About the KIAC Artist Residency
Founded in 2001, in a partnership with Parks Canada, the KIAC Artist in Residence Program has welcomed over 300 talented artists, musicians and filmmakers to Dawson City from all regions of Canada and around the world. Our alumni include Sobey Art Award nominees, Western Canada Music Award winners, and prize-winning filmmakers from film festivals across the globe.
The residence accommodates two artists concurrently for research, development and production of ongoing or new bodies of work.
KIAC accepts applications from visual artists, media artists and interdisciplinary artists, as well as curators.
Consideration will be given to professional, established and emerging Canadian and international artists. All disciplines will be considered.
To learn more about the residence program and the Macaulay House and KIAC facilities, click here.
GENERAL CALL
2026-27 APPLICATIONS OPEN – CLICK HERE TO APPLY
APPLICATIONS OPEN: October 21st, 2025
RESIDENCY DATES AVAILABLE: September to December 2026 and April to July 2027
LOCATION: Dawson City, Yukon – Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Territory
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 6th, 2026 (11:59pm Mountain Time)
FEE: Fees are not provided nor charged for residencies
NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION: 8 to 12 weeks after deadline
Applicants may apply for residencies between 4–12 weeks in duration.
Artists are expected to host one public artist talk or open studio event during their residency as part of the exchange. Artist 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.
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, however, additional outreach activities (such as workshops, classes, performances, etc) may be compensated as per CARFAC guidelines on a case-by-case basis. In addition, we encourage selected residents to apply for travel grants to help with costs.
SPECIFIC CALLS
2026 Dawson City Music Festival Winter Residencies – January
Since 2006, the Dawson City Music Festival has proudly operated an annual Songwriter in Residence program in partnership with KIAC.
Announcing the evolution of our winter residency program. Two concurrent residencies – one for songwriters, one for music producers/recording engineers – centred around our brand new recording studio.
RESIDENCIES AVAILABLE: Songwriter in Residence (1); Producer in Residence (1)
RESIDENCY DATES: All of January 2026
LOCATION: Dawson City, Yukon – Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Territory
APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 17, 2025 (11:59pm Mountain Time)
NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION: November 1, 2025
For more information and application details, please visit www.dcmf.com
2026 Film Festival Residency – April
The Dawson City International Short Film Festival takes place each spring on Easter Weekend and presents screenings, workshops, panel discussions, presentations, and more to over 1,000 enthusiastic cinema buffs. The 2026 festival occurs April 2-5.
Filmmakers working in all media may apply for residency dates to coincide with the Film Festival and have the opportunity to participate in Festival Programming.
Deadline for Applications: December 15, 2025 at 11:59pm Mountain Time
How to apply: Visit www.dawsonfilmfest.com/filmres.html
Please note this is a separate residency application process. Email filmfest@kiac.ca for more information.
Filmmakers may also apply under the KIAC General Call for residency dates other than those connected with the Film Festival.
RESIDENCY APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Applicant Eligibility
KIAC accepts residence applications from visual artists, media artists and interdisciplinary artists, as well as curators. Consideration will be given to professional, established and emerging Canadian and international artists.
Artist duos may apply, but must specify this in their application (do not apply separately).
All disciplines will be considered, including but not limited to: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Ceramics, Design, Architecture, Photography, Installation, Performance, Video and Film, Filmmaking, New Media, and Audio.
KIAC is committed to fostering a residency program that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of contemporary art. We actively encourage and prioritize applications from artists of diverse cultural, geographic, and disciplinary backgrounds, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour (BIPOC), as well as LGBTQIA2S+ artists, artists with disabilities*, and others who have been historically underrepresented in Canadian and international arts contexts.
*a note on accessibility: KIAC is wheelchair accessible by ramp (at back entrance) and has an elevator. Macaulay House Residence is not wheelchair accessible, and has several steps to enter the main floor, with bedrooms and washroom on the 2nd floor.
Project Eligibility
The KIAC Artist in Residence Program supports the research, development, and production of both new and ongoing bodies of work. We welcome a broad range of artistic approaches, from conceptual and research-based practices to hands-on production. While the residency is designed to be flexible and self-directed, artists should consider KIAC’s facilities and limited technical infrastructure when proposing their projects.
This program is best suited to practices that do not rely on specialized or large-scale equipment. Artists are expected to bring or independently arrange for any additional tools, technologies, or materials that are essential to their work.
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
HOW TO APPLY – OPEN CALL
STEP 1 – APPLY ONLINE
Fill our online Application Form by clicking this link
Application deadline January 6th, 2026 11:59 PM Mountain Time (UTC -7)
Please reach out to artistresidence@kiac.ca if you have any issues with our online form.
STEP 2 – SEND YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE
Proposals must also include the following materials sent to artistresidence@kiac.ca:
1. Documentation of Work
Important: Do not send .zip files.
Still Images
- Submit 10–20 images in .jpg format.
- Save images at 72 dpi in RGB colour mode.
- Label each file with a number and title. Use leading zeros for the first nine images to ensure proper order (e.g.,
01title.jpg,02title.jpg, …,10title.jpg).
Film / Video / Audio / Time-based Work
- Upload files to an online platform such as Vimeo, YouTube, or SoundCloud.
- Provide a single PDF document with the URL link(s).
- Total running time must not exceed 10 minutes.
- Do not submit files via FTP, Dropbox, WeTransfer, or other file-sharing services.
2. A Single PDF File Including the Following:
a. Residency Project Description & Artist Statement
(Maximum: 1 page combined — any additional text will not be presented to the selection committee.)
- Provide a concise description of the work you propose to do during the residency.
- Include an artist’s statement that relates to your proposed project.
b. Current CV
- Maximum: 3 pages
c. Description of Documented Work
- Still Images: Provide a numbered list including artist name, title, medium, dimensions, and date for each image.
- Video / Audio / Time-based Work: Include artist name, title, medium, duration, and date for each work.
IMPORTANT: Please name your single .pdf file using this format:
NameLastname_AiR2026_Application
Note: Only include the materials requested above. Incomplete proposal packages may not be considered.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Fill out application form and email complete application package to:
artistresidence@kiac.ca
Email subject like should read: “Lastname Residence Submission”.
All supporting materials must be attached to ONE email.
Please mail complete applications to:
Klondike Institute of Art & Culture
c/o Artist-in-Residency
Box 8000
Dawson City, Yukon, Y0B 1G0
Mailed submissions will not be returned.
Due to the high volume of submissions, only successful applicants will be contacted.
For more information contact:
Sol Suarez, Artist Engagement Manager and Artist-in-Residence Coordinator
KIAC Artist in Residence Program
Email: artistresidence@kiac.ca
Phone: Klondike Institute of Art and Culture: 1-867-993-5005