Telling Our Stories invites Indigenous artists in the Treaty 7 region to share stories through art. The theme centres visual storytelling as a way of expressing lived experience, cultural knowledge, memory, identity, and connection to land and community. Artists are encouraged to interpret “story” broadly—through image, material, process, symbolism, or narrative—drawing from personal, ancestral, or contemporary perspectives. While the residency is primarily focused on visual art, other art forms such as literary, performance, or media arts are also welcome.

5 artists will be selected by Pokaiks Reconciliation Society. In our selection, we will be looking for a variety of art forms (primarily visual art with the openness to performers, writers, or filmmakers), diversity of backgrounds, and experiences. We will also be selecting an artist who would also like to be the lead artist(s) who will organize the residency along with all the administrative tasks involved including scheduling events, art talks, marketing including social media, and workshops.

Once the artists are selected, we will arrange a series of meetings so that the artists can connect, share their ideas and art, and work together to organize and plan their residency. We aim to provide space and support to the artists with our mentors —————————-, where meaningful relationships can grow among the artists. To encourage this, we will invite the artists to co-create a collaborative piece centered around the TELLING OUR STORIES theme which may begin to take shape through discussions in our early meetings.

At one of the earlier meetings, we will invite an Indigenous Elder to share their story. This will be a great way to learn and begin sharing perspectives and finding unexpected connections which may help to inform the rest of the residency.

Through the collaborative project, we are excited to see how each artist’s practice evolves alongside with other artists — influenced by the shared stories, and deeper mutual understanding. We hope that this collaborative project not only fosters meaningful artistic partnerships and encourages artists to step beyond their habitual practices, but also inspires new voices and ways of expression while engaging critical dialogues and co-creating.

Sparrow Arts Society and Pokaiks Reconciliation Society will also attend these meetings to support the artists and mentor them through the residency process as needed. The artists will sign a residency agreement with Sparrow Arts Society which will include the details of the space, as well at agreement with Pokaiks Reconciliation Society which will outline expectations and artists compensation plan and procedures.

The artists will have the opportunity to exhibit existing work related to the theme and/or create new pieces before and during the residency term. The 2-month residency will be from December 1 2026 to Jan 31, 2027. In this time, the artists can use the space to work in and create new work in the space. The artists will present an exhibition which could change throughout the term and will have both an Opening and Closing Reception. The artists will engage with the community by being open to the public with some of the artists in attendance Thurs-Sat 11am-6pm, present artists talks (3, with 2 artists each), 5 workshops (1 per artist), and create the opportunity for visitors to the space to participate in a community art piece (drop-in in public hours). During the residency the artists will also collaborate together to create one collaborative art piece.

In February 2027, the artists will work together with Pokaiks Reconciliation Society to present the results of their residency in a report as well as fill out Sparrow Arts Society’s EXIT survey.

• —————: Application Deadline

• ——————-: Evaluation of Applications and Interviews with potential candidates

• —————: Notification of Results

• —————-: 4 meetings with artists-in-residence (dates/topics TBA)

• December 1, 2026: move-in day of residency and space orientation

• Dec 2026 - Jan 2027: exhibition, 5 workshops, 3 artists talks, community art project, open studio, artists-in-residence gallery attending Thurs-Sat 11am-6pm (schedule TBA)

• January 30, 2027: Closing Reception

• January 31, 2027: de-installation and residency wrap-up

• February 2027: meeting to create a final report of the residency and Sparrow Artspace Exit Survey

Each of the successful artists-in-residence will receive the following:

• Exhibition Artist fee: $644.00 per artist

• installation of exhibition: $281.00 per artist

• Honoraria for 5 meetings: meeting x $50 honoraria ($250.00 total)

• Workshop Facilitation (optional): $541.00

• materials for workshop (optional): $200.00

• Honoraria for Closing Event: $50.00 per artist

• Honoraria for Gallery attending for opening hours (Thurs-Sat 11am-6pm): $50 per day (if divided equally approximately $540/artist

• Honoraria for opening event: $50.00 per artist

• Artist Fee for Artist Talk: $391.00 per artist

• TOTAL: approximately $2,947.00

Other possible fees (not available for each artist):

•  Honoraria for Photography to document the residency   $ 1,000.00  

• Facilitation of Community Art Project   $ 757.00  

• Supplies for Community Art Project   $ 300.00

Project Coordinator

Approximately 150 hours @ $40/hr: managing artists, schedules, meetings, social media design & posting, organizing workshops and events, and other administration tasks. The project coordinator will be one of the five artists and will receive the above renumeration ( $2,947.00) plus $6,000.