Deadline: 10-Oct-2025
The Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Program offers artists the opportunity to live and work in a unique creative environment while developing projects that engage deeply with themes of place, identity or history.
Projects may engage with the environment in general, or with the Fool’s Paradise locality (Lake Ontario, the Bluffs, trails, wildlife, etc.). Identity: Projects may engage with personal identity, cultural identity or identity through other lenses (such as accessibility, feminism, BIPOC, LGBTQ2S, etc.). History: Projects may engage with personal, familial or cultural histories, or histories of Ontario and Canada.
Artists in residence live and work in a quaint and cheery cottage located on the Scarborough Bluffs, surrounded by the inspiration of Doris McCarthy’s favourite things. Residencies last one to two months and are designed for single individuals who will live and work independently at the centre. At the end of their stay, artists are expected to share their experience or work with the Ontario Heritage Trust, which could take the form of a social media post, a creative record such as a painting or print, or a video showcasing a performance or reading.
The program is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and those with pending applications for permanent residency. Eligible disciplines include visual arts, music, writing, dance, multimedia, film and performing arts. However, the program is not open to those who have previously completed a residency at the centre, students currently enrolled in educational institutions at the undergraduate level, individuals under 18, staff and board members of the Ontario Heritage Trust and their immediate families, or artists working with heavy machinery, welding, flammable materials, or AI-generated art.
Applicants must apply with a specific project in mind, providing details on how they will use their time and demonstrating access to the resources required to complete their work. The application consists of a form including biography, project description and references, as well as a curriculum vitae and portfolio. The Doris McCarthy Gallery also offers a bursary of $1,500 to one selected artist in 2026, with the expectation that the recipient will deliver a program such as a workshop or artist talk during their stay.
Applications are reviewed by an impartial advisory panel with expertise in relevant artistic disciplines. Selection is based on artistic merit, the strength and potential impact of the proposed project, the feasibility of the workplan, and consistency with the program’s vision. Final decisions are made in November, successful candidates are notified in December, and residencies begin in January. The application deadline is October 10, 2025.
For more information, visit Akimbo.
