Wellington Sculpture Trust, in association with Creative Capital Arts Trust and Wellington City Council, is calling for proposals for PARK(ing) Day 2026 happening Saturday 28 February. 

Are you an artist, actor, performer? Do you have an issue you want to engage with the public about?

We’re looking for creative proposals for temporary art inspired installations to occupy Cuba Street for one day. They should be accessible; enliven our cityscape; provoke reflection about how we use public space; and encourage interaction and engagement.

PARK(ing) Day’s mission is to use art and creativity to generate debate around how public space is created and allocated. It calls attention to the need for more urban open space with the ultimate aim of improving the quality of the urban habitat. 

PARK(ing) Day provides an accessible platform for artists and creatives to develop and show off their talents in a community focused and festive atmosphere. Come and help enhance the vibrant cultural hub of Wellington with your creative talents for a day of art on the street!

Successful proposals receive $500 towards costs, with two $500 awards for Judge's Choice and People's Choice winners. Cuba Street will be closed to cars during this event.

Proposals due 8 December 2025.

Download the brief here:

PARK(ing) Day 2026 - Call for Proposals Brief

For more info contact wellingtonsculpture@xtra.co.nz

Background

PARK(ing) Day is an annual open-source global event where artists, designers and

creatives collaborate temporarily to transform metered parking spaces into living parks.

The project began in 2005 when Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, converted

a single parking space into a temporary public park in downtown San Francisco. Since

2005, PARK(ing) Day has evolved into a global movement, with organisations and

individuals (operating independently of Rebar following a set of established guidelines)

creating new forms of temporary public space in urban contexts around the world.