2026 Collaborative Artists Summer Residency

For Artspace Members Working in Collaboration

Artspace invites Members who are working in teams, or who will form a collective of practicing artists, to propose a project that can be explored, researched, developed, workshopped or created in the Artspace gallery at 338 Aylmer Street North in Peterborough.

The Artspace main gallery is a 1000 square foot space with 12 foot high ceilings. 

This unpaid residency runs from July 5 to August 22, 2026.

The Members Residency is open to Artspace members working in any discipline, including visual art, media arts, performance, works-in-language, or any combination. The residency is self-directed and unpaid, and may be used for research, development, creation, and presentation; to pilot a new project or bring an existing project into its next phase.

PROPOSALS

Artists are encouraged to reimagine the Artspace gallery as a working studio and presentation space, and to consider the day-to-day engagement of passersby on the Aylmer Street sidewalk and road. 

One of the key objectives of this residency will be to communicate with viewers and/or to activate artwork through our street-level windows. 

Proposals should include some form of public participation, engagement, presentation, or performance at some point during the 7-week residency.

Artists are also asked to consider the 2026 theme of Belonging in their proposal.

RESIDENCY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Activation of our west-facing, street-level windows through some form of public engagement.
• Supplies and materials. (We offer some of each, and access to some equipment.)
• Living and travel expenses, and associated costs.
• Coordinating with Artspace personnel regarding access.
• Maintaining independent practice and project.
• Restoration to pre-project site terms  after completion of Residency.
• Compliance with safety and security procedures.
• Publicly sharing process and progress through applicable modes of communication. Communications will be coordinated with our staff and made public via Artspace newsletter, website, social media channels, etc.

YOUR PROPOSAL

• To be submitted by a single, lead applicant on behalf of a collaborative artistic team

EVALUATION

Our selection team is asked to reflect on their implicit biases and to prioritize BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled, and/or low-income artists. The following criteria will be considered:

• Clarity of ideas
• Feasibility  
• Community engagement components
• Relevance to the 2026 theme of belonging