Art for Social Change Public Art Residency
Applications closed
November 14, 2023: Applications open
January 5, 2024: Application deadline (no applications accepted after 4:30pm MT)
January to February 2024: Evaluation of applications
February 15, 2024: Notification of results
March 15 to April 15, 2024: Residency period begins
November 1, 2024: Residency period ends
Download the Guidelines as a PDF
Program Overview
Calgary Arts Development is offering a five-month artist residency focused on the topic of social change. This opportunity is open to artists with a demonstrated history of working in public art and will tie into the Living a Creative Life Congress in November 2024.
This residency is intended to provide creatives working in public art the opportunity to explore new ways of addressing social change within the public realm. Opportunities may present themselves through new mediums, research, collaboration and community engagement.
During this residency, artists will have the opportunity to engage in discussions with local and international community partners whose work addresses social change. This will help further develop their artistic practice and build community.
This will lead up to a presentation at the Living a Creative Life Congress in November 2024 where artists will present on their studio practice and what they learned during the residency by participating in a panel discussion. Other forms of presentation may be considered in consultation with the program project lead.
This opportunity is open to professional artists residing in Calgary/Mohkinsstsis, and artists from surrounding communities who can demonstrate a clear connection to Calgary/Mohkinsstsis, whose primary artistic discipline is public art. Individual artists or artist collectives/teams may apply. Up to six artists and/or artist collectives/teams will be chosen for this opportunity. The residency duration will be five months, full-time. The anticipated start date is March 15, 2024; however, this may be adjusted based on the artist’s availability. We understand that artists may have other commitments, so we may be able to accommodate a part-time schedule. However, the residency must be completed before November 1, 2024.
Each artist or artist team will be paid $25,000 (not including GST) to participate.
Need Help Applying?
We recognize that barriers within the arts community exist, particularly for equity seeking communities, and that there are many unique entry points into an artistic practice and career in the arts. If you are unsure about eligibility, please reach out to discuss this with the program specialist before applying. You’ll also find answers to some common questions in our Investment Program FAQ.
There are two policies available for potential applicants who may need accommodations or assistance to apply to this program, such as translating program guidelines and applications. These policies are available to potential applicants even if they decide not to apply to the program.
- An Accommodation & Accessibility Policy for potential applicants who experience barriers to access, to develop accommodations that suit their abilities and situations.
- The Application Assistance Policy for eligible applicants to alleviate some of the financial costs associated with preparing and submitting an application.
Calgary Arts Development is committed to open, fair and transparent processes. If you have any questions, want help with feedback on your application or if it’s your first time applying, please don’t hesitate to contact the program specialist as early as you can to ensure they can provide the best support possible. Staff can provide feedback on your application up to 10 days before application deadlines.
Professional Development & Information Session
A professional development and information session for this program was held on December 6, 2023, from 6:30 – 8:30pm, in-person at the Calgary Arts Development offices.
During this session, artists learned how to put forward the best application they can for artist opportunities, using the Art for Social Change residency as a case study for the application process. This was the first in a series of professional development sessions hosted by Calgary Arts Development. A recording of this session has been made available below.
If you have any questions or need any help completing an application, please contact the public art team at publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
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