The University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka is delighted to once again offer two prestigious fellowships for visual artists and composers.
The Frances Hodgkins and Mozart Fellowships are available in 2027 after being paused in 2026 due to financial pressures.
The University has secured a significant grant from the Russell Henderson Charitable Trust towards the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship in 2027, and various individual donors have contributed to the Mozart Fellowship.
Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson says the Fellowships are flagships for the University and he is very pleased they are available again.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the financial support we have received which allows us to continue to invest in talented artists from around Aotearoa New Zealand,” he says.
The Frances Hodgkins Fellowship is the country’s longest-standing and most prestigious full-year residential award for visual artists, while the Mozart Fellowship was established to aid and encourage music composers in the practise and advancement of their art.
Both Fellowships provide recipients with a studio and salary, giving them the freedom, space and time to develop their creative practices without financial constraints.
While the Fellowships will be available next year, there is still a need for additional support to ensure their long-term financial sustainability, he says.
“The University is committed to the Fellowships. As was the case when they were first established it is the generosity of donors and supporters that is critical to success. We will work with the wider community to ensure the Fellowships’ long-term sustainability and enable them to continue annually in perpetuity.”
Applications for the Fellowships, alongside the Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance and the Robert Burns Fellowship for writers, open on 1 April 2026.
“I’d encourage any artist who would like to spend a year immersing themselves in their work, and the Dunedin and University culture, to apply,” Mr Robertson says.
“I look forward to welcoming a new group of talented artists to our city and campus next year.”