Apply for an Artists in Communities residency

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• Artists in Communities goals

  • Engage communities and people, even those who don't see themselves as artists, as creators, producers, performers, and active audiences
  • Support creative projects that leave a physical or social legacy in the community, fostering social connection, cultural participation, learning opportunities, and neighbourhood pride
  • Inspire participation and build relationships to make our communities more vibrant
  • Support artists working in community settings

Steps to apply for a residency

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• Step 1: Review the residency activities, time commitment, and funding

  About the residency

  Artists in Communities supports community-engaged practices that prioritize:

  • Co-creation
  • Relationship-building
  • Flexibility and collaborative problem-solving

  Artists will engage with diverse groups at a single community centre to develop and co-create a collaborative work. This work includes:

  • Developing and delivering workshops and creative interventions
  • Working closely with community centre board and staff teams
  • Connecting with existing programs, cultural celebrations, or events already happening in the community centre
  • Networking in the neighbourhood
  • Creating and maintaining an online residency webpage or social media presence
  • Celebrating community accomplishments

  Residency commitment

  Artists are expected to commit up to 7 hours each week over 18 months (September 2027 to February 2029). This includes administration, research, planning, workshops, and other activities to engage diverse groups at a designated community centre.

  Artist compensation

  Funding for each artist’s 18-month residency: 

  • $18,000 artist fee
  • $2,500 for art supplies

• Step 2: Confirm your eligibility

  The residency is open to artists and collectives who:

  • Live in Metro Vancouver
  • Can commit to a largely self-directed community-engaged project for 18 months (September 2027 to February 2029), with a consistent weekly commitment of up to 7 hours
  • Have experience working with diverse communities
  • Have experience delivering community-engaged or social practice projects in community settings

  Activities we can't accommodate

  • Commercial activities
  • Projects that duplicate existing community centre fee-for-service programs (such as yoga or private music lessons)
  • Contests or competitions
  • Monuments, memorials, and permanent structures 
  • Projects that do not support community collaboration and engagement.
  • Political campaign messaging, hate speech, discriminatory imagery 
  • Studio practices involving:
    • Fibreglass
    • Epoxy
    • Toxic or hazardous materials
    • Welding
    • Woodworking
    • Spray painting
    • Silk screening
    • Fired ceramics

• Step 3: Check key program dates

  Description	Date
  Pre-applications open	November 2, 2026
  Pre-applications close	December 11, 2026
  Shortlisted applicants notified	December 15, 2026
  Full applications deadline	January 25, 2027
  Selected applicants notified	May 2027
  Meeting with community centre staff	June 2027
  Orientation	August 2027
  Residency begins	September 2027

• Step 4: Prepare your pre-application

  Gather the information you'll need to answer the questions in your pre-application:

  • Contact information:
    • Group or applicant name
    • Main contact name
    • Mailing address, including postal code
    • Email address
    • Phone number
  • Short description of your proposed project and project needs (maximum 200 words)
  • What would the legacy or outcome for the community centre be?  (maximum 100 words)
  • What would be the benefits to community participants, the community centre, and you as an artist? (maximum 200 words)
  • What size or type of space do you need for this project? (maximum 100 words)
  • Provide 3 examples of past community-engaged projects you've been involved in. For each project, include:
    • Name
    • Date
    • Location
    • One-sentence description (maximum 50 words for each project)

• Step 5: Submit your pre-application

  Complete and submit your pre-application by December 11, 2026.

  Information icon The online form does not automatically save your answers. We recommend preparing your responses in a separate document before copying them into the form.

  Submit your Artists in Communities pre-application

  Accessibility support

  If this application process is not accessible to you, email [email protected]. We can provide a fillable PDF or Word document and consider other formats.

• Step 6: Learn how applications are reviewed and selected

  A. Application shortlisted

  Arts, Culture and Engagement staff will shortlist up to 5 pre-applications based on these criteria:

  • Artistic merit and experience in relevant disciplines
  • Experience and inventiveness in working collaboratively with community members
  • Knowledge and skills required to facilitate, coordinate, and administer the project

  B. Applicants contacted

  Shortlisted applicants will be contacted to complete a full application and receive $250 to develop and submit their application.

  C. Artists selected

  Community centre association representatives, and staff, along with Arts, Culture & Engagement team staff will select artist projects for 2 community centres in 2027-28.