New Commissions Writers announced for 2026

We’re pleased to announce the Chartwell Trust New Commissions Writers for 2026 are Anoushka Coutler, Rahul Hendriksen, Ruby Macomber, Kieran Mclean, and Roro.

This year the Chartwell Trust New Commissions programme expands to include writers alongside artists, supporting early-career voices to produce new texts that contribute to cultural criticism and contemporary art discourse in Aotearoa.

Over the year, the rōpū will work together in a peer-to-peer learning format with Artspace Aotearoa facilitators Felixe and Bridget, starting with close reading, and then working towards a critical text published at the end of the year.

We can’t wait to see what these writers bring to the programme in 2026. Keep an eye out for their annotated readings which will be published in our online Reading Room on our website.