Two residencies for artists at Whanganui's historic Tylee Cottage are on offer in the coming year - thanks to a $40,000 grant from Creative New Zealand.
The residencies are run by the Sarjeant Gallery, and curator and public programmes manager Greg Donson said the grant meant there would be two five-month residencies, each worth $20,000.
He said the funding had given the programme a boost, making it even more attractive to artists who can focus on their work in a stress-free environment with living expenses taken care of.
Whanganui District Council supports the programme by offering the cottage rent-free and covering electricity and phone charges for artists, along with a modest living allowance.
The artist-in-residence programme at Tylee Cottage has seen more than 50 artists participate, and last year celebrated its 30th anniversary.
The residencies are open only to New Zealanders living outside the Whanganui area, including Kiwis living overseas.
One aim is for each artist to produce a new body of work that draws inspiration from the Whanganui region - its environment, history or culture. The work is subsequently exhibited by the Sarjeant and at least one work produced by the artist is also gifted to the gallery collection.
The exhibition The Horses Stayed Behind by 2015 resident Cat Auburn was awarded best exhibition for a regional museum, art, at the New Zealand Museum Awards and will be on tour for the next year.
Applications for the Tylee residencies - from September 2017 to January 2018 and February 2018 to June 2018 - closed on June 19. A shortlist was drawn up from 34 applications, with successful artists named in the coming week.