Program Overview

The LSPP Artist in Residence Program is open to all visual artists, whose work relates to the natural environment. In 2025, the fifth year of our program, the Friends will offer support to one artist working in any medium.  Artists are invited to camp at Lake Superior Provincial Park for one week, to focus on your artistic practise, develop new work, and share your work with park visitors.

To encourage a diverse group of applicants, we aim to make the residency as barrier-free as possible by providing an honorarium to cover expenses, free camping, allowing artists to bring their families, and defining artist in a broad and inclusive way. ​

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Program Details

• One-week duration (during regular Park operating season)

• The Friends to cover the costs of park fees for one-week for the artist and a companion/family member(s). Accommodation options include either campgrounds (Rabbit Blanket and/or Agawa Bay) or backcountry camping (with potential for a canoe rental to be included). 

• Artists will deliver two programs for park visitors.  These programs can be the same program offered at different times.  Examples include:  a hands-on workshop, a demonstration, a guided hike, an evening presentation in our outdoor amphitheater. 

• Artists are to provide their own transportation to and from LSPP, their own working materials, as well as camping supplies, food, and bedding.

• While staying in the park, all rules and regulations apply. All vegetation, wildlife and natural features are protected in provincial parks. To maintain the park as a natural setting, the removal of natural objects is prohibited.  While in the park art cannot be made with foraged materials.

How to apply

Apply via email to the Friends.  Include in your application 3-5 images of your artistic work and a short statement about your intentions for the residency, including details of the public programs you will offer.  Applications are due by March 31, 2025 via email.  Applications will be shared by volunteers with various computer systems, please ensure your application is easy to open and share (for example: a PDF).

 

Selection Process

The AiR subcommittee will develop a short list of artists in early April. The Friends of LSP, in cooperation with LSPP staff and a volunteer jury of artists and curators (including past artists-in-residence), will determine the successful applicant each spring. The selection criteria will include artistic merit, use of the park’s cultural and natural features as a means to further work, and plans for public outreach. The winner (and only the winner) will be notified by May 1st, 2025. 

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Thank you to all of the artists who support our program by applying.  We receive many worthy and compelling submissions each year and appreciate all the work and care that goes into each application.  If you are not successful with your application this time we encourage you to apply again.

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The Artist’s Contribution to LSPP

• During their residency, the artist will be expected to provide:

  • Two programs for park visitors (for example a public lecture, workshop, performance, or demonstration).  The artist may present the same program twice.  Support will be provided by park staff.

  • An original piece of work representative of their artistic medium based upon their residency in LSPP. This artwork may be used in exhibits and for educational and promotional purposes by the park or the Friends of LSP.  The original art work should be delivered to the park office by the end of the year.

 

Benefits to the Artist

• A week of camping at Lake Superior Provincial Park to focus on your artistic practise and develop new work (free camping fees).

• An honorarium of $1500 intended to offer support to the artist to cover travel, meals and supplies

• Marketing and promotion of your work on social media, in brochures, tabloids, Park and Friends websites and on rotating display at the Agawa Bay Visitor Centre. 

• Opportunities to share your experience (for example on the Ontario Parks blog) and opportunities to volunteer on future AiR selection juries.

• The artist retains a royalty-free, non-exclusive use license under copyright. The Park owns the donated artwork and the rights to reproduce.