Early Career Canadian Urban Leaders: 2025 Artist-in-Residence

Applications are open for the 2025 Early Career Canadian Urban Leaders (ECCUL) Artist-in-Residence! This year-long residency at the School of Cities, University of Toronto, offers emerging artists a $50,000 CAD stipend and the chance to engage in urban issues like civic engagement, climate change, and social justice. Submit your proposal and supporting documents by the deadline below.

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What is School of Cities? 

The School of Cities is a unique multidisciplinary hub for urban research, education, and engagement creating new and just ways for cities and their residents to thrive. Based at the University of Toronto and in a fast-growing, culturally diverse, and economically dynamic urban region, the School of Cities supports leading scholars, practitioners, and community members spanning disciplines and lived experiences to co-create new understandings, policies, and practices that build cities to be more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous. 

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Description 

The School of Cities seeks project proposals from artists to be the 2025 ECCUL Artist-in-Residence. Proposals should articulate how your practice addresses key urban issues such as civic and community engagement, housing, climate change, social justice, migration, inequality and democracy. This year-long residency will give an artist who is in the first 10 years of their art career the opportunity to collaborate, research and create art that engages with the work we do at School of Cities. The residency will culminate in a final public exhibition highlighting the research/artwork created during the residency. Artists from a broad range of art practices are invited to apply.  

The 2025 ECCUL Artist-in-Residence will have the opportunity to participate in the School of Cities community in the following ways:  

• Propose and lead programs, events and activities 
• Contribute to the publications and knowledge products of the School of Cities  
• Work, meet and host on the University of Toronto campus
• Attend events, roundtables, seminars, and symposia organized by the School of Cities 
• Receive mentorship from Canadian Urban Leaders and Urbanists-in-Residence 
• Receive a stipend of $50,000 CAD, to be in-residence at the School of Cities  
• Engage with students, staff, and faculty to support research, capacity-building, outreach, event coordination and communications

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Application process  

Please complete and submit the application form. All applications must be submitted electronically with uploads in the requested format (.pdf).  

Supporting documentation needed to apply 

Please ensure you have the following requisite documentation available in digital format prior to beginning the application process. Please note we only accept documents in .PDF form. Once you have compiled the required documentation, please fill out the ECCUL Artist-in-Residence Application Form including:  

• A statement (maximum 1000 words) describing what makes you an ideal candidate for ECCUL Artist-in-Residence and a brief outline of proposed project focus and/or interest aligned with the School of Cities Mission; 
  
• A curriculum vitae, no more than 3 pages, including:
  • Details of work experience, exhibition or performance history and indicating the applicant is within the first 10 years of current career path
  • Demonstrated leadership potential and capacity
  • Portfolio with significant focus on urban themes
  • Demonstrated experience and commitment to community engagement
    
• Names and contact information for two (2) referees (former/current employers, curators, supervisors or community leaders who you have worked with in the past 5 years). Upon submission of your application, your referees will receive an email from the School of Cities inviting them to complete a reference form. 

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FAQs

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Current Early Career Canadian Urban Leader