gardiner museum artist residency

The Gardiner Museum Artist Residency will offer public working space and access to Museum resources to a single artist or collective for the development of their work. The aim of the Residency is to offer a unique opportunity to an established or mid-career artist to pursue a larger-scale project; cultivate new directions in the field of ceramic art; elevate awareness of and appreciation for contemporary Canadian ceramics; and support diverse participation in the field of contemporary ceramics.

Residency

The Gardiner Museum Artist Residency will provide the successful applicant with a paid residency opportunity that will last 8 – 12 weeks, between March 16 and June 14, 2026, during which time the resident will have primary access to the Gardiner Museum’s new fully equipped Makerspace. Access will be granted during building hours from Monday – Friday, with limited access possible on Saturdays, Sundays, and some evenings. The Artist Resident will have a dedicated workspace and storage, while maintaining the accessibility of other scheduled programming in the studio.

The Resident will be trained by Gardiner staff in object handling procedures and be granted access with supervision to the permanent collection. The Resident is encouraged to use the library, archives, and other Gardiner resources as part of their project. Access will be facilitated on an as needed basis.

The Residency will include a public-facing role, with Museum patrons able to visit the Resident’s studio during designated hours. Further, the Resident will offer a public program at the Museum, either a talk on their project; a special workshop; or a public engagement activity.

The Resident will agree to work a minimum number of hours on site (avg. 20/week) and will schedule bi-weekly check-ins with a staff member.

Projects

The outcome of the Artist Residency will be to complete a specific project that is considered a new body of work. It is acknowledged that the project may change from the time of application to the completion of the Residency. Proposed projects should be ones that the applicant would find difficult or be unable to complete without the Residency, due to time, space, equipment, or other reasons. Projects will ideally include a research component that builds off the Gardiner Museum collections, archives, library, or other materials. Projects should use materials and equipment compatible with existing studio activities. A final exhibition of the project is not assumed to be a component of the Residency.