Call for Applications

Call for Applications for the Artist in Residence at the Centre for South Asian Critical Humanities for Winter 2025 term

Artist in Residence Program 

Winter 2025

This is a call for applications for a contemporary artist to come to the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) as an artist-in-residence at the Centre for South Asian Critical Humanities (CSACH) for the winter semester (February-April 2025). Our community partner for this initiative is the South Asian Visual Arts Centre (SAVAC).

We invite applications from contemporary practicing artists for developing and installing artistic projects, who will come to UTM to develop work that will be site-responsive or site-specific, culminating in an eventual installation on campus. The art can be digital or material or performative, in any medium. At present we can guarantee office space, we cannot guarantee access to studio space.

As the artist develops their creative work at UTM, discussion of their practice will be integrated into courses in History, History of Religions, Women and Gender Studies, Visual Culture and Communication, Art History, Studio Art, and/or Cinema Studies. Interested classes will invite the selected artist to come and speak about their work and engage students in participatory/experiential activities related to artmaking as a response to political and social transformations in contemporary South Asia and the South Asian diaspora. The artist will also be expected to give one public lecture about their art practice at the University towards the end of their residency.  

The vision and purposes of this artist-in-residence program are: 

  1. To use art practice and display to build bridges between UTM and its wider communities. 
  2. To engage university and non-university communities in the ongoing potential of art in education. 
  3. To encourage more of our students to see themselves as active participants and contributors to Canada's and Mississauga's cultural landscape. 

The artist residency will invite art into the academic spaces of our university, disrupting existing forms of communication and achievement, and giving students and faculty spaces to think about the role of contemporary art in public conversations. With the diverse student body of UTM and the larger Mississauga area, this program will help to develop an appreciation of contemporary visual art as practised by racialized artists in a wider community and significantly contribute to UTM's cultural landscape.  

What we can guarantee:

  • Artist’s fee: 3 months residency (February-April) x $5,000/month= $15,000.00 (accommodation and parking are not included). For the duration of the residency (February-April), the artists' fee will be paid in monthly installments.
  • Production budget (up to $4,000) negotiable based on projected material needs.
  • Shared office space (there is no available studio space)
  • University resources (Wi-Fi, library card)
  • Access to SAVAC’s archives and research centre
  • Intellectual property retained by artists

What we seek from the artist:

  • Weekly presence on campus (min. 2 days a week)
  • Consistent community engagement via talks, workshops, seminars, class-visits
  • One public lecture
  • Non-permanent installation on campus

Application Details

Please send applications to shabina.moheebulla@utoronto.ca, copied to CSACH.Director@utoronto.ca  by September 23, 2024, 11.59 pm. Applications should consist of the following:

  • Contact information – full mailing address, phone, email, website and/or social media (if available) 
  • A cover letter that includes your artist statement and a description of the proposed project at UTM (2 pages maximum)
  • Resume or CV (3 pages maximum)
  • Visual portfolio as a single PDF (minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 of digital images of different artworks with brief descriptions (i.e. Title, date, medium, location, etc.). For video/sound/multi-media works, please include Vimeo or YouTube links.

Applications will be jointly reviewed by interdisciplinary jurors appointed by CSACH and SAVAC. We thank all artists for their interest and taking the time to share their practices with us. Due to the high volume of applications, we can only notify short-listed applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this residency for?

This residency is intended for racialized artists who have been practicing in their fields for at least five years or more. Individual artists are invited to apply. 

Are the residency dates flexible?

While we may be able to accommodate minor changes (1-2 weeks), the residency cannot occur at a different time of year.

How many artists will be selected?

One individual artist will be selected.

Can I collaborate with other artists or community members for my project?

Absolutely. If you are proposing a participatory project, you may wish to expand on your methodology and any ethical considerations in your cover letter.

Do I need to be located in the Greater Toronto Area to be eligible?

No, artists based anywhere are invited to apply. However, this is an in-person residency at UTM Mississauga. The artist is responsible for their own travel and accommodations. CSACH and SAVAC can provide a confirmation letter to the selected artist, should they wish to pursue travel grants.

Can I apply if I am a full-time student?

Given the time demands of this residency, we encourage students to apply after they have graduated to be able fully immerse themselves into the residency experience. 

What volume of work am I expected to complete?

This is an opportunity for an artist to focus on their practice. Apart from the expectations to engage with the University and student learning, we are not imposing additional expectations on artistic outcomes and deliverables for this short-term residency.

Are there art studios or facilities I can use?

Unfortunately, studio access is not available. The selected artist will have a $4000 production budget to support their project needs.

Can I propose a project that is very different from my past work?

We encourage artists to experiment and take creative risks. A residency can be a great place to explore new directions in your practice. Be sure to elaborate on your artistic goals and motivations for the shift in your cover letter.

Can I exhibit at the Blackwood Gallery at the end of this residency?

No, this initiative is not run by the Blackwood. However, we strive to introduce the artist to colleagues in other organizations. Typically, the final output is collectively determined between CSACH and the selected artist. Past examples have included artist talks, screenings, temporary installations, and performances.