The Artists in Communities Program

(Formerly The Artist in Residence Program)

The Artists in Communities Program is based on principles of community cultural development and is funded by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation in partnership with Community Centre Associations. Its purpose is to support artists working with communities on issues of joint interest or concern. Artists regularly teach programs and participate in special events, celebrations and festivals at community centres. This Program complements these established relationships by providing the opportunity for an artist to work for an extended period developing innovative strategies for involving diverse members of a neighbourhood in joint creative practices.

During the program, each artist/artist-intern team establishes a presence at the sponsoring Community Centre. Depending on the nature of the residency, this presence can take many forms, including attending committee meetings, leading workshops, arranging project progress displays or creating some other form of connection with the centre. Artists also work off-site with a variety of community groups and individuals.

The program is based on terms of approximately 300 hours. The intention and desire is that there be a lasting impact or 'legacy' from the projects, whether it involves new understandings of creative processes, a stronger community bond or an artwork which remains in the community.

How it Works

Community Centre Associations interested in hosting an Artists in Communities program contact the Park Board's Community Arts Programmer. Individuals and groups interested in the program are encouraged to get involved through their local Association.

Host centres create information packages about their communities, then a call for applications is issued to artists from all disciplines:  writers, composers, visual artists, musicians, poets, choreographers, theatre artists, celebration, video, multi-disciplinary and performance artists, etc. are all encouraged to apply.

The programs are awarded by a multi-stage jury and interview process. The selected artists then work with the communities to select the artist-intern. The residencies proceed with community centre committee members, staff and other groups and interested individuals working with the artists in supporting roles, as collaborators.

Selection of the Artists

The selection of artists is a challenging process. Juries composed of arts professionals and community centre representatives review and discuss the applications and short-list all those that they perceive as meeting the criteria of the program. Park Board staff sit as advisors to this process. Final selections are based on community interviews with short-listed artists.

Criteria applied to the applications during the short-listing process:

• artistic merit and experience in disciplines and media, as exemplified in both written materials and documentation of previous work;
• experience, inventiveness, and attitude regarding working collaboratively with members of a community;
• understanding of the facilitation, coordination and administration required to lead a residency; and
• interest in the issues outlined by the community.

Criteria applied to the applications during the interview process:

• consideration of experience and talents of staff group and committed community members balanced with experience, interests and talents of the artist; and
• innovativeness of discipline or materials for the specific community.

The Artists in Communities Program Partners

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Arts and Culture supports the Community Centre Associations and centre staff by:

• supporting the process at each participating centre, including supplying sample documents such as community profiles sheets, interview questions and artists contracts;
• assists the initial stages of the community cultural development process by working with the programmer/coordinator to facilitate the development plan;
• facilitating a fundraising workshop, arranging technical reviews and problem-solving and liaising with other Park Board staff and artists; and
• providing partial funding of each residency.

The Community Centre Associations agree to:

• participate fully in the artist selection process;
• provide staff and committee support for the artist and artist-intern;
• provide space and wherever feasible, access to other facilities such as photocopying, mail-outs and lamination;
• assist in promotion and community liaison;
• provide partial funding to the residency; and
• manage the financial administration of the residency.

The Artists agree to:

• establish a presence at the community centre and in the community;
• interact with community members and staff and develop the residency based on those interactions;
• have an artist-intern as an assistant and colleague and allow the intern access to their planning and decision-making processes;
• engage in a regular reporting process with the Community Centre staff, Association and Park Board;
• develop a residency that can be completed for an artist's fee of $8,000, artist-intern fee of $2,000 and a materials budget of $2,000 (a payment schedule is worked out at the beginning of each project between the artist and community centre); and
• maintain flexibility regarding any physical legacy of the project, submit, within three months following completion of the project, slide documentation, maintenance plan if there is a physical legacy and a final report to the Community Centre and Park Board.

For more information about the Artists in Communities Program please call the Community Arts Programmer at 604-257-8496 or e-mail danita.noyes@vancouver.ca