The Ellerslie Arts Circus Residency
The Ellerslie Arts Residency programme supports the creation of both new works and the development of existing works over a 10 week part-time residency supported by the core Dust Palace team of directors.
Residency 2026 Recipients are:
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Mary Piggin & Jaine Mieka
All direct flights to calm and hope for the future have been cancelled. Travelling through the subconscious is the only option. And it is whimsical, liminal, and sometimes unhinged.
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Te Kākano Maninirau
We want delve deeper into the question we had at the beginning of the kura maninirau kaupapa - what is Māori circus?
With the time and space we have at the dust palace we want to retell Māori fables and develop storytelling skills with a mixture of mask, pre recorded dialogue and circus.
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Tony Melton
Tony Melton has spent the last year developing a juggling act using multiple objects found in his kitchen, and is going to combine circus skills with live DJ mixing of electronic music.
Jenna Lee
Circus is my choice, my creative outlet, my story, and my journey - Jenna Lee, Aerialist
Zoe Higgins
Zoe Higgins is a mime and puppeteer hailing from Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū. Currently working with an orange, a paper bag, and whatever else comes to hand.
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Edward Clendon
Edward Clendon is a circus performer, actor, performance artist and playwright based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Notably he devised and toured The Goblin Market and Ithaca with Dust Palace, among many others. His plays include MARY and The King and Queen of Auckland.
2027 Residency Program Applications Open Now
Three x 10 week residencies available across 2027.
DATES FOR 2027
Residency #1 - 26th April - 4th July
Residency #2 - 19th July - 26th September
Residency #3 - 11th October - 19th December
Applicants can be of any career stage.
It is our intention that the fostering and facilitation of these practices within the residency will transfer into the culture of the wider collective circus community, creating a healthy and supportive environment for sustainable production of works.
If you have any access needs with your application please get in touch with Eve and they’d be super happy to help in any way. Eve: 0221221076 or eve@thedustpalace.co.nz or @e.vie.gordon
Residents are offered use of Te Whare Maninirau, membership and support across the 10 weeks, with the residency culminating in a relaxed showing of the work in development.
The Residency is designed to boost the amount of content being generated in the art form, as well as to facilitate the development of the tools required to shape circus skill into performance and therefore the residency(ies) does not focus on technique acquisition. Instead it focuses on areas such as movement generation, artistry, theatricality, and the creative process.