New Artist-in-residence at Toi Poneke

Toi Poneke Arts Centre's visual arts panel has just selected the lucky recipient of a free 10-month lease of an artist studio, culminating in a solo show at Toi Poneke Gallery. Shane McGrath - soon to be a graduate of Massey's Masters in Fine Arts degree - was picked out of 14 applicants for the inaugural DEBLYN artist-in-residence programme.

This is the first time the arts centre has offered the programme to graduates in the Wellington region, with the help of sponsorship by DEBLYN Properties Ltd Wellington.

Shane's thrilled with the opportunity. "It's hard to know what to do when you've finished full-time study, and to get something like this is great for my career as an artist," he says.

Shane has worked on all kinds of arts projects including set design for theatrical productions, working in art departments on children's television shows and a 40-page Māori language graphic novel. He starts his residency in February, and is scheduled to present his work at Toi Pōneke Gallery in November next year.