Working with Artists

Residency

Every two years, Tautai offers the opportunity for an overseas-based artist to take up a residency in Auckland, New Zealand. This residency is a gift of time.  It allows the visiting artist time to access to research collections at galleries and libraries, participate in Pacific related events, interact with the local artist community, and make contacts that will assist them in continuing their own art making when they return home.

 

Professional Development

Each year, Tautai holds a Professional Development Day for tertiary students and recent graduates from the five major art institutions in Auckland: Auckland University of Technology, Elam School of Fine Arts, Manukau Institute of Technology, Unitec and Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design. A number of arts professionals are invited to speak to the students on a range of topics, from C.V. writing to organising self-initiated exhibitions and funding.

 

Exhibitions

Artists constantly request that Tautai provide opportunities for their art to be exhibited, to supplement exhibitions available to them through dealer galleries, tertiary and other institutions. To build exhibition projects, we have recognised the need for young Pacific curators to work in particular with the next generation of artists emerging from tertiary institutions. To develop this skill base, Tautai are working with potential curators to foster their endeavours in an incubator process that will develop their experience.

Tautai also facilitates three annual Pacific art exhibitions: Tautai’s Tertiary Art Exhibition, group exhibitions in partnership with Papakura Art Gallery and Artstation, and OFFSTAGE, a showcase of performance and moving image work.

 

Mentoring

On a regular basis, Tautai engages an established Pacific artist to visit Pacific heritage students at Auckland tertiary institutions. These visits provide the basis of an informal ‘mentoring’ system that evolves over time.

 

Workshops

Tautai provides short course training opportunities to artists when and where a need is identified. Wherever possible, artists who have specialized knowledge in that specific identified area are engaged to run the course. As many artists work in isolation, these workshops also provide an opportunity for artists to network with their peers. There is no charge to the attendees: numbers are limited and are on a first-come-first-served basis.

 

Networking

Tautai aims to facilitate interaction between emerging artists and senior artists in the Pacific community. We regularly arrange social functions that offer an opportunity for all artists to meet with their peers to share ideas and gain knowledge, as well as to build their support networks.