City of Regina Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre Musical Artist in Residence 2021
A strong theme in Regina’s cultural planning process is the belief that the greatest opportunities for progress involves supporting cultural resources and activities that promote intercultural conversations and exchange. To actively facilitate this conversation, The City of Regina, in partnership with SaskMusic, will contract a Regina-area artist to create music, songs, sound art or musical material that speaks to their lived experience as an ethnocultural minority in Canada. The residency will provide the opportunity for a sound artist or musician to explore themes such as cultural heritage, cultural identity, traditions, customs, storytelling, racism, equality and diversity. The residency is supportive of Regina’s Cultural Plan goals of ensuring resources are supportive of Regina’s Immigrant history, and further addressing the cultural needs of newcomers while promoting intercultural relations.
Residency Requirements:
- The 2-month residency will contract a Regina-area musician, sound artist, performer or songwriter that self-identifies as an equity-seeking ethnocultural minority. (The term ethnocultural minority is intended to respectfully identify racialized groups that correspond to “visible minorities” under the Employment Equity Act of Canada, which include people of African, Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern and mixed ethnocultural heritage who have been historically disadvantaged as a group, and may experience discrimination and oppression based on racism.)
- The contracted musician or sound artist can work in any musical genre or medium (instrument) and will be required to compose, arrange and develop music or sound experience equivalent to 4-8 songs (or 20-30 minutes of musical content).
- The musician or sound artist will be required to submit a detailed project budget and project timeline.
- The musician or sound artist will be required to supply their own sound-making equipment/instruments/technology.
- The musician or sound artist will be required to host 1 public engagement session/ workshop that invites members of the public to learn about the artist’s work in an educational and interactive way.
- The musician or sound artist will be required to provide 1 public performance showcasing their work at the end of the residency. This performance will be held at the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre, or virtually, pending COVID-19 protocols at the time.
- The artist will professionally record 1 of the residency works, to be accessioned into the City or Regina Civic Art Collection.
Project Description:
The Artist in Residence will operate out of the City of Regina’s Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre, September 1-November 1, 2021. The artist will be expected to dedicate a minimum of 30 hours per month (7.5 hours per week) over two months to develop musical content for the residency. The artist can work in any genre and may also work remotely. The artist will receive an artist fee (contract payment) of $3000 for the two-month period paid in two parts. Half upon the completion of the public engagement session/workshops portion, and the remaining portion paid at the end of the residency upon the completion of the public performance. The artist will also have the option of receiving up to an additional $1000 paid directly to a studio to support expenses related to the professional recording and production of one song created during the residency. This song will then be licensed to the City of Regina Civic Art Collection as part of the residency for exhibition purposes. Any further usage of the artist’s work will be on a case-by-case basis and subject to the artist approval. For more details on the City of Regina’s Civic Art Collections, see link here: City of Regina | Public Art & Collections
To apply you will need to submit the following at the link below:
- 1 artist photo that can be used in public posts about the project
- Artist biography (250 word minimum) and/or an artist CV/Resume outlining past awards, accomplishments, experience
- At least 1 recorded song or demo (professional or demo quality, or live footage with high quality audio) showcasing the artist’s genre, instrument of choice (which can include voice), and demonstrating artistic and cultural merit
- 250 words answering one of the following questions:
a) how does your work contribute to a vibrant, inclusive, attractive Regina, where people live in harmony and thrive in opportunity.
b) how does your work promote increased understanding of the needs of ethnocultural minorities in Regina and promote intercultural relations.
Applications should be submitted by 5 pm June 30, 2021. The successful applicant can expect to be contacted within 3 weeks of the closing date and may be required to complete an in-person interview.
If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Dagan Harding, MPPPA.
Community Consultant, Events and Community Programs
Parks, Recreation and Culture, City of Regina
