Each year, we invite a local artist, or an artist with a connection to our Region, to share their practice with our community as our artist in residence.

On this page:

  1. About the artist in residence program
  2. Current artist in residence
  3. Past artists in residence
  4. Call for proposals
  5. Newsletter

About the artist in residence program

Our artist in residence program advocates for and supports artistic innovation and excellence in various disciplines of contemporary art.

Through this program, we aim to facilitate and develop meaningful relationships between the community and the artist. Artists may take non-traditional routes to develop their careers, and as such, we want to support local artists with diverse cultural backgrounds, lived experiences and practices.


ShapeCurrent artist in residence 

Ellie Anglin is the City of Kitchener’s 2024 Artist in Residence. Ellie is a multimedia artist working in collage, illustration, animation and graphic design, as well as a writer of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. She has self-published 30 zines combining visual art and text; created pieces of public art displayed across Waterloo Region, Ottawa and Toronto; and contributed to many visual art and literary publications. 

As the artist for our 2024 creative publication residency, Ellie will create “Ribbon”, a collaborative zine featuring her own work as well as work by other local artists and writers. The zine will respond to the Grand River watershed, including reflecting on themes around our surrounding rivers, creeks and streams as well as the metaphoric meaning of “watershed”, the surrealism of nature and the fluidity of being.  

Ellie is passionate about community-building. Throughout the months of her residency, she has met and consulted with community leaders to reflect on the Grand River watershed. She hosted a page creation workshop with local creators to include in the final publication of the “Ribbon” zine. Learn more about Ellie’s work on her website and check the schedule below for upcoming activities.

Upcoming activities

Page Embellishment Drop-in

Join Ellie at the Inter Arts Matrix space at Globe Studios  to add your personal touch to some of the zine copies. 

date: Sunday, April 27, 2025

time: 1 to 3 p.m.

location: Globe Studios, 141 Whitney Place, Kitchener

cost: free

Registration is not required. Space is limited so spots will be available on a first come, first served basis. 

Zines: Then and Now, Wilfrid Laurier University

Ellie will share information about the origins of zines as a tool of self-expression, community-building and resistance. She will examine zines more broadly from a pop culture perspective, tying this history back to her residency project.

date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025

time: 2 p.m.

location: online through Wilfrid Laurier University

cost: free

Learn more and register to attend on Wilfrid Laurier University's event page.

Zine launch party

Celebrate with Ellie as she unveils "Ribbon" to the community! 

date: May 2025

Subscribe to this page to be notified when we add more information on the time and location of this event.


Past artists in residence

Learn about our recent artists in residence below:

Photo Gallery: AIR 25th Anniversary will appear here on the public site.

Call for proposals

Visit our Artist in Residence call for proposals page to learn about the proposal process.


Newsletter

For updates on all City of Kitchener arts programming and what’s happening in our community sign up to receive the Kitchener Arts newsletter.