Call for Expressions of Interest - Sculpture on the gulf 2027

Co-curators Heather Galbraith and Benjamin Work have created the curatorial framework The Ocean Remembers the Shore, inspired by Waiheke Island’s long history of offering shelter to those seeking safety and connection, which is reflected in its original name, Te Motu Ārai Roa/ The long sheltering island.

Title: The Ocean Remembers the Shore

Subtitle: Te motu ārai roa/ The long sheltering island.

Sculpture on the Gulf is calling for Aotearoa New Zealand artists to submit concepts for recent, existing, or new sculpture conceived for the 2.4km stretch of coastline along the Waiheke headland from Church Bay towards the Te Atawhai Whenua Reserve and Matiatia. In 2027, we will feature works and events in the Oneroa township, alongside the exhibition of gallery-based works by the 2027 SOTG artists at Waiheke Art Gallery. 

The co-curators note, “The ocean is not just a body; it is a memory keeper. Sculpture becomes a way of listening to the ocean’s memory. The shore and the coast are where land and water, humans and non-humans, the past and the future come together in an ongoing dialogue.”

The Brief

The exhibition includes four sub-themes to which we invite artists’ proposals to respond and connect.

Thematic sections

The Ocean and the Shore

Regeneration 

Shelter 

Connections or Connectedness 

Aotearoa New Zealand artists interested in being considered can submit a 1-page expression of interest to exhibitions@waihekeartgallery.org.nz before 5 pm Friday, October 31, 2025. A more detailed outline of the call for expressions of interest as well as the thematic and contextual framework can be found here.

https://sotg.nz/2027-artists/

Selected artists will be assisted to deliver and present their works for the exhibition to be shown on Waiheke Island, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, from Friday 26 February until Monday 29 March 2027 (with installation taking place during January 2027 and deinstallation taking place during April 2027).