Open Call: Artist-in-Residence

The South Asian Visual Arts  Centre (SAVAC) and The Centre for South Asian Critical Humanities (CSACH) at the University of Toronto  Mississauga (UTM) invites applications for an artist-in-residence for the winter semester  (February to April 2027).  

SAVAC is the community partner for this initiative. The residency is funded and administered solely by CSACH.

We invite applications from contemporary practicing artists, who will come to UTM to develop  work that will be site-responsive or site-specific, culminating in an eventual temporary or short  term installation on campus. The art can be digital or material or performative, or in any other  medium. At present we can guarantee office space, and although we will attempt to find studio  space on campus, we cannot guarantee such access. 

This is an in-person, campus-based residency. The artist is expected to be at UTM at least two  days a week throughout February, March and April. Regular contact with students is central to  the program. As the artist develops their creative work at UTM, discussion of their practice will  be integrated into courses in History, History of Religions, Women and Gender Studies, Visual  Studies, Culture and Communication, Art History, Studio Art, and/or Cinema Studies. Interested  classes will invite the artist to speak about their work. The artist is encouraged to engage students  in participatory and experiential activities related to artmaking as a response to political and  social transformations in contemporary South Asia and South Asian diasporas. 

Over the course of the residency, the artist will lead at least two class visits, seminars, talks or  workshops with students, and will give one public lecture about their art practice at the  University towards the end of the residency. The selected artist will sign a residency agreement with CSACH setting out these commitments before the residency begins. 

The vision and purposes of this artist-in-residence program are:  

1. To use art practice and display to build bridges between UTM and its wider communities.

2. To engage university and non-university communities in the ongoing potential of art in  education. 

3. To encourage more of our students to see themselves as active participants and  contributors to Canada’s and Mississauga’s cultural landscape.  

The residency will invite art into the academic spaces of our university, disrupting existing forms  of communication and achievement, and giving students and faculty spaces to think about the  role of contemporary art in public conversations. With the diverse student body of UTM and the  larger Mississauga area, this program will help to develop an appreciation of contemporary  visual art as practised by racialized artists in a wider community and significantly contribute to  UTM’s cultural landscape.

What we can guarantee: 

• Artist’s fee: $17,000 for the three-month residency, paid in three monthly  installments (February to April). Accommodation and parking are not included. • Production budget of up to $5,000, negotiable based on projected material needs. • Shared office space (studio space is not assured) 

• University resources (Wi-Fi, library card) 

• Access to SAVAC’s archives and research centre 

• Intellectual property retained by artists 

What we seek from the artist: 

• Presence on campus at least two days a week for the full residency 

• A minimum of two class visits, seminars, talks or workshops with students • One public lecture 

• An installation on campus. 

How to apply 

Please address applications to the Centre for South Asian Critical Humanities and send it to  CSACH.Director@utoronto.ca, copied to shabina.moheebulla@utoronto.ca by November  21, 2026, 11.59 pm. Applications should consist of the following: 

• Contact information – full mailing address, phone, email, website and/or social  media (if available)  

• A letter of intent that introduces your artistic practice, goals, and a description of  the project you wish to undertake during the residency at UTM (2 pages  maximum) 

• Resume or CV (3 pages maximum) 

• Visual portfolio as a single PDF (minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 of digital  images of different artworks, each with a brief description (title, date, medium,  location, etc.). For video, sound or multi-media works, please include Vimeo or  YouTube links. 

Applications will be jointly reviewed by interdisciplinary jurors appointed by CSACH and  SAVAC. Alongside artistic merit, jurors will consider the applicant’s availability to be on  campus and the viability, strength, and ingenuity of their plan for engaging students. We thank  all artists for their interest and taking the time to share their practices with us. Due to the high  volume of applications, we can only notify short-listed applicants. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Who is this residency for? 

This residency is intended for artists with roots in South Asia or its various diasporas. We are  seeking artists whose contemporary practices engage the political and social concerns within 

South Asia and its diasporic communities across the globe. Individual artists who have been  practicing in their fields for at least eight years or more are invited to apply. 

Do I need to be located in the Greater Toronto Area to be eligible? 

No, artists based anywhere in Southern Ontario and other nearby areas are invited to apply.  However, this is an in-person residency at UTM Mississauga and requires weekly presence on  campus. The artist is responsible for their own travel and accommodations.  

Are the residency dates flexible? 

While we may be able to accommodate minor changes (1-2 weeks), the residency cannot take  place at a different time of year. The requirement that the artist be present at least 2 days a week  at UTM’s campus is non-negotiable. 

How many artists will be selected? 

One individual artist will be selected. 

Can I collaborate with other artists or community members for my project? Absolutely. If you are proposing a participatory project, please expand on your methodology and  any ethical considerations in your letter of intent. 

Can I apply if I am a full-time student? 

Given the time demands of this residency, we encourage students to apply after they have  graduated to be able fully immerse themselves into the residency experience.  

What am I expected to complete? 

The core commitments are regular presence on campus, at least two class visits, seminars, talks  or workshops with students, one public lecture, and a non-permanent installation on campus.  Beyond these, we do not impose additional expectations on artistic outcomes or deliverables for  this short-term residency. 

What happens to the work after the residency? 

Proposals for non-permanent installations will mainly be considered. We will also consider  proposals that might leave a more lasting work (as defined by the artist, including work that  remains up for a few weeks or months) at UTM, and we ask you to address this in your letter of  intent. The artist retains copyright and moral rights in all cases. If a work is to remain at CSACH,  the terms of ownership, display and care will be agreed in writing between CSACH and the  artist.  

Are there art studios or facilities I can use? 

Unfortunately, studio access is not available. The selected artist will have office space and a  $5000 production budget to support their project needs.  

Can I propose a project that is very different from my past work? 

We encourage artists to experiment and take creative risks. A residency can be a great place to  explore new directions in your practice. Be sure to elaborate on your artistic goals and  motivations for the shift in your letter of intent.

Can I exhibit at the Blackwood Gallery at the end of this residency? 

No, this initiative is not run by the Blackwood. However, we strive to introduce the artist to  colleagues in other organizations. Typically, the final output is collectively determined between  CSACH and the selected artist. Past examples have included screenings, temporary installations,  and performances.