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The residency program that the Trust has started is at Karekare House which is an old historic homestead situated in Karekare, a small community on the West Coast of Auckland. The house and the surrounding valley has a rich history and a strong link to the arts. Many past and present residents have been, or are, painters, writers, sculptors, and musicians.
Nestled in a tranquil West Coast valley, 2mins flat walk from the beach; Karekare House (at one point in history nicknamed ‘The Barracks’) sits on over an acre of land, and originates back to the late 19th Century.
With such a rich 100 year plus history – at one point owned by the Murdochs; then run as a guest house by the Farleys; then more recently featured in the film ‘The Piano’; and over the last 40 years lovingly restored by the children’s author Dorothy Butler – Karekare House has since been repurposed, transformed into a remote creative artists residency.
We intend to continue the life and spirit of Karekare House in one of the most beautiful areas of New Zealand. Karekare House will remain an actively creative space, and very much part of the local community.
The residence is intended to be flexible toward being either a single or collaborative artist residency. If there is only one resident, partners & children are welcome to join for parts of / the entirety of the stay.
+ 2 x Bedrooms
+ 2 x Bathrooms
+ Secondary room; could be used as an office or a single bedroom
+ Open plan kitchen / dining / living area
+ Large studio / study within the house
+ Large multipurpose central room
+ Large external garage / workshop
+ Dedicated laundry & plenty of storage
+ Heat pumps & HRV
+ 3-4 parking spaces, more available if grass is dry
Photo credits Ted Scott
An outdoor event at Karekare House
We want the house to continue to be part of the community: locals are encouraged to use the house & grounds for arts activities & events (like poetry, arthouse film nights, book club), and other community events.
We welcome locals who are interested to openly include our artists in residence with existing community events. Locals can also apply to use the residence’s workshop / garage when it’s not being used – especially for collaborating with other local creatives during the summer.
Many creatives have found the remoteness of Karekare to be inspiring, but to new residents it can feel a bit isolating. However, there is another independent artist / manager on-site, Michele Johnson, and we can also offer links with the local community.
Nearest supermarket: 29min drive; Nearest dairy / corner store: 13min drive.
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