Conference | AAAANZ Art Association Australia and New Zealand

The annual AAANZ conference takes place in either Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand. The conference brings together scholars from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and further afield. The conference attracts bewteen 300 and 500 delegates for a two-to-three day program, which typically includes over 150 papers, keynote lectures, graduate masterclasses, networking, round-tables on publishing, funding and other events. The annual conference is an important event for scholars working within the art history, art theory, curatorship, art education and arts practice. Each year the program features range of speakers from students to established, senior academics. Our aim is to support research in the arts and to draw together the diverse range of people working in universities, museums, libraries and independently.

The venue changes each year and each host venue engages with the local arts and educational groups. By holding the conference in a different major city every year the Association maintains a visible and active presence across the region. Through this geographical spread the Association develops key relationships with a large number of art museums, galleries and educational organisations broadening our scope with each new stakeholder we work with.

AAANZ works in partnership with the organising committee in the host city and each year our conference encourages collaboration between universities and the gallery sector.

The 2026 conference will be hosted by University of Canterbury Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha and Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū from Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 December in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

The 2026 AAANZ conference theme is Haereka (pronounced high-reh-kah), meaning journey. The theme honours the journeys of those who have come before us, including many generations of Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, and Ngāi Tahu people who have traversed and first settled the mountain ranges, plains, and coastlines of Te Waipounamu South Island. We invite proposals that engage with ideas of journeying – through time and place – as it might relate to images, artistic practice, and/or material culture, while encouraging fresh readings of politics, movement, and migration in art.

Based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Haereka will provide opportunities to explore the city and surrounding region. The conference will take place primarily at the University of Canterbury, with some evening events located at other city venues including Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.

To learn more visit this years conference home page or subscribe to the AAANZ weekly news to receive regular updates.