrent exhibitions at Gus Fisher Gallery in 2026 over the periods January – April, May – August, September – December.

Application requirements:

Please submit a Word or PDF-formatted proposal of up to two sides of A4 that clearly describes your idea and your intentions for how you would like to use the space. Please describe how this new commissioning opportunity will enable you to develop your artistic practice at this point in your career.

You may submit up to 10 images or video links of work that illustrates your overall practice and intended concept for The Changing Room. An artist CV is optional.

Please send your proposal and additional materials as a single document to: gusfishergallery@auckland.ac.nz

Artists will receive:

• A combined display and materials fee of $6000
• Technical assistance
• Curatorial dialogue
• Opportunity to realise an event as part of the gallery’s public programme
• Promotion on the Gus Fisher Gallery website and social media channels
• Photographic documentation
• A commissioned critical text by an independent writer

Deadline for submissions: 11.59pm on Sunday 7 September 2025

If you have any questions relating to your application, please don’t hesitate to contact the gallery or visit the space in person.

The Changing Room – specifications

The Changing Room’s walls are made from plasterboard, with wooden skirting and heritage terrazzo floors. Three power points are available and evenly spaced around the room. The walls can be used freely, and participating artists can extend out around the exterior walls of The Changing Room into the antechamber, the walls of which are partially constructed from terrazzo. The floor cannot be drilled into or permanently modified, and the ceiling is not weight-bearing — only very light items can be suspended from it. Windows may be temporarily covered to block out ambient light.

Please contact us if you require any further information about the space or have any questions. 3D views of The Changing Room and a floorplan are accessible through this link. All enquiries to gusfishergallery@auckland.ac.nz.

See below for visuals and dimensions of the space.

PDF Download