--- title: "Open Call for Artworks & Artist Residencies: Support 2028 Festival, Edmonton" description: EOI call for artwork and two artist-in-residence spots at the 2028 Support festival in Edmonton, exploring disability, smart textiles and access. url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/d89cdb98-9542-48b4-ae26-875940c249e8 type: program status: open createdAt: "2026-10-24" updatedAt: "2026-10-24" programType: Open call organization: University of Alberta organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/university-of-alberta deadline: "2026-12-15" location: Edmonton, AB, Canada isOnline: false compensationRange: "Artist residencies: $12,000 CAD total for the in-person residency, $8,000 CAD total for the virtual residency, inclusive of artist fee, materials, travel, accommodation and production costs." disciplines: - visual art - design - performance - research - textile - technology --- # Open Call for Artworks & Artist Residencies: Support 2028 Festival, Edmonton **Hosted by:** University of Alberta **Type:** Open call | **Location:** Edmonton, AB, Canada | **Deadline:** December 15, 2026 ## About This Program > "Support — disability, smart textiles, technology, access, and embodiment" ### Call for Expressions of Interest Based at the University of Alberta, the Co-Designing a Smartwear Revolution project is currently trying to develop "smart" garments that can respond to the body and provide support when it is needed. In order to spark conversation, critique and co-design with the communities that our smart garments aim to serve, we invite artists to engage with and creatively respond to our work. We're inviting artists, designers, performers, & artist-researchers to propose artwork for an arts festival on the theme of Support, to be held in Edmonton, Alberta in 2028. Propose new or existing work exploring the topics of support, disability, smart textiles, technology, access, and embodiment. We seek Expressions of Interest (EOI) to create artworks, fashion creations and performances for a festival around the theme of SUPPORT in May 2028. The festival will feature exhibitions, dance or theatre performances, live dress or fashion events, creative research presentations, open lab activities, and public discussions. We welcome national and international artists, performers, designers and artist-researchers of all abilities. In addition, we also have an open call for two artist-in-residence opportunities, one in-person and one fully remote. ### Festival theme: SUPPORT The Co-Designing a Smartwear Revolution project involves creating new assistive technology that is worn on the body as clothing. The development of smartwear offers an opportunity for artists to consider how wearable assistive technologies may shape both what bodies can do and how the people who wear them may wish to feel, express themselves, or be recognized by others. Support can be shaped by relationships, systems, values, and the diverse experiences of those who offer and use it. It can be physical, emotional, social, cultural, or technological, intentionally designed or developed through lived experience or adaptation. ### Application Process The application is in two stages. Stage 1 involves sending us an Expression of Interest (EOI) by December 15, 2026. Stage 2 applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by February 15, 2027, with results announced March 15, 2027. EOIs can be submitted through the Google form on our website. EOIs should include: - Application form - Artist statement (250-500 words) - Artist biography or short CV (250-500 words) - 8-10 work samples - Project proposal ### Artist-in-Residence program Based at the University of Alberta, the Co-Designing a Smartwear Revolution project is inviting two visual artists to take part in a Spring 2027 residency, engaging directly with our research team ahead of the 2028 SUPPORT festival where works created during or as a result of the residency will be showcased. We are offering two residencies, one in person and one virtual. ### In-Person Residency – 1 artist Two months, May-June 2027. One artist will work in person with the Smartwear Revolution research team, with access to an artist studio at the University of Alberta, University of Alberta libraries, painting, printmaking, media art and sculpture facilities, the Digital Scholarship Centre, ELKO Garage, and student research assistance. What you receive: $12,000 CAD total, inclusive of artist fee, materials, travel, accommodation, and production costs. ### Virtual Residency – 1 artist One artist will take part in a fully online residency, with virtual tours of the labs, online conversations with researchers, and virtual studio visits. Flexible dates between February 2027–December 2027. What you receive: $8,000 CAD total, inclusive of materials and production costs, plus student research assistance. Both the in-person and virtual artists-in-residence will create artwork, performance or fashion creations for the 2028 Support festival. The work does not have to be created during the 2027 residency, but must be ready by January 2028. ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Geographic Eligibility:** International - **Disciplines:** visual art, design, performance, research, textile, technology - **Note:** We welcome national and international artists, performers, designers and artist-researchers of all abilities. There are no restrictions regarding nationality, geography, age, gender, sexuality, religion, or disability. Collectives and student artists are welcome to apply. We are particularly interested in applicants with lived or professional experience related to disability, chronic illness, muscular and skeletal weakness, aging, caregiving, rehabilitation, mobility devices and assistive technology, and healthcare. ### Additional Requirements - Application form - Artist statement (250-500 words) - Artist biography or short CV (250-500 words) - 8-10 work samples - Project proposal ## Compensation & Benefits Artist residencies: $12,000 CAD total for the in-person residency, $8,000 CAD total for the virtual residency, inclusive of artist fee, materials, travel, accommodation and production costs. **Includes:** Stipend, Materials budget, Travel grant In-person residency: $12,000 CAD total, inclusive of artist fee, materials, travel, accommodation, and production costs. Virtual residency: $8,000 CAD total, inclusive of materials and production costs, plus student research assistance. ## What's Provided - **Studio Access:** Provided - In-person residency includes access to an artist studio at the University of Alberta, University of Alberta libraries, painting, printmaking, media art and sculpture facilities within the Art & Design department, the Digital Scholarship Centre, and ELKO Garage. ## Timeline - **Opens:** October 23, 2026 - **Deadline:** December 15, 2026 ## Contact **Email:** adwg@ualberta.ca ## How to Apply Apply at: https://smartwearrevolution.com/open-call/