Our goal is to ensure that art and creativity make a vital contribution to our culture, our communities and our economy. DEPOT is a multi-disciplinary organisation, managing multiple spaces and programmes including DEPOT Artspace and DEPOT Lounge galleries, DEPOT 3 Vic Road and the DEPOT Shop | Toi Toa, DEPOT Sound recording studios, DEPOT Whare Toi | Makers Space, and the DEPOT Creative Futures programmes ArtsLab and Wayfind Creative.  

DEPOT’s exhibition programme spans three of our spaces; Artspace and Lounge at 28 Clarence Street and the gallery and DEPOT Shop | Toi Toa at 3 Victoria Road. The Call for Expressions of Interest covers DEPOT Artspace and DEPOT 3 Vic Road including the DEPOT Shop | Toi Toa.  

Please note: DEPOT Lounge has a more flexible programming schedule and approaches for exhibiting can be made by email to info@depot.org.nz  

We aim to include projects that meaningfully contribute to the cultural fabric of Aotearoa. This includes multidisciplinary, solo and group exhibitions and working with emerging through to established artists. EOI’s could include cross-cultural engagement through traditional and contemporary art forms, experimental art practices, music and visual arts projects and community artwork that responds to the local environment – all of which should contribute to the diverse arts community within Aotearoa.  We welcome EOI’s from makers and curators.  

DEPOT is a not-for-profit organisation, and our funding is limited; we encourage artists with projects requiring funding to apply to external funding bodies, such as CNZ, Auckland Council, Foundation North, and Asia New Zealand Foundation. Gallery staff will be able to provide support and offer guidance to artists pursuing external funding. 

Our three spaces each have a different focus and programming timeframes.

DEPOT Artspace

DEPOT Artspace (the main gallery at Clarence Street) hosts seven six-week long exhibitions a year. Five of these will be open for programming from this Call for Expressions of Interest and two will be curated by the DEPOT team or invited curators. The programme focusses on emerging to mid-career artists and our preference is for work to be shown that has not been previously seen in Tāmaki Makaurau. It will be a condition of offer for accepted projects that if you are successful in securing other exhibition opportunities in the same year in Tāmaki Makaurau, that the DEPOT project is differentiated. We encourage applications from Māori and Pasifika artists and collectives.  

DEPOT Artspace’s programme is confirmed 6-12 months in advance.

DEPOT Lounge

DEPOT Lounge (the smaller gallery space at Clarence Street) is dedicated to emerging artists, with a strong focus on artists and creatives living in, or with connections to, Te Hau Kapua Devonport and greater Tāmaki Makaurau. This is an artist-led space where exhibitors work with our Gallery Assistant to develop the projects, which are 4 weeks long in duration. The space also functions as a co-working and meet-up space for local creatives, and we are also open to spoken word and acoustic music events in this intimate space.  

DEPOT Lounge’s programme is confirmed 3-6 months in advance.  

DEPOT 3 Vic Road

DEPOT 3 Vic Road is our newest space, and offers high quality art, craft/object, ringatoi Māori and art supplies for sale. This multi-modal space operates as a rolling offering of shop and gallery works, with a feature wall/floor space area for 2D and 3D art that is refreshed frequently. The space offers great quality art and objects to locals and visitors alike. We are looking for makers and artists who work across different mediums and would suit this beautiful heritage space. Upstairs at 3 Vic Road, D3 Artists’ Studios hosts an interdisciplinary community of makers. 

DEPOT 3 Vic Road’s programme is confirmed 2-6 months in advance.  

‘Poipoia te kakano, Kia puawai’
‘Nurture the seed and it will blossom’ 

Key Information

DEPOT Artspace is 12.5m x 7.1m, with a concrete floor. The lighting tracks and roof trusses are not suitable for hanging heavy objects. There are two mobile walls that need to be utilised within the space (they can double as large, low plinths that can sustain lightweight objects).  Click here to view the gallery floorplan.

DEPOT Lounge is 7.5m x 2.6m, and accommodates wall based works, or small sculptural pieces on plinths or shelves. It has a dual existing as a co-working space / meeting space, and has a table and chairs in situ.  

DEPOT 3 Vic Road includes options for placing single works or small clusters of works within the wall spaces that are between the sash windows, or within two feature walls of c. 2m x 1.8m each, and/or 3sqm of floor space (plinths or display tables are available). The large ground level gallery space is shared across the DEPOT Shop | Toi Toa retail offering showcasing quality NZ ceramics, prints, glassware, carved goods, textiles, jewellery, pounamu, books and object d’art. We are interested in meeting with makers working in all of the above.

All spaces are wheelchair accessible, DEPOT 3 Vic Road via an ambulant ramp.  

Expressions of Interest for DEPOT Artspace and DEPOT 3 Vic Road are due by midnight on Sunday 24 August 2025.  

Selected exhibitions will be scheduled within the 2026 programme period for DEPOT Artspace, and for late 2025-mid 2026 for DEPOT 3 Vic Road.  

Applicants will be notified by Friday 19 September 2025. 

If successful an exhibition or retail agreement will be provided.  

Selection Criteria

We are looking for exhibitions that are ready to take place within the nominated time period. We want to see well-developed ideas and concepts and a consideration of the practical and technical needs of the installation.  

For DEPOT Artspace we prioritise:  

• artists that have not previously exhibited at the DEPOT 
• bodies of work that have not been seen before in Tāmaki Makaurau 
• artists that whakapapa to any of the 19 iwi of Tāmaki Makaurau 
• tangata whenua and Moana Oceania artists
• artists connected to the local area
• projects that connect with or align to key cultural and community events or social causes e.g. Auckland Pride, Matariki, Diwali, Aotearoa Music Month, Auckland Festival of Photography etc.  

For DEPOT 3 Vic Road, this is an exhibition and retail space and all works need to be available for sale. For DEPOT Artspace, we welcome works to be available for sale, and DEPOT manages these transactions on the artist’s behalf. DEPOT takes a commission on all sales. 

How to Apply

Please fill in the below form, and upload (as a single PDF file) your CV and a digital portfolio of up to 6 pages (no bigger than 10mb). You can also include links to artist websites, reviews, video or audio works.

What We Offer

DEPOT Artspace  

• Curatorial assistance and guidance to develop your exhibition  
• On-site technical assistance for installation and de-installation of your exhibition  
• Inclusion in DEPOT’s marketing and publicity  
• An opening event hosted at the gallery (DEPOT Artspace at Clarence Street only) 
• Funding application support   
• Public programme support  
• In-house design and production of signage, list of works, artists bio information and an exhibition booklet (booklet at DEPOT Artspace only). 
• The opportunity to sell your artwork. We will work with you to determine a price. DEPOT takes a commission on sales once price is agreed and GST status determined.
• An artist’s fee – this changes depending on whether it is a solo, two-person or group exhibitions.

DEPOT 3 Vic Road

• Curatorial assistance and guidance to develop your exhibition  
• On-site technical assistance for installation and de-installation of your exhibition  
• Inclusion in DEPOT’s marketing and publicity  
• Funding application support   
• Public programme support (for one event), with refreshments 
• In-house design and production of signage, list of works, and artist’s bio information  
• Facilitated sale of your artwork. A formal consignment agreement is discussed and agreed upon with you. 

If you have any patai / questions please contact our Gallery Manager by email at katie.richeboeuf@depot.org.nz 

We look forward to receiving your EOI!