NMC’s self-directed Artist in Residence program is designed to nurture artistry and innovation by providing musicians with the tools, time and space, and the use of NMC’s one-of-a-kind collection and expertise to create new works in a world-class facility.
Past Artist in Residence participants include lo-fi soul duo Sargeant X Comrade, indie alt-pop musician Rich Aucoin, pop-rockers MAJOR LOVE, psych-rock trio nêhiyawak, classically-trained vocalist and composer Jeremy Dutcher, DJ-producer duo A Tribe Called Red, neo-classical pianist Jean-Michel Blais, FRONTPERSON (the project of Kathryn Calder of The New Pornographers and Mark Andrew Hamilton of Woodpidgeon), jazz artist Quinsin Nachoff, guitar slinger Luke Doucet, singer-songwriter Basia Bulat, and many others.
Applications Now Closed
NMC’s Artist in Residence program applications for the 2023 season are now closed. Thank you to all those who applied.
About the Program
The self-directed Artist in Residence program offers access to unique studio environments, technical assistance from NMC staff, including an audio engineer and technical assistant, and access to NMC’s living collection, spanning 450 years of music technology and innovation.
NMC will be awarding a limited number of residencies for recording and studio projects. Before the start of their residency, successful applicants will work with NMC staff to coordinate details such as residency length, studio and collections access, and working hours. Residencies typically take place in the day between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. However, this may be negotiated around artist needs, resources, and other NMC programming. Transportation, accommodation, and meals are the responsibility of the artist.
Artists in Residence participate in a public presentation, such as a performance, workshop, live or recorded interview, or collaborative project. The public presentation will be developed before the residency with the support of NMC’s programming staff.
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Who should apply?
This year's residency is uniquely aligned with “The Year of the Guitar.” Artists will be selected based on their proposed incorporation of the guitar into their residency, alongside other criteria. Canadian musicians of all genres, backgrounds, and skill levels are encouraged to apply. The program is ideal for individuals, ensembles, bands, and researchers wishing to focus their attention on a specific project, including, but not limited to, recording, exploring NMC’s acoustic and electronic instrument collection, songwriting, and academic research. Successful applicants will demonstrate a focused, feasible project that can be completed within the scope of the program. Artists should be available to complete their residency in October or November of 2023.
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Length of program
Residency length is awarded based on the scope and scale of the project proposed. The standard residency length is five days between Mondays and Fridays. Larger recording-based projects may be given special consideration for longer residencies.
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Adjudication
Applications will be reviewed by a jury of NMC staff and industry professionals.
Successful artists and projects will:
- Highlight the guitar as a focal point of the residency
- Demonstrate excellence, aptitude, and ambition
- Display artistic merit that shows promise and originality
- Propose creative use of the NMC collection, equipment, and resources
- Help fulfill NMC’s mandate to serve all levels of artistic development and feature diversity across genre, region, gender, and cultural representations
- Show community outreach potential
- Be available to complete their residency in October or November 2023
The National Music Centre’s Artist in Residence program is generously supported by Bell Media.
