The Artist in Residence Program and Suncor Indigenous Artist Program follow the traditional residency model, in which non-local or local professional artists spend time creating work inspired by the environment, culture and people of Wood Buffalo. These Resident artists engage with the community in a variety of ways, showcase their work through a final event and, most importantly, spend time mentoring a selected group of emerging, established and professional artists from this area. The program is open to artists in any discipline.
Arts Council Wood Buffalo’s Artist in Residence (AiR) and Suncor Indigenous Artist Program follow the traditional residency model, in which non-local professional artists spend time creating work inspired by the environment, culture and people of Wood Buffalo. Resident artists engage with the community, mentoring local artists through workshop opportunities, and showcase their newly created work through a final event. Both streams are open to artists in any discipline.
Artist in Residence Program
This stream follows the traditional residency model in which non-local or local professional artists will spend 3 to 4 weeks creating art and engaging with the community through art. Opportunities include showcase events or performances and, most importantly, spending time mentoring a select group of emerging, established and professional artists from the same artistic discipline.
Suncor Indigenous Artist Program
Much like the Artist in Residence program, this stream follows the traditional residency model and is based on the same idea of creating art and engaging with the community through art. However, this stream will support an Indigenous artist living in Canada that has an artistic career in any discipline.
Read the Artist in Residence Handbook here.
Read the Handbook
Familiarize yourself with the Artist in Residence program streams and decide if it's for you!
Apply
Apply for a Residency through our online portal, mail-in form or seek additional application support. See more in Application Support.
Shortlisting
Shortlisted applicants are given an opportunity to present their proposal for Residency to Arts Council Wood Buffalo.
Selection
All presentations will be assessed by ACWB staff and successful artist(s) will be notified.
In 2025, the Resident Artists will be welcomed for separate residency periods, amplifying the program's impact across the year. Residences periods will be Spring 2025 (March-April) and Summer 2025 (June-July). Exact residence dates and lengths will be determined between the selected artists and ACWB.
The Suncor Indigenous Artist Program is structured the same as the Artist in Residence program. The only difference is that the artist applying for the Suncor Indigenous Artist in Residence program must be an Indigenous artist living in Canada. This artist will also have the opportunity to work with urban and rural Indigenous peoples as a mentor.
Arts Council Wood Buffalo welcomes any and all artforms.
These artforms can include (but is not limited to): craft, dance, literary arts, media, music, performing arts or visual arts.
For more in depth information, please read the Artist in Residence Handbook .
This program is designed to celebrate and develop Indigenous artists. Therefore, we will only accept applications from Indigenous artists living in Canada.
However, if you are interested in participating in a residency, we encourage you to apply for the Artist in Residence stream.
Yes, if you choose to identify as Indigenous on your application, you will be considered for both program streams: Artist in Residence and Suncor Indigenous Artist Program.
If you are invited to make a presentation, it is because the Artist in Residence Selection Committee has taken an interest in your project and wants to understand the details of how it will function. Your presentation should articulate how you envision your residency taking place, including information about your budget, timelines, a description of the work that you will undertake, and how you imagine you will be able to incorporate mentorship opportunities for our local artists within your residency. You will also be given time to ask clarifying questions to the Arts Council team, and for them to ask you questions, too.
If there are any details in your submitted proposal that the selections committee would like further explanation of, they will let you know in the email that invites you to interview.
There are many benefits with this type of program, including bringing new perspectives, techniques and networking opportunities to the Wood Buffalo arts community and giving non-local artists a new lens on the Wood Buffalo region.
Please contact Programs Coordinator, Byron Gard at byron@artscouncilwb.ca or 587-674-1625 ext. 101.
If online forms are not your forte, Arts Council is open to accommodate other means of submissions.
If you would like to submit your application online, please see more on the Apply tab.
Arts Council hopes to build artist capacity by paralleling an application process that is adopted by the wider arts communities across Canada and the world. However, we also recognize that this process may be stressful to some. Arts Council celebrates and supports diversity, and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all, free of barriers and discrimination. We are committed to providing programs that are accessible and barrier free.
This year, applicants have three alternate options to submit a proposal:
1. Mail-in your Proposal
A printed template can be mailed out to you with a self-addressed return envelope. This needs to reach the Arts Council office by 12PM (MST) on the proposal due date.
2. Oral Submission
Oral submissions will be accepted as a recorded audio file. This audio file will not be transcribed to text. It will be presented to the selection committee in its recorded form, so that it is received in your voice, as originally intended.
3. Set Up an Appointment
Any artists struggling with any other options are welcome to meet with our team in person or virtually to ensure a smooth application process. Please contact the Programs Team at programs@artscouncilwb.ca
For more information or support in the applications process, please contact the Programs Team at programs@artscouncilwb.ca or by phone 587-674-1625.
The Suncor Indigenous Artist Program is structured the same as the Artist in Residence program. The only difference is that the artist applying for the Suncor Indigenous Artist in Residence program must be an Indigenous artist living in Canada. This artist will also have the opportunity to work with urban and rural Indigenous peoples as a mentor.
Arts Council Wood Buffalo welcomes any and all artforms.
These artforms can include (but is not limited to): craft, dance, literary arts, media, music, performing arts or visual arts.
For more in depth information, please read the Artist in Residence Handbook .
This program is designed to celebrate and develop Indigenous artists. Therefore, we will only accept applications from Indigenous artists living in Canada.
However, if you are interested in participating in a residency, we encourage you to apply for the Artist in Residence stream.
Yes, if you choose to identify as Indigenous on your application, you will be considered for both program streams: Artist in Residence and Suncor Indigenous Artist Program.
If you are invited to make a presentation, it is because the Artist in Residence Selection Committee has taken an interest in your project and wants to understand the details of how it will function. Your presentation should articulate how you envision your residency taking place, including information about your budget, timelines, a description of the work that you will undertake, and how you imagine you will be able to incorporate mentorship opportunities for our local artists within your residency. You will also be given time to ask clarifying questions to the Arts Council team, and for them to ask you questions, too.
If there are any details in your submitted proposal that the selections committee would like further explanation of, they will let you know in the email that invites you to interview.
There are many benefits with this type of program, including bringing new perspectives, techniques and networking opportunities to the Wood Buffalo arts community and giving non-local artists a new lens on the Wood Buffalo region.
Please contact Programs Coordinator, Byron Gard at byron@artscouncilwb.ca or 587-674-1625 ext. 101.
Are you interested in sponsoring or making a contribution to the Artist in Residence program?
Visit our Support Us page to view the different sponsorship opportunities, or contact us to share your vision on how you can support the Artist in Residence Program. We are open to creative possibilities and would be happy to discuss alternative sponsorship options with you.
Find out what other organizations have to say about supporting the arts in our region.
For more information on the Artist in Residence Program, or for questions on securing your sponsorship opportunity, please contact ACWB Executive Director, Liana Wheeldon, at liana@artscouncilwb.ca or 587-674-1625 ext. 100.
We would like to thank Suncor for their generous support of the Suncor Indigenous Artist Program.
The Suncor Indigenous Artist Program falls under the Artist in Residence umbrella and supports one Indigenous artist living in Canada. This artist has an artistic career based on using traditional knowledge, skills and materials to tell their contemporary stories.
The Suncor Indigenous Artist Program supports the preservation and expression of Indigenous art and culture in our region and across Canada.
