Gardiner Museum Artist Residency
Deadline
November 14, 2025
16 days left
Application Fee
FREE
Rewards
Multiple Rewards
Interest
High
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About This Opportunity
The Gardiner Museum Artist Residency will offer public working space and access to Museum resources to a single artist or collective for the development of their work. The aim of the Residency is to offer a unique opportunity to an established or mid-career artist to pursue a larger-scale project; cultivate new directions in the field of ceramic art; elevate awareness of and appreciation for contemporary Canadian ceramics; and support diverse participation in the field of contemporary ceramics.
**Residency**
The Gardiner Museum Artist Residency will provide the successful applicant with a paid residency opportunity that will last 8 – 12 weeks, between March 16 and June 14, 2026, during which time the resident will have primary access to the Gardiner Museum’s new fully equipped Makerspace. Access will be granted during building hours from Monday – Friday, with limited access possible on Saturdays, Sundays, and some evenings. The Artist Resident will have a dedicated workspace and storage, while maintaining the accessibility of other scheduled programming in the studio.
The Resident will be trained by Gardiner staff in object handling procedures and be granted access with supervision to the permanent collection. The Resident is encouraged to use the library, archives, and other Gardiner resources as part of their project. Access will be facilitated on an as needed basis.
The Residency will include a public-facing role, with Museum patrons able to visit the Resident’s studio during designated hours. Further, the Resident will offer a public program at the Museum, either a talk on their project; a special workshop; or a public engagement activity.
The Resident will agree to work a minimum number of hours on site (avg. 20/week) and will schedule bi-weekly check-ins with a staff member.
**Projects**
The outcome of the Artist Residency will be to complete a specific project that is considered a new body of work. It is acknowledged that the project may change from the time of application to the completion of the Residency. Proposed projects should be ones that the applicant would find difficult or be unable to complete without the Residency, due to time, space, equipment, or other reasons. Projects will ideally include a research component that builds off the Gardiner Museum collections, archives, library, or other materials. Projects should use materials and equipment compatible with existing studio activities. A final exhibition of the project is not assumed to be a component of the Residency.
What You'll Get
Types: FUNDING, PRODUCTION, OTHER
**Budget** The Artist Resident, be they a single artist or collective, will receive a $15,000 stipend toward accommodation, travel, as well as all cost of living, salary, and outside research costs for the time spent in Toronto at the Gardiner Museum. The Resident will directly manage these funds, with distribution and accountability guidelines specified at the time of acceptance. While all situations differ and thus budget allocations can vary, the program is designed for the successful applicant to receive a living wage while in Toronto. In addition to a stipend, the Gardiner Museum will provide $5,000 towards materials, equipment, and firing costs. **Studio** The Makerspace is the Gardiner’s new ceramics studio located on the ground floor, with glass walls that allow Museum visitors a glimpse into the space and external windows that let in natural light. The studio is fully equipped with pottery wheels, worktables, a wedging surface, and storage. The Artist Resident will also have access to a shared round electric kiln with 10 cubic feet of stacking space.
Application Requirements
- CV
- LETTER_OF_INTENT
- PROJECT_DESCRIPTION
- ARTWORK_PORTFOLIO
- PRODUCTION_SCHEDULE_TIMETABLE
- COST_ESTIMATION
- 1\. **CV** (up to 5 pages) 2. **Letter of Intent** (1 page) providing a narrative description of your practice, commitment to ceramics, and current career status, emphasizing how the Artist Residency will nurture development in these areas. 3\. **Project Proposal** (4 pages maximum) describing what the applicant intends to make, why, and how being at the Gardiner would support the realization of the project. Proposals can include sketches, diagrams, and images as part of the 4-page maximum. Images of completed works by the artist should be included in the portfolio rather than proposal. Ceramics should be the dominant material of the project, but does not need to be the sole material. Not all elements of the project need to be completed at the Gardiner. Only one proposal per artist or artist team will be considered. **Proposals should include a budget and timeline. ** 4\. **Portfolio** (15 images total) of completed artworks by the artist or collective. Recent rather than retrospective images are preferred. Detail images are welcome, but they will contribute to the total which should not exceed 15. Please ensure artworks are clearly visible. **Please submit materials as a single digital PDF, marked as “(Name)\_Artist Residency Application”**.
Eligibility
Geographic Requirements
CA
Other Requirements
The Artist Residency is designed for established and mid-career artists with a demonstrated commitment to ceramics. That is, someone who can benefit from the opportunity of dedicated work time and space, as well as the further resources of the Museum, but not someone who is at the initial stages of their work as an artist. Mid-career in this context would typically mean more than eight (8) years of professional experience as an artist but less than thirty (30). Artists should have a clear interest in ceramics, although it does not need to be their exclusive medium. Artists will be citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada, with a record of having presented original artwork in Canada. Applications will be solicited nationally, and the Gardiner encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those from visible and invisible minority groups such as Black and Indigenous people, people of colour, and those with disabilities.
Gardiner Museum
Toronto, CA
Verified Organization
Active since 2020
Ready to take the next step?
Don't miss out on this opportunity. Applications close on November 14, 2025.