2024 AGO X RBC Artist-in-Residence Program

Theme: Movement

A Three-Month Residency for Early Career Artists

Deadline for Submissions: October 24, 2023, 5:00 PM EST
The residencies will occur between January and October 2024

Are you an early career artist looking for mentorship and the chance to develop and exhibit your artwork at the Art Gallery of Ontario?

Apply today!

In 2024, the AGO X RBC Artists-in-Residence Program will support three artist projects, each to be developed over a three-month residency and shared with AGO visitors. Artists are asked to respond to the theme of movement in their proposals. We invite artists to think about movement of people, ideas and places; how movement mingles with, enhances or engages the museum context; and how personal experience shapes the project.

We welcome early career artists and collectives interested in creating works combining art practices (maker and/or social experiences, experience design, live performances, etc.) to apply. This residency is hybrid, with opportunities to connect in person and online with AGO staff and audiences at the museum. The residency period includes public discussion and presentation about the project.

Artists are invited to take inspiration from a specific AGO collecting area, artwork, or genre, a current or upcoming exhibition or an area of expertise within the museum, including conservation, library & archives, and/or education & public programs.

Engagement with AGO audiences, whether broadly defined or specific to one’s area or research-creation, is at the heart of this residency and proposals must explain how AGO visitors, staff and other collaborators will interact or engage with the project.

The residency provides:

  • Mentorship for early career artists to further their artistic practices (meetings with the AGO mentors are taken in person, and may be undertaken remotely based on residency plan)
  • Exclusive access to the Anne Lind Artist-in-Residence Studio (applicants to describe expected use of on-site studio)
  • An artist fee of $10,000 CDN (inclusive of travel, if applicable, and per diem), and an additional fee for materials, production and presentation costs for the project to be determined collaboratively during residency

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Artists, individuals, and/or artist collectives who self-identify as ‘emerging’ and are in the early stages of their artistic career
  • Artists who have experience in working with large public audiences and/or maker projects is an asset
  • Artists residing in Canada
  • Practicing professional artists with two (2) or more years of experience
  • Applicants from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply

The jury will select proposals based on the following criteria:

  • A clearly articulated, well developed project description and artist statement
  • The artist has explained how the project advances their artistic development
  • The artist explains how audiences will interact or engage with the project
  • The feasibility of the project proposal, timeline and budget
  • The artist has explained how they wish to collaborate with the AGO
  • The project can be easily described to general audience, not familiar with the artist’s practice or topics of interest
  • As part of the review process, prospective artists will be contacted for an exploratory conversation before a final selection of the successful applicants is made

We welcome applications by populations who have not been equitably represented in museums, including Black, Indigenous, artists of colour, LGBTQ2+, women and persons with disabilities.

Please note that we do not accept applications via email or applications sent after the deadline. We encourage you to submit your application well in advance. The selected artists will be notified by November 30, 2023.

Applications must include:

  • Artist statement, inclusive of project proposal (500 words max., one page, size 12 font)
  • Proposed project budget (artist fee of $10,000 CDN inclusive of travel, if applicable, and per diem, and an estimated budget for materials, inclusive of production and presentation costs for the project no greater than $3000. Projects should show a total budget of approximately $13,000 CDN)
  • Resumé/CV (one page, size 12 font)
  • Relevant portfolio: provide a selection of five (5) images of your work in a pdf format, and/or links to videos, allowing us to understand your artistic practice

FAQs

Who can apply?
  • Some experience working with large public audiences and/or maker projects is an asset.
  • Artists, individuals, and/or artist collectives who self-identify as ‘emerging’ and are in the early stages of their career
  • Artists residing in Canada.
  • Practicing professional artists with two (2) or more years of experience.
When do I receive my budget?
  • Artist Fee: Once artists are selected, they receive 50% of their artist fee upon the start of the residency period and 50% upon completion of their residency project.
  • Production Costs: Reimbursed for production costs will be provided once a working budget has been established collaboratively between the artist and the AGO. We do not provide artists with the production fee in advance or prior to sharing invoices for work completed during the residency period.
What do I include in my budget?

Artists receive a one-time fee of $10,000 CDN (inclusive of travel, if applicable, and per diem). Additional budget for materials production and presentation costs for the project will be established during the residency period. Projects should show a total budget of approximately

$13,000 CDN for the jury review process. This residency uses a co-creative approach, acknowledging there may be unforeseeable costs for the artist within the institutional setting. These will be discussed and modified as needed as part of the residency program’s commitment to mentorship and learning.

What do I submit?

Complete the online application form, which must include:

  • Artist statement, inclusive of project proposal (500 words max., one page, size 12 font).
  • Proposed project budget.
  • Resume/CV (one page, size 12 font).
  • Relevant portfolio: provide a selection of five (5) images of your work in a pdf format, and/or links to videos, allowing us to understand your artistic practice.
How do I submit an application?

To submit your application, please use the online Application Form.

Late submissions of applications or proposals sent by email will not be accepted.

How long is the residency period?

Three months. Once confirmed, successful artists will receive a winter, spring or late summer 2024 residency period.

How does a hybrid residency work?

This residency will require the successful candidate to develop a weekly schedule with the AGO team consisting of a research and production schedule and check-in discussions. Artists will be required to maintain minimum weekly meetings onsite (or remotely as per their project description). Artists have access to the AGO Artist-in-Residence Studio..

What is the honorarium?

An artist fee of $10,000 CDN (inclusive of travel, if applicable, and per diem). An additional materials and production budget will be determined collaboratively during the residency.

Applicants will propose approximately $3000 for materials and production costs for the jury review. Your total budget for the proposal will be $13,000.

What other support do I receive?

Mentorship with select curatorial staff, educators and other AGO professionals.

Who is the jury?

The jury features members of the AGO’s Education & Programming team and their colleagues across the Art Gallery of Ontario.

When will results be available?

All applicants will be notified by November 30, 2023, via email.

For more information, contact:

Danah Abusido, Curatorial Associate, Projects & Partnerships: [email protected]

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