Blue Cabin Canada First Nations Artist Exchange
Building on Tidal Volume – a 2021 ‘call and response’ residency presented in partnership with grunt gallery and The Blue Cabin, where Indigenous culture-bearers produced new works that experimented with sound, song, language, spoken word and text. Image: Wominjeka 2022. Photograph by Gianna Rizzo.
About the Program
Exchange and application open dates to be confirmed.
The Blue Cabin – Grunt Gallery X Footscray Community Arts First Nations Exchange is a cultural exchange residency between Canadian and Australian Indigenous artists, funded jointly by the Canada Council for the Arts and The Australia Council for the Arts.
This exchange further builds on our inaugural Australian resident – Vicki Couzens, Blue Cabin resident in Fall 2019 and Tidal Volume – a 2021 ‘call and response’ residency presented in partnership with grunt gallery and The Blue Cabin, where Indigenous culture-bearers produced new works that experimented with sound, song, language, spoken word and text – connecting through conversation across distance.
For 2023, two in-person residencies for Indigenous artists in Vancouver CA and Melbourne AU will see artists selected for work informed by ceremonial practice.
An expanded cultural exchange, this program will also involve ‘emissary’ visits from elders of the Musqueam and Kulin Nations. Representatives from the host organizations will promote deeper conversations and future collaborations between our two regions.
Who are we looking for?
Selected artists will be mid-career artists whose work is informed by ceremonial practice. This can be from any discipline or multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary; including installation, embodied repertoire.
The work will blend or draw from traditional and contemporary practices with the exchange underpinned and guided by First Nations protocol of the Musqueam and Kulin Nations Elders and Community.
About Blue Cabin
The Blue Cabin arrived in Vancouver’s False Creek in the summer of 2019, launching its inaugural program of artist residencies, open houses, talks and workshops on August 25th, 2019.
Situated in the unceded lands and waters of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, the Blue Cabin Floating Artist Residency offers a vantage point from which to consider the city differently. International in scope but deeply rooted in the histories and narratives of this place, the Blue Cabin offers a unique opportunity to learn, explore and engage with the foreshore.
The First Nations Context
The Blue Cabin is embarking on a more significant relationship with Musqueam, given its location in Steveston Harbour (Musqueam, Kwantlen and Tsawwassen waterways), while Footscray draws on a strong relationship with the Kulin nation via their Indigenous Advisory Committee and community connection.
Submit your application
The deadline for applications is March 20th at 5pm.
Our selection committee will review all applications and shortlist candidates by April 1st. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited for an interview to discuss your application further.
There are three ways for you to submit your applications:
- Apply in writing: simply complete the online application form here;
- Apply by audio or video: Pre-record yourself answering these questions and upload them via this link; or
- Apply via phone or video call: Arrange a time for a phone or video call application by emailing dan@footscrayarts.com with ‘Blue Cabin Exchange’ in the subject heading.
A cultural exchange residency between Canadian and Australian Indigenous artists, funded jointly by the Canada Council for the Arts and The Australia Council for the Arts. Year 3 of 3.
Saison Foundation Exchange
In addition to our Canadian Blue Cabin Exchange, we are also partnering with Saison Foundation to offer a First Nations Art and Cultural Exchange in Japan.
If you are interested in learning more about the Saison Foundation Exchange and how to apply, please visit https://footscrayarts.com/saison-foundation-exchange/. Please note artist/s can apply for both residencies but need to indicate their preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for both the Saison Foundation Exchange and the Blue Cabin Exchange residencies?
Yes – but you will need to state your preference as you cannot attend both.
What are my responsibilities as an artist in residence?
You are representing both yourself as an individual practitioner and the Footscray Community Arts and should be mindful of the important legacy and relationship building aspect of your residency will have for future exchanges.
How long can I stay in residence?
The stipulated time. 4 weeks.
Can I extend my residency?
This can be negotiated with the host organisation and will come at own cost.
Will I do a showing/exhibition of my residency project?
Expectations are that the artist will be available for at least two public facing activities during the residency. Talks, workshops, yarning circles, showings, readings, podcast, interviews etc, depending on the artists preference and practice.
Any outcome from the residency should preference the host organisations, Saison and FCA, as presenters.
I have other questions not covered here. Who can I contact?
If you have any further questions please contact Indigenous Cultural Program Producer Dan Mitchell at dan@footscrayarts.com or 0417 011 215.