History
Iris Fisher was a pivotal figure in the founding of the Pakuranga Arts Society in 1969 and an early champion of contemporary art in Aotearoa New Zealand. This society paved the way for the establishment of the Pakuranga Cultural and Community Centre (1975), the Iris Fisher Gallery (1984), and Te Tuhi (2001). The inaugural Iris Fisher Art Awards were held in 1981 at the Pakuranga Cultural and Community Centre and were awarded to Phyl Bush (painting) and Dorothy Rickard (spinning and weaving).
In 1984, Fisher gifted $10,000 to establish the Iris Fisher Endowment Fund to foster and encourage innovative contemporary art practice. Through the years, the Lou and Iris Fisher Charitable Trust and the Pakuranga Arts Society/Te Tuhi increased this fund, enabling financial and professional support to be provided to many emerging artists from 1984 to 2005.
In 2007, the award evolved into the Iris Fisher Art Education Scholarship, offering a $5,000 prize to assist outstanding visual arts students in completing their final year of study in Auckland. The scholarship expanded to a national level in 2019, and a total of 18 artists have received this support, from the first recipient, Erica Van Zon in 2007, to the most recent, Kim Ireland in 2024.
Marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Pakuranga Cultural and Community Centre (now Te Tuhi) in 2025, Te Tuhi and the Lou and Iris Fisher Charitable Trust have once again considered the current climate and landscape, and evaluated how the legacy of Iris Fisher could best foster and encourage contemporary art practice. A review of the scholarship revealed that one of the most significant impacts on the careers of artists was the opportunity to develop strong relationships with Te Tuhi and its wider network.
In light of these discussions, the Iris Fisher Art Award has evolved into its next phase: the ‘Iris Fisher Artist Studio Residency.’ The Trust has generously increased the funding to provide a stipend for the three-month studio residency programme. The inaugural resident artist, Ed Ritchie, selected through the 2025 open call, successfully completed his three-month residency in 2026. Te Tuhi acknowledges the Iris Fisher family for their invaluable dedication and contribution to the contemporary art sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The scholarship
The Iris Fisher Scholarship was awarded to one recipient annually. The award is $5,000 and is payable in one lump sum. It is envisaged that these funds will be put toward fees, materials, travel or a purpose which will support the recipient to successfully complete their final year of tertiary study.
Eligibility
The scholarship intended to support a student enrolled in a visual arts/fine arts course of study at tertiary level, according to the following requirements:
- Applicants must be in their final year of a postgraduate course of study at an institution accredited by the Tertiary Education Commission. This must be either 4th year (level 700) Honours, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters degree, or equivalent – both full-time and part-time students are accepted.
- Applicants must provide proof of their current postgraduate enrolment status.
- The Iris Fisher Scholarship is not available to any person who has an employment contract with Te Tuhi.