Here and There art installation at Sunset Community Centre

How the Artists in Communities residencies work

Check back next year to find out when applications open.

What you need to know

Each year, several community centres profile local issues and interests, and host selected artists to carry out projects in work-only residencies that respond to these profiles.

Community cultural development goals
Eligibility and budget
Prepare your application and apply
Selection process

Two-year residency

In 2024, Artists in Communities became a 2-year residency, helping artists build deeper relationships within the community and allowing activities to evolve and new projects to emerge over a longer time frame.

Artists are selected by Community Centre Associations and Park Board staff, with the support of artists experienced in community-engagement.

If your project is awarded a residency, you will commit 600 hours over 2 years to:

Research and develop your project
Collaborate with community members to complete it
Publish a blog and final report

Along the way, you will work with Park Board community arts programmers, community centre staff, the public, and local partners.

Two people looking at an Indigenous art display

Art in nature with Bernardette Phan

Community Cultural Development (CCD) goals
- Support artists working in community contexts and encourage a wide variety of interactions with community members
- Encourage and support artistic projects which leave a physical or social legacy in the community
- Inspire participation and relationship-building, making our communities more vibrant
- Engage communities and people – even those who don't see themselves as artists – as creators, producers, performers, and active audiences.

Eligibility and budget
Eligibility

Open to artists and artist teams working in any and all discipline and living in Metro Vancouver.

Our funding no longer supports murals, tile mosaics, or banners as there are alternative funding avenues for these.

Budget
- Artist fee: $26,000 (total 2 years)
- Materials: $5,000 (total 2 years)

Prepare your application

Review community centre profiles
Gather required materials
1. Detailed project description:
  - Attach a separate document for this requirement. Provide a project description for each centre that you are applying to, outlining how you will adapt to each centre’s interests.
  - Length: 1 page for each centre you are applying to
  - Font size: 12 points only
  - File format: PDF or Word
  - Describe your project in relation to the community centre profiles' interests and issues.
  - What does work in community mean to you? Describe how your proposed project will engage the community centre’s particular community.
  - How will your project resonate with the principles of Community Cultural Development (CCD)? Give specific examples of how these principles will be realized during your residency.
  - Describe how you will work together with community centre staff to develop your programming and prepare for the public presentation of art projects. (Review Community Cultural Development goals)
2. Equity and Reconciliation:
  - Attach a separate document with your responses to questions A, B, and C.
  - Length: 250 words maximum per question
  - Font size: 12 points only.
  - Format: PDF or Word
  - Question A: This project will take place on unceded Indigenous territories. How will xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) local Nations be acknowledged in your work?
  - Question B: Does your project have the potential for advancing Reconciliation? Explain how.
  - Question C: Does your project have the potential for advancing equity and accessibility? Explain how.
3. A current CV:
  - Length: up to 2 pages for individual artists, up to 1 page per artist for artist teams
  - Font size: 12 points only
  - File format: PDF or Word
4. Supporting documentation:
  - Include examples of your current art form in either of the following media: photos, video, or audio
  - Documentation of successful works created in a community context is highly recommended
  - Number of documents: You may submit either up to 10 images, or up to 3 audio or visual files accompanied by up to 5 images. Excess items will not be presented to the selection committee.
    
    Images:
    
    File format: JPG or PNG
    
    File size: less than 3 MB
    
    Resolution: less than 300 dpi
    
    Video:
    
    File format: When possible, provide online video links. If not, use MOV or MP4 files.
    
    File size: 10 MB
    
    Duration: All samples combined must not exceed a maximum of 10 minutes. Any media that exceeds the cumulative 10-minute mark will not be considered.
    
    Audio:
    
    File format: When possible, provide online video links. If not, use MP3 of AIFF files.
    
    Duration: all samples combined must not exceed a maximum of 10 minutes. Any media that exceeds the cumulative 10-minute mark will not be considered.
5. A documentation list of your works and their viewing order:
  - File format: PDF or Word
  - Include your name and for each work, its title, media, format (example: QuickTime, MP3, or full online address), dimensions (if applicable), location, and date
  - Mac users must include “.jpg” at the end of each image file

Woman displaying a lady bug project

Artists at a table with bowls

Selection process

Shortlist
The jury of arts professionals and community centre representatives reviews each project with advice from Park Board staff.

Next, the jury shortlists artists who:
- Meet the program criteria:
  - Artistic merit and experience in relevant disciplines
  - Experience, inventiveness, and attitude about working collaboratively with community members
  - Knowledge and skills required to facilitate, coordinate, and administrate the project
  - Interest in the issues outlined in the community centre profile
- Submit projects that directly relate to the issues and interests outlined in the profiles of participating community centres.
Interviews
Final selection
Community association representatives and community centre staff award the residency to an artist or team based on how their project will:
- Complement the community centre profile
- Demonstrate new and creative ways to approach community engagement as they relate to the community centre profile

Program in-depth

Ways artists engage the community
To generate interest, feedback, and participation from members of the community in the creative process, artists can:
- Work with their community centre programmer to attract user groups
- Present their project at special events hosted at the community centre or connect to existing programming, cultural celebrations, or events already happening around the community
- Develop promotional materials that describe their project and workshop, or include their workshop details and description in the community centre’s brochure
- Use and regularly update a bulletin board at the community centre
- Develop a blog dedicated to the project (see blog examples of past residencies)
- Set-up a studio space in the community centre lobby
- Connect with local schools, libraries, and other community organizations to increase involvement
- Invite the community to celebrate their accomplishments
Roles of the artist, community arts programmer, and community centre
The Vancouver Park Board community arts programmer's role
1. Post the artist call, develop the jury process, and ensure completion of the residency contract
2. Consult with centre programmer and artists to develop their community cultural development plan
3. Provide support throughout the residency
4. Problem-solve and liaise with other Park Board staff and artists as needed
5. Provide partial funding for each residency
6. Post a short description of each project and link to the project blog on this website
7. Share joint copyright of the project with the Vancouver Park Board, City of Vancouver, and community centre association
The community centre association's role
1. Participate in the artist selection process
2. Provide a lead staff person as primary support for the artist, ensuring that all staff and board members are updated and aware of the project
3. Book spaces and related permits as needed by artist (like dance studios, multipurpose rooms, community centre lobbies)
4. Consult with the community centre programmer and artists to develop their community cultural development plan
5. Assist with promotion, including posters, social media, bulletin boards, and more
6. Create opportunities for community networking and access through schools and user groups
7. Provide materials and equipment when available, including photocopies, Wi-Fi, and more
8. Provide partial funding for residency
9. Manage the financial administration of the residency
The artist's role
1. Establish a presence at the community centre and in the community for 300 hours
2. Develop a program framework based on a community consultation process
3. Provide regular updates on the project process to the community centre programmer
4. Consult with the community centre programmer and community arts programmer to develop their community cultural development plan
5. Develop a project that can be completed using the agreed-upon artist’s fee and materials budget
6. Work with Park Board staff to plan for permanent installation of their artwork and provides a maintenance plan for the installation
7. Develop and maintain a project blog as ethical documentation
8. Complete the project and provide a final report within one year

How the Artists in Communities residencies work

What you need to know

Two-year residency

Community Cultural Development (CCD) goals

Eligibility and budget

Prepare your application

Review community centre profiles

Gather required materials

Selection process

Shortlist

Interviews

Final selection

Program in-depth

Ways artists engage the community

Roles of the artist, community arts programmer, and community centre

Contact information, partner agencies, and website policies