(Un)Mapping the Territory: An Indigenous Artist/Research Residency

Hart House and the Art Museum at the University of Toronto are inviting expressions of interest (EOI) for a year-long residency at Hart House. The residency invites artists and researchers to consider and uncover histories of place, geographies, borders, and cartographies present on the land that the University of Toronto campus occupies from an Indigenous perspective.

Background: 
The proposed residency (Un)Mapping the Territory responds to the colonial histories of the University of Toronto as represented in a painted map of the campus by A. Scott Carter, commissioned by Vincent Massey in 1937. The map resided in a room, referred to as the Map Room, at Hart House for many years. In consultation with Toronto-based Indigenous artists and arts professionals, the idea for a residency emerged that would centre on living ideas of mapping or (un)mapping with an emphasis on supporting relation-building processes. The residency has the potential to be an essential, deeply needed, and transformative program of place-making and redress of territory on the U of T community. Informed by the knowledge sharing of the Indigenous Arts Advisory, the residency provides the opportunity to create (healing) histories, and potentially forging Indigenous ways of being in relation with the land that can become accessible and present for everyone.

Proposed Residency: 
Conceived in the context of the ongoing work mapped by the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Hart House and the Art Museum are inviting Indigenous artists, researchers, and/or cultural workers to submit an Expression of Interest to undertake a one-year engagement with the campus, to consider the potential of (un)mapping. The residency will offer an opportunity to engage in research, followed by financially supported programming, as well as potential project initiatives that may encompass performance, site-related manifestations, walking tours, intervention, and/or exhibition. Artists, collectives, or partnerships are welcome.  

Step 1: Deadline for Submission of Expression of Interest: September 15, 2024  
Artists and/or researchers are invited to submit an Expression of Interest in the form of a letter (250 words) indicating their interest in the residency, and how their past practice might be relevant to engaging the University of Toronto campus as a place, its history, and related communities. The letter must be accompanied by an up-to-date resume and/or summary (two-page maximum) of relevant past projects and research (two-page maximum). 

Step 2: Deadline for Submission of Proposal by shortlisted candidates: October 30, 2024 
Adjudicated by members of an Indigenous Advisory group, up to five candidates will be invited to further develop their proposal (of up to 500 words), indicating the direction of their engagement with the idea of (un)mapping, and considering how their work and research interests relates to the geographic location and communities that share the land on which the University of Toronto operates. We welcome proposals that are wide and innovative in scope and will result in singular or multiple elements including exhibition, research, performance, site-related manifestations, walking tours, and interventions. Artists and collectives or partnerships are welcome to apply.  

Each shortlisted candidate will be paid $500 for the submission of the proposal. The residency budget includes: Artist Fee: $24,000; Material Expenses and Programming Budget: up to $20,000. This may include workshop costs, material expenses for research/creation, performances, site-related manifestations, walking tours, interventions, etc. Additional support includes a workstation and staff support.

Final selection of the artist(s) will be determined by an Indigenous Art Advisory Jury, along with Hart House and Art Museum facilitators, taking into consideration the ability to support artist(s) research proposals. The Jury will consider the submitted proposals’ merit in the context of the applicants’ prior experience, innovative approach, feasibility, and relevancy to the subject of (Un)Mapping from an Indigenous perspective.

For more information and inquiries: maproom.harthouse@utoronto.ca

Send submissions to: maproom.harthouse@utoronto.ca

View slides from the August 30th information session here.

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