Currently 3 active funded artist residencies open to applicants in Canada, across AI, arts, film, journalism, research, tech and cross-disciplinary practice. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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New_ Public is piloting a virtual Entrepreneur in Residence programme for solo founders building alternatives to the mainstream social platforms. Its framing: people are turning away from algorithmic social media, AI bots are taking over the big platforms, and users are retreating into private closed spaces, which leaves an opening for builders working on a new information ecosystem rather than the status quo. The residency supplies research, experts, connections and tools; the founder brings the vision and experience. TWO FOCUS AREAS: humans connecting to humans, meaning products that bring people into meaningful contact online (forums, messaging apps, groups, microblogging, in-person meetups), including AI-powered platforms and tools as long as they connect people to people rather than people to bots; and local and civic information environments, meaning tools for distributing local news, building community knowledge and facilitating collective sensemaking, so people can get trustworthy information about their communities. WHAT RESIDENTS DO: use self-directed time to prototype ideas, test assumptions and gain clarity; participate in regular check-ins, engage with the other resident and the wider team, and take candid feedback on product and strategy; engage seriously with go-to-market questions about who the user is, how they find you, and the path to sustainability; and help shape the programme itself, since the pilot cohort's feedback directly informs how the EIR programme runs going forward. WHO THEY WANT: entrepreneurial founders ready to build their next thing within the focus areas, with a track record of or clear drive toward work that builds social trust, connection and belonging; strong product thinkers with good judgment, a relentless focus on user needs, and openness to coaching on mission-aligned business models. An early idea is enough, no working product required. The pilot is open to founders with something else going on alongside, though the full programme will most likely be full time. APPLICATION PROCESS: submit the written application online; shortlisted applicants submit a short video by 18 September 2026 covering background, motivation and a quick pitch; full applications and videos go to the advisory board, with offers made in early October ahead of the kickoff. FUTURE COHORTS: New_ Public plans to open the next cohort to the UK and EU from spring 2027. Deadline 11:59pm Pacific on Wednesday 9 September 2026.
The Al Purdy A-frame Residency offers Canadian writers time and space to work at the historic A-frame home built by poet Al Purdy and his wife Eurithe on Roblin Lake in Ameliasburgh, Prince Edward County, Ontario. Poetry is prioritized, but all writers are welcome. SUPPORT: CAD 750 per week stipend and paid return travel (subject to the Association's fundraising and Canada Council matching); residencies run 3 to 12 weeks. ELIGIBILITY: Canadian citizens or permanent residents only. DEADLINE: 18 September 2026 (postmark, or 4:00pm PT for electronic submissions). Apply via the residency page.
The Societe des arts technologiques (SAT) in Montreal runs a research-creation residency program in arts and technologies for artists and collectives working in the performing arts and/or media arts. The residency funds a research-creation stage of a project in technological arts rather than the finalisation of a finished work, so the call weighs the exploration process and the innovation in it above a polished outcome. Each selected project receives a CAD 10,000 grant, whether the applicant is an individual artist or a collective, plus access to SAT spaces and equipment, technical and creative support from the SAT teams, mentoring and training activities, and documentation and archiving. Access to spaces and equipment is assessed against the project's needs and granted subject to availability. Travel, meal and accommodation costs beyond the grant are not covered. Open to professional artists and artistic collectives worldwide, at any level of experience and from any primary discipline, provided the profile and project suit immersive technologies; collectives must submit a joint portfolio showing they can carry out the project independently, particularly the visual and sound creation inside a dome. Each application must include a form and supporting documents setting out the concept, the technical solutions considered, and what will be explored during the residency. One application per project and per person; incomplete applications are not evaluated; use permanent, downloadable links rather than WeTransfer or similar temporary services. Accommodations and alternative support documents (large print and so on) are available on request at residences@sat.qc.ca. Deadline 18 October 2026. Apply through the Google Form linked from the SAT open-call page.