Artist Scholar Residency

About the Open Call

The inaugural Artist Scholar Residency will occur annually every Fall, starting September 2025. This interinstitutional partnership between the University of Victoria (UVic) and Jeffrey Rubinoff Sculpture Park (JRSP) cultivates the arts. The successful applicant will undertake a September-October residency (2 – 5 weeks) at the Jeffrey Rubinoff Sculpture Park, followed by an additional week at UVic to engage with the Faculty of Fine Arts faculty and students. The residency is intended for artists and scholars seeking space to focus on creating work for exhibition or publication, informed by an investigation of Jeffrey Rubinoff’s work and their experience at the sculpture park. Eligibility requires applicants to be professional artists, as determined by Canada Arts Council criteria (specialized training, peer recognition, exhibition/publication history, curatorial activity), or distinguished scholars in an arts-related field (specialized experience/education, research/presentation/publication history, curatorial/artistic endeavors). The awardee must relocate to Hornby Island, BC and Victoria, BC for the entire residency. Family and visitors are permitted, but without adjustment to the stipend or covered costs for accompanying individuals. Both UVic and JRSP strive for accessibility, though Hornby Island accommodation currently has stairs.

What is Offered

The awardee will receive a stipend of $5,000 CAD. All travel, food, and accommodation costs will be covered, along with a budget for materials and shipping (if applicable). Awardees will have access to on-site facilities at JRSP including a library, Interpretive Center, studio, and the Park itself. The awardee may have the opportunity to attend the JRSP Company of Ideas Forum the following June.

Requirements

Applicants must be a professional artist or a distinguished scholar in an arts-related field. A plan for an exhibition, publication submission, research report, or performance must be submitted, to be realized within 18 months following the residency. The awardee is expected to spend a significant part of each week at the JRSP conducting work related to their project. The awardee may be asked to engage with other artists, curators or scholars working at the JRSP if residencies overlap. The awardee must hold a show and/or reception or talk at the JRSP at the end of the Hornby-based residency portion, and give a lecture at UVic during the Victoria-based portion related to their project. Collaborative work with other artists may be required while in residence at JRSP. The Jeffrey Rubinoff/UVIC Visiting Artist Scholar Residency must be acknowledged in all dissemination and promotion of their residency project.

How to Apply

Applications for the 2026 Residency are open until Midnight on November 16, 2025. Applicants must submit an application form via the provided link, along with: 1. Artist Biography, 2. CV, 3. Portfolio (for artists), 4. Project Proposal (including description, cost estimates, timeline for JRSP work, initial ideas for UVic student engagement, and a detailed plan for an exhibition, publication submission, or research report). Applications will be reviewed by a committee, and successful applicants will be notified by February 2026. Application link: https://finearts.uvic.ca/forms/jrsp