The Artist in Residence program celebrates the diversity of artistic practice in Kitchener. With this program, we hope to change the definition of the professional artist and recognize those who may have taken a non-traditional route of developing their career.

On this page:

  1. About the Artist in Residence program
  2. 2022 call for proposals
  3. Application
  4. Who should apply?
  5. Selection process
  6. Project schedule
  7. Compensation
  8. Resources available to the Artist in Residence

About the Artist in Residence program

Every year, we invite local artists to apply to be our community’s next Artist in Residence. This encourages local artists to engage and collaborate with the community while developing their practice or interests. 

This opportunity is open to writers and/or artists that live in, work, or have a connection to Waterloo Region. The Artist in Residence program emphasizes interactive community engagement and encourages applicants to see this as an opportunity to advance their own practice.

Our arts and creative industries staff support the Artist in Residence program in co-operation with the Public Art Working Group (PAWG). The artist is invited to join monthly PAWG meetings for the duration of the residency. The artist is asked to document their process and activities through the residency.

2022 call for proposals

We’re partnering with Textile Magazine to seek project proposals for the 2022 Artist in Residence program.

Textile Magazine offers mentorship, arts programming, and publication opportunities for new and emerging writers and artists on the margins, showcasing the diversity of the Waterloo Region. While Textile Magazine mainly offers mentorship around writing, they have also supported artists across other practices.

Together, we’re looking for proposals from writers and artists from other disciplines that engage residents in Waterloo Region and are relevant in the context of our community.

The 2022 Artist in Residence is a unique pilot partnership with Textile Magazine to provide these additional opportunities for the appointed artist:

  • mentorship to offer insight into publication and production process
  • editorial mentorship towards developing a writing craft
  • working with artists through a conversation-based method that allows for expansion of the artist’s research method
  • direct access to broad community networks in the literary arts.
  • offering time, space, and resources for a writer or artist to grow their body of work rooted in a community-based practice
  • publication with Textile Magazine (online or in print, pending COVID-19 developments)

We encourage you to read the information on this page before applying.

About Textile Magazine

Textile Magazine has a history of working with arts practitioners, schools, non-profit organizations, regional governments, and other groups to empower equity-seeking/marginalized junior writers and artists across the region. Textile Magazine is a community-engaged arts organization/publication and mentorship program based in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Textile Magazine was founded in 2018, when the inaugural team noticed that writers and artists were facing barriers to publication.  Together, they envisioned a magazine that supports a literary landscape that is approachable and inclusive in addition to sharing relevant commentary on what is happening in Waterloo Region.

It was founded with the goal of merging community work with writing and publication and has expanded its mandate to support artists across disciplines.

Learn more on their website and check out Issue I: In Transit and Issue II: Space(s).

Application

The call for proposals for the 2022 Artist in Residence program is now closed. Thanks to all who applied.

Who should apply?

We’re committed to creating and supporting a platform where a wide range of creative perspectives are heard. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We look forward to, and welcome applications from artists of all ethnic or cultural backgrounds, gender identities, Indigenous, marginalized, able-bodied or persons living with disabilities.

We’re looking for applications from artists:

  • from equity seeking groups (Black, Indigenous, racialized, disability communities, LGBTQ2A+, low-income, homeless and the intersection of those groups) who work in the literary arts (fiction, poetry, non-fiction, drama, or other forms of creative writing) and other art disciplines
  • who would especially benefit from the mentorship relationship with Textile Magazine
  • willing to engage with the public one-on-one or in group settings

Selection process

After applications close on May 30, 2022, the selection committee will choose an Artist in Residence. Find the selection criteria and information about the committee below.

Criteria

The applicant must:

  • be a regional artist or has a connection to Waterloo Region
  • be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • demonstrate commitment to their craft in the artist’s practice

The artist proposal must:

  • show a balance of development of their artistic practice, collaboration and some form of meaningful exchange with the community
  • include a clear plan of how to adapt the proposal to a virtual delivery if needed
  • have strength and professionalism
  • show the feasibility of the proposed program
  • include a community engagement strategy

Committee

The selection committee includes members of the Public Art Working Group (PAWG). This is a volunteer, resident-based group that includes past artists in residence, arts professionals, members of the community at large and representatives from Textile Magazine. The committee reserves the right to interview a short list of up to three artists prior to selection finalization. No city staff members are involved in the selection process.

Project schedule

  • application deadline: May 30, 2022 at midnight
  • artist selection: June 2022
  • project plan review and development of an implementation plan with city staff and Textile Magazine: August 2022
  • project execution: September 2022 to September 2023
  • publication with Textile Magazine: to be determined

Compensation

  • the Artist in Residence appointment for 2022 will receive an honorarium of $10,000
  • upon acceptance, the artist will enter a contract with the City of Kitchener
  • this is a part-time, year-long position where the artist will be flexible to plan their own time commitment reflecting their proposal for community involvement and mentorship hours with Textile Magazine
  • artists are encouraged to propose a project of a scale that reflects this level of compensation (recommended approximate commitment is 15 hours a month over 12 months)

Resources available to the Artist in Residence

The Artist in Residence will have access to advice and expertise from:

  • the PAWG and past Artists in Residence
  • the Textile Magazine team

They will also receive guidance and help from city staff and Textile Magazine staff on the development of feasible and implementable project activities and ways to realize project objectives.

Other resources available include:

  • coordination of writing, editing, design services, and printing of promotional materials (invitation cards, posters, brochures, business cards etc.)
  • help promoting activities and events from both City of Kitchener and Textile Magazine
  • exploration of opportunities for an Artist in Residence's project to coordinate with City of Kitchener festivals and events
  • access to city hall venues, community centres and/or galleries for Artist in Residence events
  • help connecting with potential collaborators, both within the Corporation of the City of Kitchener and at other organizations