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Event History

Kingsbrae International Residence for the Arts & Amphitheatre (KIRA) was established in 2016 in an effort to support the creativity of artists. We hope to promote excellence in the arts both here in Canada as well as in the International scene, all the while benefiting the local community of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, by becoming a cultural destination. A residency at KIRA creates a rewarding and stimulating experience for any participant seeking to advance their artistic journey.

What Makes this event different?

Artists will live on a historic property surrounded by the Bay of Fundy, They will be able to solely focus on their work in their individual studios. It's an amazing chance!

Image Usage Rights

Images of the chosen artists will appear on social media and our website to introduce them to the local community.

Every year KIRA awards eighteen artists with a one month residency. Artists are provided with individual studio space, comfortable housing, two prepared meals each day, a stipend and live on a historic property in a beautiful seaside town. Artists should bring all supplies and materials needed for their creative process when they arrive, to ensure availability of required supplies and provisions. As part of the residency, artists will be asked to engage with the community for up to six hours a week. These engagements will vary based on skills and interest and can include a partnership with Kingsbrae Garden which is located steps away from the residence and studios.

 

Applications are open to a range of disciplines and types of artists including but not limited to the visual arts, music/composition, new media, and interdisciplinary arts. Artists from all levels in their career who exhibit a strong professional work ethic and a collaborative attitude are encouraged to apply.

 

Program details and support
 

• One month of free studio space in a freestanding 300-square foot studio equipped with Wi-Fi.
   

• Awarded stipend of $1,500 (CAD) per month.
   

• Private bedroom/bathroom in a well-maintained historic property located steps away from the studio.
   

• Up to 6 artists living on-site.
   

• Two meals a day  (breakfast and lunch)
   

• Audience engagement opportunities.
   

• Access to Kingsbrae Garden and KIRA's amphitheatre public events.
   

• Scheduled access to: nontoxic printmaking equipment (portable proofing press suitable for linoblock, woodcut, and letter set printing, range of typeset), ceramics equipment (pottery kick-wheels, medium sized kiln, outdoor gas fired kiln), woodshop (chop saws, table saws, planer, clamps, etc.), mechanical shop with a range of basic hand tools and resources.
   

• Artists will be responsible for covering costs associated with the purchase of materials, shipment of artwork/supplies, travel costs and other living expenses including supplemental food.
   

• Artists will participate in Open Studios for the public each Saturday from 10am-1pm.
   

• An end of residency Art Exhibit of the body of work completed during the residency month will take place in the final week of each residence.
  
  DATES: May 22nd - June 18th / June 22nd - July 20th / August 4th - August 31st
  
   

  Selection Process
   

  - Artists will be selected using a panel review process who considers the following criteria: overall merit of work, readiness to engage with the community, potential to develop creative practice, influence by the location, and statistical data including career level, and geographic location.
   

  - References of finalists will be contacted.
   

  - A 30-minute (max.) Skype call between the finalists and program administrators will be conducted as part of the selection process.

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  Application requirements
   

  - Artist statement (250-word limit).
   

  - Resume or CV (3-page maximum).
   

  - Responses to following open-ended questions (1250-word limit overall):

   

• Tell us about you and your work and why this residency would be important to you at this time in your career?

• What do you expect to accomplish during your four-week residency?

• Describe how your artistic inquiry may or may not be supported by the location of the residency and public interactions with the community?

• Artists are expected to engage with the community through weekly open studios (On Saturdays, with a duration of three hours, walk-in basis) and an artist talk and exhibit in the final residency week. Describe how you would share your weekly progress and final artist experience with the visiting public?
  
  - Contact info for three professional references (name, email, phone number and relationship.
  
  - Portfolio of work (5 to 10 forms of documentation).  
  NOTE for writers* Portfolio of work for writers (4 examples – 500-word limit per excerpt).
  - $10 (CAD) Application fee (you will be contacted for the payment details).​