From te tau hou pākehā for summer to Matariki for winter, Basement Theatre’s Winter/Matariki season submissions are now open! We invite submissions for our Winter/Matariki programme from all independent artists, collectives and companies.
Basement Theatre is a live performance venue in the Arts Quarter of Tāmaki Makaurau. Established in 2008, Basement Theatre is known for being an important gateway into the industry for artists, and arts administrators. We occupy the artistic underground and value the idea of pushing culture forward through brave, urgent and adventurous artistry.
We programme three seasons a year - Summer/Pride, Winter/Matariki, and Spring/Fringe. We accept EOIs from artists of all forms and experience levels to apply to be part of each season.
The current season open for your ideas is our Winter/Matariki season which runs from June through to the end of August, with the Māori New Year landing at the beginning of the season, on June 20th.
For the 2025 Winter/Matariki season, we encourage artists to submit works with a focus on warm incubation and idea generation. We see this Winter/Matariki season as a time to become a hearth for the artistic community of Tāmaki and we encourage artists to apply with works and/or practices that can keep themselves, collaborators and audience warm and feeling content. For you, this could look like seedlings of ideas, cosy nights out that nourish us, brave experimentation, workshops, wānanga, or imaginative collaborations. With this provocation in mind we are also accepting submissions from artists looking for a development season, or public residency space.
We are also taking some time this year to reflect the role of Basement within Matariki, and how we offer space. Our incredible toi māori community is a huge part of this reflection and deeply important to us, and no actions can be taken without their direct input. You’ll hear more from us about this journey, and ways in which you can join us, in the coming months.
Submissions for the Winter/Matariki Season close Sunday, 9 February at 11.59pm. Submit now via this form.
We are looking for:
Works/ideas/offerings that pushes at the edge of form and genre, and experiments in its approach to storytelling
Works that are 30-75 minutes in length
Dance, theatre, poetry, visual art, circus, comedy, ballroom, club nights, performance art, music, drag, cabaret, visual arts, and everything in between
Works lead by Vital Voice communities - Tangata Whenua, People of Colour, LGBTQIA+, immigrant communities and disabled people
As always, we encourage works that examines and uplifts Te Mana o te Wāhine me Takatāpui
What you’ll get from us…
Hire For Nothing! There is no venue hire fee for artists who are emerging and unfunded
Wrap-around support from the Basement team
Marketing guidance and advice on how you can sell those tickets!
Being a part of the 17-year-strong cohort of Basement artists
A safe space to play, take risks and develop your craft and career
The opportunity to grow your artist network with your new Winter/Matariki season fam
Got ideas? Find your collaborators and get your submission in! The form is live and ready to receive your submission. Submissions will close on Sunday 9 February at 11.59pm
SUBMIT FOR THE WINTER/MATARIKI SEASON
If you have questions about how putting a show on at Basement works, flick us an email, phone call or Instagram DMs for any of your questions.
Email: amber@basementtheatre.co.nz
Call: 09 309 7433 9am-5pm Mon-Fri
Instagram DM: basement_makers
