Category Archives: MAIN SPACE

Summer Studio Residency

DEADLINE: March 21st, 2023, at 11:59 pm MST

Stride Gallery is excited to announce a call for submissions for our new programming, Summer Studio Residency. We are transforming the main exhibition area into studio spaces, with access to Stride’s library archive, a meeting space, and a small library of tools. Over June, July, and August, four artists will have access to semi-partitioned studio spaces to create independently. (Please note that the studios won’t be fully enclosed.) Our goal for the Summer Residency is to support creation around one idea, goal, or project over the summer; we want to support trials, experimentation, and material research in a studio environment. At the end of August, artists in residence will have the opportunity to publicly showcase their work (or work-in-progress) in an open house.

We recognize the strong need for physical space for emerging artists to create in Mohkinstsis/Guts’ists’i/Wincheesh-pah, colonially known as Calgary. We offer this space for early-career artists based within the city, and strongly encourage Indigenous, Black, Racialized artists, and LGBTQIA2S+ artists to apply. Institutional education, such as Bachelor in Fine Arts, is not a requirement. 

We also recognize the gallery is not fully wheelchair accessible, and is located Downtown without free parking on weekdays. Therefore, we are able to offer 1-2 residencies remotely if desired. There will be a section in the Google form to specify whether you would like an in-person or remote residency. 

To assist with material costs, the Summer Residency offers artists $500.00 per month over the period of three months. All artists who apply will hear back about their submissions by April 15th 2023. Our Board of Directors and staff will review applications together. 

To apply, please complete the Google Form. If you need specific requirements for submission or need to apply with an audio or video file in lieu of the written form, contact Dan Cardinal McCartney at dan@stride.ab.ca. Dan is also available for assistance or to answer any questions about the application. We sincerely appreciate your time and efforts in putting together a submission.

Residency Expectations:

What can you expect from being an artist in the Summer Residency?

  • Time and space to focus on one idea, goal, or project throughout the 3-month residency. We will supply a desk and chair in your independent, semi-partitioned studio.
  • Opportunity for an open house at the end of the residency to showcase research, process, and artwork.
  • Clean, respectful and safe space to create work.
  • Support from Stride staff to see their visions through in biweekly meetings in studio.
  • Co-design the outcome of the residency for potential cohort program to foster conversation with other artists.

What you can expect from us as staff?

  • Provide on-hand support and feedback to the artists if desired.
  • Provide a material fee of $500 per month over three months.
  • Maintain security and cleanliness in the studios.
  • Check in with artists regularly to ensure needs are met.
  • Provide peer mentorship such as studio visits and grant assistance.
  • Co-design the outcome of the residency with you and the other artists.

How will board members and staff evaluate your submission? Criteria for successful applications:

  • Your submission gives us a good idea of your practice or what you would like to work on
  • You work with mediums that are possible to use in the studios without dedicated ventilation (i.e. painting, drawing, some craft work like textiles, sculpture (limited woodworking), photography, video, new media, etc.) 
  • You demonstrate a need for studio space and for opportunity to share your work

*Some Considerations for the space*

  • Stride Gallery is an inaccessible space with two single-use, all-gender washrooms in the lower floor 
  • There is a communal kitchenette with a sink, microwave, fridge, and basic utensils
  • Our gallery doesn’t have a ventilation system to support toxic materials (i.e. spray paint, sawdust). 
  • Our location is downtown on the busy street of Macleod Trail, with noise levels peaking during rush hours. 
  • Staff may be working upstairs in the office area from Wednesdays-Saturdays from 12- 6pm mostly in June, July, and the end of August.
  • Tenants live on the storeys above Stride Gallery, and noise will need to be minimal after 10 pm.
  • Summer Residency hours will be from 7am-11pm for artist safety. Our location is downtown and we do not have on-site security.
  • Because this is a co-working space with other artists and staff, visitors to the studios should be kept at a minimum and keep voices low to avoid disturbance/distractions.
  • The building does not have parking. There is paid street parking on weekdays. Parking is free all day on weekends and weekdays after 6pm.

We look forward to reading your submissions!