Artist in Residence
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Applications for the Artist in Residence Program are now open. Apply by Monday, August 17.
Richmond Hill's Artist in Residence program was developed to provide artists with the opportunity to develop new pieces of work with the purpose of animating public spaces throughout the City. The goal of the artwork is meant to engage the community through the creation of temporary installation(s) and/or creative experiences.
2026 Call for Artists
The City of Richmond Hill invites professional artists to apply for the Fall 2026 Artist in Residence (AiR) Program. This residency offers a unique opportunity to shape the visual identity of the new Richmond Hill Cultural Centre through a cohesive public art project that connects an interior mural with two exterior street-pole banners.
The selected Artist in Residence will create:
- One interior, hand-painted mural in the Cultural Centre boardroom; and
- Two complementary exterior street-pole banners that extend the project’s themes into the surrounding streetscape.
Guidelines
| Overview |
| Richmond Hill’s Artist in Residence (AiR) Program supports community-engaged artistic practices that animate civic life across the City. Through temporary installations, participatory programming, exhibitions, performances, and media presentations, the program fosters cultural vibrancy, placemaking, and intercultural exchange while supporting artists’ professional growth. This residency supports community-engaged artistic practice, along with opportunities for public engagement. |
| Project Summary |
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Interior Mural Exterior Street Pole Banners (2) Street Pole Banner Technical Specifications 1. Document Setup
2. Resolution
3. Colour
4. File Format
5. Additional Notes
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| Residency Facilities (Richmond Hill Cultural Centre) |
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Artist in Residence Studio: This residency provides a lockable studio space with a window, suitable for planning/design, 2D work, digital production, and small-scale prototyping. Artist supplies their own materials. Restrictions & Safety:
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| What We Provide |
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| What You Deliver |
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| Eligibility |
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How to Apply |
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Complete the online Application Form and submit required support materials. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Deadline to apply: Monday, August 17 at 11:59 p.m. Artist selection: Late-August Residency period: mid-September to mid-December, 2026 Additional requirements, including insurance and other project‑specific terms will be outlined in a formal artist agreement to the successful artist. |
Apply for the Artist in Residence Program
Past Residencies
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2024/2025 - Jasmine Vanstone, Harmony of the Waves |
| The 2024/25 Artist in Residence was artist Jasmine Vanstone. Jasmine's piece, entitled Harmony of the Waves reflected the rhythmic flow of water and the spirit of community. The patterns on the waveform shapes were inspired by residents' designs during Jasmine’s facilitated hands on activities at the 2024 Canada Day and ArtWalk events. The installation was made of plywood, exterior latex paint, acrylic paint, textile windsock, and featured engaging Augmented Reality (AR) elements.This project was developed in partnership with STEPS Public Art, with mentorship from Oddside Arts. Supported by: Canadian Race Relations Foundation, TD Bank Group, Ontario Arts Council and Government of Ontario. |
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2019 - Cindy Scaife, A Puzzling Habitat |
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The 2019 Artist in Residence was muralist and arts educator Cindy Scaife. Cindy created a sculpture series called A Puzzling Habitat, which focused on the power of art to generate awareness of threatened species in our local community. Families were able to create their own craft version of these sculptures through various workshops. In total, there were 6 family workshops and over 500 people interacted with the sculptures.
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| 2018 - Aimie Bothelo, Bookaliedoscope |
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The 2018 Artist in Residence was blacksmith Aimie Bothelo. Aimie created a temporary installation called Bookaleidoscope. The interactive sculpture was located at the Richmond Hill Central Library Garden and allowed the community the chance to view the world in different patterns and colours. Two workshops were also offered where families were invited to create their own craft kaleidoscope.
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| 2017 - The Karma Project, Intercollective |
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The 2017 Artists in Residence were The Karma Project, Hasheel Lodhia and Robert Halley. They presented six performances of Intercollective, an interactive experience where music and movement came together, to honour the diverse fabric of Canada and the residents of Richmond Hill.
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