EventsOpen Call Announcement: Office Hours 2026 Artist Residency
March 9 - March 31, 2026
Ottawa-Gatineau based artists are invited to apply by March 31st
Carleton University Art Gallery (CUAG) warmly welcomes applications to our inaugural summer art residency program, Office Hours. The Office Hours residency allows CUAG’s core community – Ottawa/Gatineau based artists – to use the gallery for part of the summer.
A generous 2025 grant from the Ottawa Art Society allows us to a hire a curator for this inaugural edition. This year’s Office Hours is curated by Ottawa-based photographer, visual artist, sociologist and community organizer and activator, Felicity Hauwert.
Office Hours opens CUAG’s doors to two Ottawa-Gatineau based visual artists for a 6-week residency. From May 25th to July 3rd 2026, two residents will have access to CUAG from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding holidays.
Eligibility
We invite early and mid-career visual artists based in the Ottawa-Gatineau region to submit proposals that detail their plan for the use of the space over the 6-week residency, keeping in mind usage limitations detailed below under “Facilities.” If selected artists plan to apply for external funding to support their residency, CUAG can provide a letter confirming their participation.
The Office Hours residency can accommodate two artists. We will exceptionally allow applications from artist duos who have a history of working together and are proposing a collaborative project.
Facilities
Residency proposals will be evaluated keeping in mind some important limitations to the use of CUAG’s space:
- CUAG facilities are not equipped with advanced ventilation nor a sink trap, which prevents the use of processes that use materials like oil paint or clay. Residents are encouraged to propose projects that use other media (acrylic paint, pencil crayons, etc.) or that consider these limitations.
- CUAG cannot install a public exhibition of residents’ work during the residency.
- Facilities will be accessible to CUAG staff, resident artists, and select guests. Resident artists are welcome to invite select guests for visits during their residency to support their practice. During the residency, only Carleton University staff, the Office Hours residents and guest curator, and limited invited guests will have access to the space. Office Hours residents’ space will thus be semi-private.
- Resident artists are expected to arrive equipped with their own artmaking materials.
- CUAG space can be used to install artwork for the purposes of advancing a project, documenting artwork, inviting feedback, etcetera. Beyond the minimal wall damage necessary to mount artworks, residents’ proposals should keep in mind that CUAG facilities should remain undamaged throughout their residency.
- Residents will have use of most of CUAG’s ground floor (main gallery). This space normally functions as an open gallery space.
How to Apply
You can apply to the Office Hours residency by e-mail. Please send the following items to cuartgallery@gmail.com by Tuesday, March 31st by 11:59PM EST as a single PDF*:
- Your Artist Bio and Artist Statement
- Your Artist CV
- Your Project Statement
- Representative Documentation of your Work
*(further instructions for each of these items is detailed below)
Artist Bio and Artist Statement
Submit a combined bio and artist statement (300 words). Highlight your education and accomplishments as a professional artist, and summarize your artistic practice as a whole. CUAG recognizes both institutional education and community-based education equally.
Artist CV
Submit a maximum 3-page CV detailing your artistic achievements. Include links to your artist website or relevant social accounts in your CV.
Project Statement
In a 500-word statement, describe the project you plan to work on or goals you have for an Office Hours residency. In your statement, aim to address:
- How would the Office Hours opportunity support your practice creatively, professionally or otherwise?
- What materials do you plan to work with?
- Which communities does your work or practice engage with?
- Examining available residency space for Office Hours (see floorplan below), how do you propose to use part of this space for your project?
- When viewing the floorplan, please keep in mind that only those areas marked in green in the main gallery are available to residents. This space can be divided to accommodate both residents. The main gallery has hardwood flooring. Temporary walls are all removable.
Representative Documentation of Your Work
Upload up to 10 files that show representative documentation of your work. Please include an image list that describes the work (title, date, dimensions, and medium).
- Your 10 files can include photos of work, or a weblink to video work or video documentation. Endeavour to give a sense of scale with your documentation. Videos should either be limited to a cumulative run time of 10 minutes, or you can specify timestamp windows (with a cumulative run time of 10 minutes) in your work description file.
What Next?
Successful applicants will receive a residency invitation in April 2026 confirming their availability to commence a 6-week residency on May 25 2026. All applicants will be notified by the end of April.
Any Questions?
If you have questions, please contact cuartgallery@gmail.com
