Call for Proposals: KIAC Artist in Residence 2026/27

Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Territory, Dawson City, Yukon

Macaulay House under the northern lights

Call for Proposals: KIAC Artist in Residence Program

Application Deadline: January 6, 2026, 11:59pm (Mountain Time)

The Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC) at Dënäkär Zho invites visual artists and curators working in any media to apply for the 2026/27 KIAC Artist in Residence Program.

About the Residency

The program hosts two artists at a time for research, development, and production of new or ongoing work. Residencies will run 4–12 weeks during the September–December, 2026 and April–July, 2027 periods. Artists receive shared living facilities and a private studio and bedroom at no cost. Participants are responsible for travel, food, and materials. Residencies take place in the historic Macaulay Residence (1901), part of the Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site.

Note: No fees are charged or provided.

About KIAC

Located just south of the Arctic Circle on Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in territory, KIAC offers year-round arts programming including ODD Gallery, the Dawson City International Short Film Festival, the Yukon Riverside Arts Festival, the Macaulay House Artist in Residence Program, the Dawson Daily News Print & Publishing Symposium, performing arts events, community programs, workshops, and courses. KIAC partners with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation and Yukon University as part of the Yukon School of Visual Arts. To learn more about the residence program and the Macaulay House and KIAC facilities, visit here.

Residency Requirements

Artists are expected to host one public artist talk or open studio event during their residency as part of the exchange. Artists may also have the opportunity to facilitate additional outreach programs such as workshops and exhibitions, intended to promote interaction and professional development, and provide access to a diverse range of contemporary artists and arts practices within the community.

Colin Lyons’s Residency Project. Photo: Michael McLean

Eligibility

KIAC accepts residency applications from visual, media, interdisciplinary artists, and curators, with consideration given to professional, established, and emerging Canadian and international applicants. Artist duos may apply together, and all disciplines are welcome, including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, design, architecture, photography, installation, performance, video, film, new media, and audio. KIAC is committed to a residency program that reflects diverse voices and experiences, and we encourage applications from BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ artists, artists with disabilities*, and others historically underrepresented in the arts.

*Accessibility note: KIAC is wheelchair accessible via ramp and elevator; Macaulay House Residence is not wheelchair accessible and includes steps, with bedrooms and washroom on the second floor.

The KIAC Artist in Residence Program supports the research, development, and production of new or ongoing work across a broad range of practices. While flexible and self-directed, applicants should consider KIAC’s facilities and limited technical infrastructure when proposing projects. The program is best suited to practices that do not require specialized or large-scale equipment, and artists are responsible for bringing or arranging any additional tools, technologies, or materials essential to their work.

Compensation

Housing and studio space are provided free of charge. Participants are responsible for all travel and personal expenses including food and materials related to their work. No honorariums or stipends are provided.

Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett, The Deep Dark in Dawson

Selection Process

Proposals are assessed by a selection committee based on:

• Artistic merit and originality
• Clarity and feasibility of the proposed project
• Relevance and adaptability to the residency context (including scale and resources)
• Potential for community engagement
• Diversity of Voices

Notification of Selection: 8 to 12 weeks after deadline

Submission Requirements & How to Submit

View application guidelines and instructions.

Submission Deadline: January 6, 2026, 11:59pm (Mountain Time)

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Sol Suarez, Artist Engagement Manager & AIR Coordinator
artistresidence@kiac.ca | 867-993-5005

Klondike Institute of Art & Culture at Dënäkär Zho
P.O. Box 8000, Dawson City, YT Y0B 1G0
kiac@kiac.ca
867-993-5005

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