In collaboration with Native Land Digital, CIRCUIT invites artists to apply for Wā kāinga, a collaborative workshop exploring relationships with land and water. Through a series of shared readings, screenings and kōrero at CIRCUIT’s offices in Pōneke, artists are invited to reflect on place, language, ecological knowledge, and the ways landscapes hold memory and meaning, and how this is conveyed through artists moving image.
Each of the 3 selected artists will receive a $1000 grant to produce a new work. At the conclusion of the workshop, the completed video works will form part of a larger screening programme alongside artists from North America and Australia whose work explores similar themes. The programme will be shown at CIRCUIT in December 2026 and subsequently distributed to other venues in the Native Land Digital and CIRCUIT networks.
The workshop is conceived and led by Tanya Te Miringa Te Rorarangi Ruka (Ngā Puhi, Ngati Pakau and Waitaha). Participation in Wā kāinga is free but limited to 3 participants from Pōneke / Te Whanganui a Tara, who will form a close cohort during the workshop.
The sessions will combine Indigenous readings, discussion, and creative development. Participants will explore ideas through both reading and practice, developing moving image works that respond to the theme Relationships with Land and Water. As part of your application, workshop attendees are asked to propose a concept for a short moving image work which responds to themes of land and water.
This project is supported by UNESCO, through the Wellington Creative City of Film programme.
Programme Lead
The programme is conceived and led by Tanya Ruka (Ngā Puhi, Ngati Pakau and Waitaha). Tanya is also CIRCUIT’s Kaitiaki Kiriata and Executive Director of Native Land Digital, a Canadian non-profit non-profit website and mobile app that has created a searchable global map of Indigenous languages. Tanya’s own arts-based research practice is focussed on the development of possible net positive futures from an indigenous perspective. See Tanya’s work on CIRCUIT here.
As part of the programme, three Indigenous artists from around the world will join selected sessions via Zoom, to share their work and perspectives. Their works will also be included alongside the workshop cohort in the final exhibition.
Workshop Sessions
Wā kāinga includes six fortnightly sessions spread over 12 weeks.
Each session will run for approximately two hours and will be scheduled in the evenings or on weekends at times agreed by the group.
It is expected that all participants attend all 6 sessions.
Where is the Workshop?
CIRCUIT, level 2, 27 Dixon St, Wellington.
Who can apply?
Applications are open to artists based in Poneke - Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
All artists are welcome to apply, but we particularly encourage submissions from Indigenous artists.
How to apply
To apply, please submit:
• A short bio / artist statement
• A brief description of your proposed moving image work or research interests
• A link to any of your previous video work
Submission Address: info@circuit.org.nz
Dates
Applications open: 30 July 2026
Applications close: 20 August 2026
Screening Date: 12 December 2026
More information:
info@circuit.org.nz