Calling artists! Applications are now open for the City of Abbotsford 2025 Artist in Residence: Sharing the Stories of Abbotsford. This self-directed residency encourages collaboration between the artist and Heritage Abbotsford Society to strengthen community appreciation of local heritage through art (see below for examples of artforms and engagements). The residency runs from April – September, 2025.
Description and Goals
The 2025 residency includes a partnership with Heritage Abbotsford Society to create new opportunities for the community to experience art, culture, and heritage at both partner and City venues and events. The goals of this community engagement focused residency are to:
- Create accessible opportunities for art, culture, and heritage in the community that contribute to the residency theme of “Sharing the Stories of Abbotsford”
- Provide participatory activities that promote the City’s history and heritage to local residents and visitors of all ages
- Provide free, fun, and accessible activities for the community to discover, experience, and participate in art, culture, and heritage
About Heritage Abbotsford Society
Heritage Abbotsford Society is based at the Trethewey House Heritage Site at Mill Lake on the traditional, ancestral, unceded, and shared territory of the Semá:th and Máthxwi Peoples who have lived in Stó꞉lō Téméxw since time immemorial. Permanent exhibitions and annually recurring events include:
- BCER Upper Sumas Train Station
- Selxwi:chel Arts and Culture Days Festival
- South Poplar Schoolhouse
- Sylvia Pincott Heritage Habitat Garden
- The River People and the Land: Living within S’ólh Téméxw (Heritage Gallery)
- Trethewey House
Interested applicants are encouraged to review the Heritage Abbotsford Strategic Plan which outline’s the organization’s values, vision, and mission (heritageabbotsford.ca/2020-2023-strategic-plan).
Eligible Art and Engagements
A diverse range of art practices are eligible for the Artist in Residence program. The artist may be an individual or collective working in media including, but not limited to: Drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, fashion, craft, installation, performance, sound, music, new media, dance, theatre, and literary arts. Examples of engagements could include:
- Facilitating interactive art workshops
- Leading participatory community performances
- Providing artist talks or tours
Schedule and Locations
The selected artist will provide twelve (12) engagement sessions over the course of the residency. Proposals should outline time dedicated to research, planning, preparation, and community engagements.
The residency does not include living space or dedicated studio access, instead encouraging research, engagement, and presentation in partner venues or City facilities. Based on the 2025 program focus of “Sharing the Stories of Abbotsford,” the following venues, programs, and events have been identified for applicant consideration (final schedule will be developed in collaboration between the artist, Heritage Abbotsford Society, and City staff):
Heritage Abbotsford Society Venues:
- BCER Upper Sumas Train Station (Trethewey House Heritage Site)
- Collections Storage (Yale Road)
- South Poplar Schoolhouse (Gladwin and Huntingdon)
- Trethewey House Heritage Site (Mill Lake)
- Sylvia Pincott Heritage Habitat Garden (Mill Lake)
Heritage Abbotsford Society 2025 Programs and Events:
- Craft and heritage skills transmission workshops (May - August)
- On This Spot (virtual heritage tours)
- Selxwi:chel Arts and Culture Days Festival (Week of June 8)
- Walking Tours (Mill Lake, Matsqui Village, Trethewey House Heritage Site)
City and Partner Venues:
- Abbotsford Recreation Centre
- Matsqui Recreation Centre
- Abbotsford Libraries (Clearbrook, Mount Lehman, Abbotsford Community)
- Kariton Art Gallery (Mill Lake Park)
City 2025 Programs and Events:
- Canada Day (July 1)
- Culture Days (September 19 – October 12)
- Go Play Outside (April – October)
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Stetís ímexstowx (September 30)
Supports Provided
The following supports will be provided to the successful applicant:
- Access to Heritage Abbotsford Society archives, collection, library, and sites
- Access to Abbotsford Libraries and Kariton Art Gallery for programming (as schedule permits)
- Artist and materials fee
- Staff booking of partner and City facilities for engagements and presentations
- Access to some facilitation equipment (tables, chairs, tents, audio equipment, signage)
- Access to volunteers as required
- Limited access to staff for artist engagements as required
- Marketing and promotion for artist engagements
Artist Eligibility
- Must be 18 years or older (no age limit for applicants)
- Must be able to provide twelve (12) public engagement sessions over the course of the program (April – September 2025)
- Must have a relationship to Abbotsford (live past or present, study, work, or play)
- Must uphold the City of Abbotsford Strategic Plan values of respect, integrity, openness, collaboration, and inclusivity
- The successful applicant will be required to provide a Police Information Check including a Vulnerable Sector Screening. The results of the check must be acceptable to the City of Abbotsford at its sole discretion (assistance and reimbursement provided separate from artist fee)
- The successful applicant will be required to provide insurance listing City of Abbotsford and Abbotsford School District #34 as additional insured (assistance and reimbursement provide separate from artist fee)
Applications from the following communities are encouraged:
- Emerging artists*
- Indigenous Artists
- Culturally Diverse Artists
- Artists with disabilities
- 2SLGBTQIA+ Artists
*Emerging artists are defined as those who may have a limited record of exhibitions or public engagement experience. There are no age restrictions on who is considered an emerging artist, however, applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
Artist Fees
The chosen artist will be paid $7,500. This can be used to cover artist fees, project development, materials, and the delivery of community engagement programs during the residency.
Apply Now
The deadline to submit is: February 15, 2025.
Applicants can review previous residencies at: abbotsford.ca/artist-residence. If you have any questions regarding the program or the application process, please contact the City of Abbotsford’s Culture Coordinator: culture@abbotsford.ca
