FAQ’s

Full Time Residency:

• Dates: Saturday, May 27 – Saturday, August 20, 2023
• Duration: 12 Weeks
• Fee: $585.00* + $25.00 insurance fee

Part Time (May Start) Residency:

• Dates: Saturday, May 27 – Sunday, July 2, 2023
• Duration: 5 Weeks
• Fee: $350.00* + $15.00 insurance fee

Part Time (July Start) Residency:

• Dates: Saturday July 15 – Sunday, August 20, 2023
• Duration: 5 Weeks
• Fee: $350.00* + $15.00 insurance fee

*Current, active Contextural Members are eligible for a 10% discount on their residency fee.

*All Non-members may opt for Contextural membership with their residency application at no additional cost.

Please note that all participants will be required to complete orientation prior to move in and will be responsible for clean-up on move out days. More information to follow.

The Fibre Department studios at the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly known as the Alberta College of Art and Design), 1407 14th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB.

Residency fees for the part time residency are $350.00 (+$15.00 insurance fee) and full time residency are $585.00 (+$25.00 insurance fee).

Returning summer residency participants will have existing ID badges reactivated at no charge. The cost for new or replacement ID badges will be charged to the individual participant (at the current AUArts rate). Badge activation and creation will be arranged by Residency Coordinator prior to the residency move in. If arrangements for ID badges are not made prior to orientation, it will be the responsibility of the participant to arrange to have a new badge issued with security directly.

Participants are responsible for their own supply costs.

Contextural offers the Contextural Summer Residency Scholarship to individuals applying for the full time residency. The scholarship includes studio fees for the full time summer residency ($585 value). The scholarship will be awarded based on the quality and completeness of the application. We encourage scholarship applicants to include a research component to their Statement of Intent. This could be experimenting with a new process, exploration of a fibre artist and their techniques or further developing your own practice. This research component will also be considered during jury review.

If you are interested in applying for the 2023 Contextural Summer Residency scholarship, be sure to check the appropriate box on the 2023 Contextural Residency Application form and in your Statement of Intent, please include one or two sentences indicating your interest in applying for the scholarship and how you would plan to utilize the studio to achieve your goals.

The scholarship recipient will be expected to exhibit their work as a part of the end of summer residency exhibition.

Please note: If you are a current Contextural Member and would like to be considered for the Contextural Residency Scholarship, you must submit a complete application, along with checking the appropriate application box and the inclusion of the required information within your statement of intent.

Residency participants are responsible for providing their own supplies.

You must provide your own silk-screens for your work. If you do not own a silk-screen and you require the use of one, you can purchase one from Stanley Sign & Screen.

Residency participants have access 7 days per week from 7am – 11pm, except when there are AUArts Extended Studies classes being held in the fibre studios. These classes are dependent on minimum participation and may be cancelled. Schedule changes will be communicated should this occur. A schedule of studio closures will be posted at the beginning of the residency.

A group exhibition will be held at the end of each residency and is open to all residency participants and will be shown in partnership with the AUArts summer residencies (if possible). The theme for this year’s exhibition will be determined at a later date and will be communicated to all residency participants. The end of residency exhibition will open in August at AUArts, and will run approximately 1-2 weeks. More specific information to follow.

Although we encourage a “community” atmosphere, all of the artists who participate in the residency are here to work. It is expected that each participant is able to work independently and not rely on other participants for technical or other support. Participants are of course encouraged to interact within the community. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email us – residency@contextural.ca or contact the on duty studio monitor directly.

No. Due to health and safety policies, visitors and/or outside helpers are not permitted in the residency area. Failure to comply with this could result in dismissal from the residency.

Applicants will be notified of the results of the applications via email by the end of April 2023.

Contextural reserves the right to modify or cancel the agreement terms conditional to numbers of residency participants and access to the Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) facilities.

Interested applicants should complete the online (click here) Contextural Residency Application form: residency@contextural.ca by midnight April 14, 2023.

See “Application Requirements” below for details on what to include in your application. Current Contextural members are only required to submit a Statement of Intent for residency participation – unless they wish to be considered for the scholarship. See “Scholarship” below for details.

In the past years we have had some feedback about creating a more interactive community within the residency participants. Although we all work independently, it is sometimes beneficial to gather as a community, share ideas and get some feedback. With this in mind, this summer’s residency will feature a gallery wall specifically set up for works in progress that other members of the residency can leave comments, constructive criticism and praise throughout the week.

In addition to this, we have scheduled a critique for Contextural members and Residency participants in June to kick start the residency, and one in conjunction with the end of Residency exhibition in August. More information to follow.

No, however we do suggest having some familiarity with the AUArts facilities and/or print and dye processes.