Call for Applications: Art & Science Residency at Bonne Bay Aquarium and Research Station

Memorial University, Norris Point

Art & Science
Call for Artists-in-Residence

Applications Deadline: May 1, 2025 by 11:59 Newfoundland Daylight Time

Grenfell Art Gallery, Creative Gros Morne, and Bonne Bay Aquarium and Research Station (BBARS) are excited to announce a new artist residency opportunity at Grenfell Campus’ Research Station in Norris Point, NL, an enclave community within the boundaries of Gros Morne National Park.

Visual artists at all career-stages are invited to apply for 1-4 week residencies to take place between June 2025 and January 2026.

The Art & Science Residency offers visual artists the time and space to engage with interdisciplinary researchers from diverse scientific fields, fostering collaboration and generating new creative research. Artists will have the opportunity to explore and respond to the dynamic natural environment while interacting with emerging scientific research and field work.

Residencies periods are intended to generate new creative research questions and interdisciplinary networking. Artists will be invited to share work emerging from the residency in a group exhibition at BBARS in May 2026.

During the inaugural program, four artists will be selected to participate.

Location: Bonne Bay Aquarium and Research Station, Norris Point, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Residency Period: June 2025 – January 2026
Residency Length: 1 to 4 weeks based on artist availability
Artist Residency Stipend: $500 CAD per week (maximum of $2000)
Travel Stipend: $500 CAD
Artist Talk or Workshop Fee: $520 CAD
Exhibition Fee: $773 CAD (CARFAC 2026, A.1.3 – Group Exhibitions, Category I)
Accommodations and meals provided.

About Bonne Bay Aquarium and Research Station

BBARS and its location within the boundaries of Gros Morne National Park and UNESCO World Heritage site, provides physical, natural and social scientists with a unique facility and location for ecosystem and coastal community research. There are unmatched opportunities for research in the humanities and for scholarly activity in fine arts.

The biological importance of the region surrounding Bonne Bay is based on the biodiversity present in a range of geographical and geological settings from icy fjords and estuaries, to Arctic kelp beds and salt marshes, and the open marine waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The coastal communities in the Gros Morne region have highly diverse economies, histories and cultures, reflecting a long history of settlement by different peoples drawn to the region to become involved in fisheries, forestry, tourism, the arts and service industries. The communities and their demographics are the focus of ongoing research.

The Bonne Bay Aquarium & Research Station promotes collaboration among researchers from university, industry, government and local community groups across disciplines.

Users of the station enjoy well-equipped teaching and research facilities, including laboratories, a library/resource centre, a multimedia theatre, aquaria, and residence accommodations. The space can be adapted to suit the particular needs of individual courses, researchers and other scholars.

Accessibility

BBARS facility consists of the aquarium building and residence building, connected on the second floor by a walkway. There are wide and unobstructed pathways within the interior of both buildings.

The residency building has one room on the ground floor configured to accommodate the needs of an individual in a wheelchair, and the building entrance has a ramp. The kitchen/dining area is on the ground floor.

The aquarium building has a ramp at the main entrance and is equipped with an elevator and accessible public bathrooms.

Accessible parking is available in front of the residence building and the aquarium. Automatic doors at both building entrances but there are no automatic doors for interior doors.

Assessment

Applications will be assessed by a jury of artists and scientists in Western Newfoundland. Artists will be selected based on the following criteria:

1. Artistic merit
2. Relevance of creative practice to research activities at BBARS
3. Potential for community engagement
4. Availability
5. Suitability of material practices at BBARS facilities

Previous experience working collaboratively across disciplines is not a requirement but will be considered in the selection process.

How to Apply

Before applying, download and review the Information Package.

In a single PDF, please include the following information in an email to grenfellgallery@mun.ca:

1. Completed Application Form
   Please make this the first three pages in the PDF
2. Expression of Interest (max 500 words)
   This may include an overview of your creative practice and why you are a good fit for this residency, scientific fields or subjects you are interested in exploring during your residency, or any other relevant information about why you are interested! This is a research opportunity, and we do not expect a fully-conceptualized project description.
3. Resume/CV
4. Work Samples (max 10 images)
   Please include images with captions, including a brief description of the work. For video work, please include links and passwords if required.

Submit your PDF file to grenfellgallery@mun.ca by May 1 2025, by 11:59 Newfoundland Daylight Time

Questions about your application may be sent to Jane Walker at grenfellgallery@mun.ca

Questions about BBARS and the facilities available may be sent to bonnebaymanager@mun.ca

More information about the Art & Science Residency can be found here.

Bonne Bay Aquarium and Research Station
1 Clarkes Lane
Norris Point, NL A0K 3V0

Grenfell Art Gallery
grenfellartgallery.ca
grenfellgallery@mun.ca
@grenfellartgallery

Images: Dave Howells, documentation of Bonne Bay Aquarium and Research Station and research activities