Future Arts in Residence


Future Arts in Residence (FAiR) is a studio residency program for women of colour, marginalized genders, and prioritizes artists with disabilities in their emerging practices and creative processes.


In 2023, Future Arts Network developed a 3-year strategic plan with community consultation with feedback from local artists and past participants of our programs, and the biggest need in our community is a need for a paid artist in residence program and paid mentorship. This program is responding to our community consultation and we’re developing projects reflective of our community’s needs.

Due to the disparity of studio spaces and lack of opportunities, this residency will be accepting and supporting 3 artists in their studio practicums across all disciplines. The shared studio will be hosted on the lower ground level of BCA in the Sun Wah Centre from March 1 to October 31, 2024.

Future Arts Network is dedicated to:

  • Helping the development of women of colour leaders in the arts through leadership and mentorship programs
  • Supporting, engaging, and promoting women of colour in the arts through programming, education, and production

Key Info:

  • Call for artists close February 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM (PST).
  • We are accepting 3 artists
  • Participants will be notified end of February 2024.
  • Selected artists will be paid an honorarium of $1,000 (per artist).

Artists are encouraged to apply within the following mediums: Design, drawing, illustration, installation, creative writing, literary arts, mixed media, painting, photography, print media, sculpture and textiles. All mediums are welcome.

We are looking for artists who are:

  •  d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing
  •  Mad artists
  •  Neurodiverse artists
  •  Artists with physical disabilities
  •  Chronically ill folks, and/or have dynamic disabilities

*Priority is given towards BIPOC artists, LGBTQIA2S+ artists, underrepresented artists living with varying disabilities.

All self-identifications are welcome!

Fine Print:

Selected artists will be paid by the following:

  • Honorarium of $1,000 per artist 

Other programming artist fees:

This will be in discussion with the participating artists. The goal is that the 3 participating artists will collaborate together to host workshops and/or a group exhibition at the end of the project (November 2024). 

If the participating artists are interested in an artist talk, or a group presentation (speaking engagement in which more than one artist is asked to provide a presentation such as a panel discussion), the artist fee is: $362 (for under 4 hours)

If the participating artists are interested in a group exhibition, the artist fee is (fees follow CARFAC under Category 1): 

  • 3 artists ($1,190)
  • 4 artists ($714)
  • 5 artists ($595)

Additional funds for supplies and access accommodations including transportation (to and from studio) is provided to participating artists.


Where are we located?

Studio location: BCA in the Sun Wah Centre
268 Keefer Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X5

Address, Transit, Parking, Bike access and Accessibility information is online at bcabca.ca/access-accessibility


What is happening?

We will be selecting 3 artists to share a studio space. 

Selected artists will have the opportunity for independent residency in its duration with opportunities to experiment and explore the bounds of their art practice.

Artists will be able to occupy the studio space during the time duration: March 1 to October 31, 2024

We will be providing studio equipment and open space for its entirety.


What we are offering:

Space:

  • Shared space with 3 artists in total
  • Approx 112 sq ft per artist

Supplies: 

  • Mobile cart 
  • Easel 
  • Table / chairs
  • Cushions / rugs / seating

The space will be an opportunity for: 

  • Collaborative workshop with other participating artists
  • Open studio space with other participating artists
  • Exhibition at the end of the project (November 2024)

Access: 

  • CART services or ASL interpreters (notify 1-2 months in advance) for public events, workshops and/or meetings
    • Otter.ai will be provided for virtual meetings
  • Paid transportation (via Taxi, Cab, or Uber)
  • Paid buddy system (by artist) for exhibition support in workshops, events and/or exhibition install
  • Soft and hard deadlines for residency completion
  • Simple language documents and audio descriptions will be provided for successful applicants
    • Documents will be distributed via paper copy, GoogleForms and WordDoc (or TXT) for screen reader access
  • If we are missing any important accommodations, please notify us @shanna.cheng@hotmail.com for request of additional support.

Setting

  • Sound:
    • Echo – Studio has high ceilings. There is an echo which reverberates across the floor. We have a single ProCase ear muff which we can provide in the duration. Voices and sounds of footsteps can carry.
    • There is ventilation above Studio space #3, noise will be operating on/off during the day.
    • There is a public hallway outside the studio, people with access to the building will be walking by.

  • Smell:
    • This is not an odor-free environment since it is a shared space. There is one single ventilation fan above and 1 door to the hallway.
    • A shared public kitchen is down the hall for communal eating.
  • Temperature:
    • It gets chilly throughout. Recommended to wear layers.  
  • Brightness:
    • Bright LED ceiling warehouse lights are on with one high brightness setting in neutral white.

Selection criteria

Artists will be selected by the following criteria: 

1) Active Early Career Artist – We are interested in supporting early career artists who are committed to continuing their practice after residency. 

Are you an active artist within the disability community for a minimum of 1 year and maximum 5 years?

Early career artists are artists who are at the beginning stages of their professional arts career as practicing artists. They are artists who are currently developing their artistic ‘voice’. Academic training in an institution is not required.

2)  Equity and Cultural Safety – We value the cultural safety and equity of our artists and our team as our #1 priority. Does your practice address cultural sensitivity and disability experiences appropriately? Can we support your content equitably?

3) Feasibility – Due to limited capacity, our Future Arts Network team is small but we are committed to supporting artists with the best of our abilities with the resources we have available.

Can we support the artists in install and programming? Do we have the access accommodations to support them in creating an enjoyable experience?

4) Relevance – Is it relevant to Future Art Network’s goals?


How can we help?

If you need support with applying for this studio residency, please reach out so we may assist you. We can provide a printed version of the Call for Artists. 

All art mediums are welcomed, however the spaces may not be able to accommodate larger installation projects that require heavy machinery. We unfortunately cannot accommodate animation design, ceramics, wood shopping and metalshopping due to lack of technology, machinery and proper ventilation.

We want to support your ideas!


Images

Contact Us

Shanna Cheng, Project Coordinator
shanna.cheng@hotmail.com

Kristin Cheung, Future Arts Network
hello@kristincheung.com

 Thank you for applying!

Future Arts Network acknowledges that it operates on the traditional, ancestral and unceded land of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl ̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. 
This initiative is organized by Future Arts Network and is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts.