Tett Artist Residency

Tett Artist Residency: Applications Closed 

Information Session: August 30, 2023, 5:00pm
Information Session 2: September 13, 2023, 5:00pm
Application Deadline: September 22, 2023, by 5:00pm
Notification for the Selected Applicants: November 1, 2023

The Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning (TCCL) is currently accepting applications for its inaugural Tett Artist Residency from Katarokwi/Kingston-based emerging* artists across various disciplines, including visual arts, literary arts, photography, time-based media, curation, digital art, and more. Residencies are three months in length and selected artists will have unlimited studio access during that time. Four artists-in-residence will be selected for 2024. 

A minimum of one of the four residencies in 2024 will be dedicated to an artist from an equity-deserving group. While recognizing that each person's identity is inherently diverse, multifaceted, and constantly evolving, the TCCL strongly welcomes applications for the Tett Artist Residency from artists who identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Black, POC, racialized (including recent newcomers to Canada), 2SLGBTQQIPAA+, neurodivergent, disabled, and those living with chronic illness and/or chronic pain. The Tett Centre is fully wheelchair accessible with barrier-free parking, elevator access and accessible washrooms. More information about building access can be found on the TCCL website.

The Tett Artist Residency provides an opportunity for creative incubation within a thriving and multifaceted community hub of artistic creation, learning and exchange. The Tett Artist Residency program aims to invigorate the Tett Centre as a space where artists work and create, foster new community connections, and support the growth of local, emerging artists.  

*Emerging artists are defined as artists in the early stages of their artistic career, often at the beginning or transitioning from their formal education or training. They are still establishing themselves professionally and may not have gained widespread recognition or achieved a significant level of success.

• Experience: Emerging artists may have limited exhibition or performance experience, particularly in major galleries, museums, or venues. They are still exploring and developing their artistic voice, experimenting with different techniques, concepts, or mediums.
• Professional Development: They may not have participated in as many artist residencies, workshops, mentorship programs, or other developmental initiatives to refine their skills and expand their artistic practice. 
• Recognition and Exposure: They are gradually gaining recognition within their local artistic communities or specific artistic circles. They may have received smaller grants, awards, or local exhibition opportunities, but they are not yet widely established or internationally recognized.

Residency Overview

The Tett Artist Residency is a production-based residency, where participating artists will have access to a dedicated studio space, Studio B, to develop or complete a project or body of work. Studio B is located in the same space as the Creativity Studios, which are available to rent by artists in the community. In addition, the artists-in-residence are expected to engage with the community by participating in six (6) hours of community engagement activities. These activities can encompass a range of options, including performances, artist talks, workshops, or other initiatives proposed by the artists themselves. Lastly, the artists-in-residence will collectively have the opportunity to present their work and projects in a culminating annual residency showcase hosted by the TCCL.

Artists-in-residence will receive:

1. Exclusive, cost-free use of Studio B at the Tett Centre for three (3) months with unlimited access, providing a dedicated space to hone their work;
2. Creative and professional development opportunities, including community engagement and program facilitation experience, working alongside the Tett Centre staff and the broader artistic community;
3. Connection to the broader Tett Centre community, including existing Creativity Studio artists and tenants, and opportunities to receive guidance and support in the artist's creative journey;
4. Opportunity to showcase their work in an annual residency exhibition alongside fellow artists-in-residence;
5. Promotional support from the TCCL for future exhibitions or events that result from the residency, where possible. 

Residency Eligibility 

• Applicants must have a City of Kingston mailing address and must already be promoting themselves as a Katarokwi/Kingston artist. 
• Applicants must be emerging artists working across various disciplines, including visual arts, literary arts, photography, time-based media, curation, digital art, and inter-disciplinary practices that can be accommodated in the specific conditions of Studio B*. 
• Applicants must be individual artists or a collective of two (2) artists. 

Residency Periods 

The Residency periods are: 

• Q1: January 4 – March 31, 2024
• Q2: April 4 – June 30, 2024
• Q3: July 3 – September 27, 2024
• Q4: October 2 – December 27, 2024

Artistic practices/mediums that can be accommodated in Studio B

• Drawing and Sketching
• Painting (acrylic, watercolor, oil)
• Printmaking
• Sculpture (small to medium-sized pieces)
• Collage and Mixed Media
• Photography (small-scale setup)
• Fibre Arts (weaving, knitting, sewing)
• Pottery (small wheel-throwing or hand-building)
• Jewelry Making (small-scale)
• Illustration & Graphic Design
• Writing and Poetry (including theatre-based writing and composition for music)
• Bookbinding
• Calligraphy
• Digital Art (using a computer and small workspace)
• Curatorial Research

If you have any questions about whether your art practice can be accommodated in the residency, please reach out to Jung-Ah Kim at arts@tettcentre.org.

How to Apply

Application for the Tett Artist Residency can be found here and at the bottom of this page.   

Distinctions between the Creativity Studio (CS) program and Tett Artist Residency: 

• CS artists: Emerging professional to mid-career artists seeking career growth. CS artists are licensed tenants that pay monthly rent and have the option to renew their licenses annually. CS artists are typically mid-career, with a substantial arts practice, working to become more established. They contribute monthly community engagement hours that reflect a monetary subsidy in their monthly rent. 
• Tett Residency artists: Emerging artists who may not be established or in a financial position to afford studio costs. The Tett Artist Residency is production-based, meaning artists will apply with a specific project in mind, and set goals that they will focus on during a three-month residency at the Tett. 

In summary, the Creativity Studio program is geared for mid-career artists with relatively established practices, while the Tett Artist Residency focuses on emerging artists with a production-based approach, working within a concentrated three-month timeframe to achieve project goals.