Artists and practitioners from Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and Fiji will come together in 2026 for a new Pacific arts residency, following a partnership between Creative New Zealand, Creative Australia, and the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji.
The three partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deliver a pilot tri-nation residency programme - the Oceania Pacific Arts Residency, to be hosted at the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies in Suva from 1 October to 12 November 2026.
The six-week residency will bring together one senior artist from each country, providing time and space to develop new work focused on climate change and its impact across the Pacific.
Gretchen La Roche, Creative New Zealand Chief Executive, says this opportunity aligns with the Pacific Arts Strategy 2023–2028 and its focus on supporting artists to grow their global presence for new networks, opportunities, markets and audiences.
“Addressing climate change is a priority under the Pacific Arts Strategy as well as one of the most pressing issues for Pacific Islands nations. Artists play an important role in shaping how these stories are told and understood. This residency creates space for Pacific artists to collaborate and develop work that speaks to these realities and their own experiences while also supporting them to share their stories on the global stage. The programme also aligns with our national arts strategy Amplify to grow our global reach,” says Gretchen.
Adrian Collette AM, Creative Australia CEO is excited about the new collaboration.
“Our joint Oceania Tri-nation Residency provides an exciting opportunity to build enduring relationships between artists and communities, and to celebrate the creative voices that shape our region. Through this exciting partnership, we are bringing together artists from Fiji, Australia and New Zealand to collaborate, create and share stories that reflect both our diversity and our deep regional connections.
My sincere thanks to the project team, selection panel, and consulting artists whose knowledge and guidance have played a critical role in bringing this wonderful initiative to life.”
Building on the Oceania Centre’s long-standing role as a gathering space for Pacific artists and thought leaders, the initiative will offer a hub for creative exchange shaped by shared knowledge and passion for artmaking. Artists will be supported to explore new ideas, challenge their practice, and build lasting connections across the region.