Call for Applications: 2026 Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Program

Interior of Fool’s Paradise, the host location of the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Program. Photo: Peppercorn Imagine

Call for Applications: The Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Program for 2026

Application Deadline: October 10, 2025

The Ontario Heritage Trust is calling for applications to the 2026 Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence program. This residency offers a short-term opportunity for artists to be immersed in, and inspired by, the former home and studio of Canadian artist Doris McCarthy (1910-2010). McCarthy’s former home, Fool’s Paradise—a modest cottage overlooking the magnificent Scarborough Bluffs—nurtured her creative process and artistic expression. She wanted other artists to find their inspiration by spending time in these same unique surroundings.

The Trust created the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Program ten years ago to open Fool’s Paradise up to new generations of artists, and to make space for them to contemplate, create and develop their art in a unique heritage setting. Their artistic and creative perspectives enrich the living history of Fool’s Paradise and are crucial to understanding the diversity of heritage in Ontario and Canada.

About the Program

The program is targeted at artists from a variety of disciplines who want to work on a project that engages with place, identity or history that would benefit from time spent at Fool’s Paradise.

• artists in residence live and work in a quaint and cheery cottage on the spectacular Scarborough Bluffs, surrounded by Doris McCarthy’s favourite things
• at the end of the residency, artists will be asked to share their experience or work with the Trust—which could include participating in a social media post, sharing a record of the work (for example, a painting or print), or sharing a video (for example, a reading or performance)
• residencies are for single individuals who will live and work alone at the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Centre for the duration of their stay (one to two months)
• residencies begin in mid-January and run throughout the year

Exterior of Fool’s Paradise, the host location of the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Program. Photo: Peppercorn Imagine

Project Requirements

Proposed projects should engage with:

• Place: Projects may engage with the environment in general, or with the Fool’s Paradise locality (Lake Ontario, the Bluffs, trails, wildlife, etc.).
• Identity: Projects may engage with personal identity, cultural identity or identity through other lenses (such as accessibility, feminism, BIPOC, LGBTQ2S, etc.).
• History: Projects may engage with personal, familial or cultural histories, or histories of Ontario and Canada.

Who Is Eligible?

• individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada or those with an application pending for permanent residency status
• eligible creative disciplines that include visuals arts, music, writing, dance, multimedia, film and performing arts
• applicants must apply with a project in mind—the program especially looks for projects that engage with place, culture and identity, or history

Who Is Not Eligible?

• artists who have already completed a residency at the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Centre
• students enrolled in any educational institution or any learning program on a full-time or part-time basis at the undergraduate level of study
• individuals under the age of 18
• staff and Board members of the Ontario Heritage Trust and their immediate families
• disciplines that require heavy machinery, welding or flammable materials. AI-generated art is not permitted

Interior writing nook at Fool’s Paradise, the host location of the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Program. Photo: Peppercorn Imagine

How to Apply

Applications must be completed through the Ontario Heritage Trust’s online form. Applications should explain why the artist wishes to participate in the program and describe the project to be undertaken during the proposed residency. The proposal must provide a plan for how the applicant will use their time. Applicants should also identify and demonstrate the availability of resources and the capacity needed to undertake the proposed project effectively during the residency.

Applications consist of the following components:

• Application form (including biography, project description and references)
• Curriculum vitae
• Portfolio

The Doris McCarthy Gallery is pleased to offer a bursary of $1,500 to one of the selected artists for 2026. Recipients are expected to work with the gallery to deliver a program of their choosing during their stay at Fool’s Paradise (workshop, artist’s talk, etc.). Interested artists can opt-in for bursary consideration on their application.

Selection Process

The Trust has an impartial expert advisory panel to assist and support the review, adjudication and selection of suitable candidates for the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence Program. Adjudicators reflect the artistic discipline(s) and expertise that they represent as members of the advisory panel. Completed application forms (including references), curricula vitae/resumés and portfolios are used to assess the suitability of candidates for a residency. Applications are evaluated and ranked objectively and consistently by the advisory panel using assessment criteria.

Criteria

The assessment process covers a comprehensive evaluation of the applications, portfolio submissions, a review of the curriculum vitae and references, and the formal adjudication by the advisory panel. Applications are assessed using the following criteria:

• Artistic merit: This component focuses on the artistic quality and originality, as demonstrated by the curriculum vitae and portfolio submission. It is also a reflection of the applicant’s recognition by their peers.
• Proposed project: This component focuses on the potential contribution of the applicant’s proposed project and the outcomes on the artistic community, general public and the applicant themselves. This criterion also reflects the potential contributions to the art form.
• Workplan: This component focuses on the practicality of the project, the workplan, methodology, deliverables, timeline, resources and the demonstrated track record of the applicant.
• Consistency with program vision: This component assesses how effectively and compatibly the proposed project supports and aligns with the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence vision.

Final decisions are made in November each year. Only complete and fully eligible applications will be processed. Successful candidates will be notified in December and residencies begin in January.

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Toronto Sites Coordinator, Erin Mander, at 437-246-7652 or email erin.mander@heritagetrust.on.ca

Ontario Heritage Trust
10 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1J3

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Accessibility: Fool’s Paradise is not wheelchair accessible