FAQ’s

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.

Mandatory Orientations are scheduled for:

– Full time and Part time residencies: Saturday May 23, 2026 from 1-3pm
– Part time (July): Saturday July 11, 2026 from 1-3pm

Full Time Residency:

• Dates: Saturday, May 23 – Sunday, August 16, 2026
• Duration: 12 Weeks
• Fee: $715.00* + $25.00 insurance fee

Part Time (May Start) Residency:

• Dates: Saturday, May 23 – Sunday, June 28, 2026
• Duration: 5 Weeks
• Fee: $432.00* + $15.00 insurance fee

Part Time (July Start) Residency:

• Dates: Saturday July 11 – Sunday, August 16, 2026
• Duration: 5 Weeks
• Fee: $432.00* + $15.00 insurance fee

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

The Fibre Department studios at the Alberta University of the Arts, 1407 14th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB.

Residency fees for non members:

• Part time residency costs $432.00 (+$15.00 insurance fee)
• Full time residency costs $715.00 (+$25.00 insurance fee).

Residency fees for active members (save 10%):

• Part time residency costs $389.00 (+$15.00 insurance fee)
• Full time residency costs $644.00 (+$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 of $25). 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 ($715 value). The scholarship will be awarded based on the quality and completeness of the application. New this year, 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. The research component will also be considered during jury review.

If you are interested in applying for the Contextural Summer Residency scholarship, be sure to check the appropriate box on the 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 letter of intent.

Residency participants are responsible for providing their own supplies.

You must provide your own silkscreen for your work. If you do not own a silkscreen 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 is scheduled maintenance, and AUArts Extended Studies classes being held in the fibre studios. Extended Studies 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 mid August at AUArts, and will run approximately 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. Only registered residency participants with valid ID cards are permitted in the studios. Failure to comply with this could result in dismissal from the residency.

Notification letters will be sent to the email address you provided by the end of April 2026.

Interested applicants should complete an online residency application by midnight April 5, 2026. Please see the “Application Requirements” section for more information.

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 where  other members of the residency are encouraged to  leave comments, constructive criticism and praise throughout the residency.

Additionally, 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 regarding these critique events to follow.

No, however as we will be utilizing the studios within the AUArts Fibre Department we do suggest having some familiarity with the AUArts facilities and/or fibre processes including printing, dyeing and weaving (see list below).