One of New Zealand's best-known Pacific artists, Fatu Feu'u, has been announced as the recipient of the 2002 Cook Island Artist Residency, awarded by the Pacific Arts Committee of Creative New Zealand. Feu'u, who has lived in Auckland since he departed Samoa in 1966, has been a practising artist since 1983, and says that although he has travelled extensively in the Pacific, this will be the first time he has visited the Cook Islands. 'I am very excited about the residency because I want to explore the traditional elements of tattoo, tapa and carvings of the islands', he said, noting his aim to create a body of new work for a show at the Henderson Gallery in Auckland in late 2002. Marilyn Kohlhase, Chair of the Pacific Arts Committee, comments that Feu'u 'puts a lot of work into mentoring emerging artists and helping them to develop their careers.' In 1995, he established the Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust in Auckland, recognising the need for young people to be provided with career direction, mentioning and opportunities to show their work. During his residency, Feu'u will meet with tribal elders and local artists, whilst running workshops with young emerging artists and school children within the community. The Cook Islands Artist's Residency is open to all visual artists of Pacific Islands hertiage living, working and exhibiting in New Zealand.