Call for Children's Illustrator in Residence: 2026
Application Timeframe: April 30 – June 11, 2026
Residency Timeframe: September 14 – December 11, 2026
The Calgary Public Library invites applications for the paid position of Children’s Illustrator in Residence at the Central Library in downtown Calgary, Alberta for the fall of 2026. This residency recognizes the contribution of children’s artists to literature and to Calgary’s culture and seeks to introduce Library patrons, especially children and educators, to artists and art forms they may not otherwise experience, while providing opportunities to meet artists, observe the artistic process, and participate in artmaking.
Description of the Position
The Library seeks emerging or mid-career children’s illustrators with an art practice in any medium and an affinity for people. This residency program is based in a glass-walled studio in a public space, which means, while the artist’s practice and privacy is to be respected whether in the studio or in the public space of the library, we do expect the artist to be comfortable and open to engaging with patrons. The artist is expected to display their work and process, as a way of animating the studio for visitors to look in and see when the artist is not present.
The children’s artist/ Illustrator residency runs for three months, September-December annually.
The artist will be required to, in collaboration with the Library:
- present at minimum two public workshops
- present one or two in person or virtual school programs in tandem with the School Support Librarian and/or the Library School Coordinator
- hold open studio hours at Central Library for a minimum 7.5 hours per week
- present a final residency exhibition in December – to be displayed in the Children’s area at Central Library
- fulfill 100 hours during the course of the Residency, which includes studio hours, hours preparing for and presenting programming, hours spent preparing final exhibit and time to work on their own projects
*Pending funding, there may also be a further opportunity to:
- Be commissioned to design the annual Library Goes to Kindergarten promotional item, which is provided to children entering Kindergarten the following school year. There is additional remuneration for this contract outside of the residency contract.
The 252 square foot Artist in Residence studio on the 4th floor of the Central Library is available to the artist during opening hours to work on their described residency project as well as their programming and workshop planning.
Qualifications
Artists may not apply as an individual and be part of an organization or collective applying in the same competition.
If the applicant is an individual artist, the following eligibility criteria apply:
- Must not be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must present a current Police Clearance with Vulnerable Sector Check or acquire one by start of residency
- Self-identify as a children’s artist and/or illustrator and be recognized as such by artists/illustrators working in the same artistic tradition
- Must show evidence of a current and active art practice
If the applicant is an organization or a collective, the following eligibility criteria apply:
- A collective is defined as two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project (ad hoc) or on an ongoing basis
- For collectives of two artists, both must not be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and must be 18 years of age or older
- All artists must present a current Police Clearance with Vulnerable Sector Check
- The collective must show evidence of a current and active art practice
Additionally, the successful applicant must be willing to:
- Work collaboratively with Library staff and other residents as needed
- Sign a formal written contract which will detail the rights and responsibilities of each party
- Provide:
1) a short bio in 50 words or less
2) a short description of the artist’s work in 150 words or less
3) a headshot or organization logo in high resolution .jpg or .png format, suitable for print reproduction. This information will also be used to create in-Library signage and to introduce the artist at community engagement events, as well as for additional publicity opportunities.
- Provide a booklist for the Library’s website on topics related to their artistic practice or favourite/inspirational children’s illustration
- Successfully meet the criteria of their residency under the budget, residency schedule (co-developed with Library) and timelines set out in their contract
- Express desire to create artwork for and in the public realm
- Engage and catalyze people and places
- Be available for press events/media interviews, and be open to discussing their work with library patrons when engaged, within reason
- Participate in Library-initiated projects, such as video interviews, for the Library’s archives
- Document and share their residency with the Library and the public via blog, social media feed, written account, photographs
- Sit on the Selection Committee to choose the 2026 Children’s artist/illustrator in residence in June of 2027
Application Requirements
PLEASE INCLUDE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
Applicants will be evaluated based on inclusion of the following:
- Artistic Practice narrative (500 words or fewer): An explanation of the work or process you wish to investigate during the residency and a description of the form/s the work might take in the context of a final exhibition - exhibitions may be 2D or 3D and can include digital components although sound capability is limited
- A detailed description of possible public programming, collaborations with the public and/or other methods of engaging the public, especially children or educators - ideally this can be executed with low budget, limited materials, and minimal Library staff support
- A description of how your artistic practice is particularly suited to the Calgary Public Library’s values of inclusion, curiosity, and collaboration as well as being respectful and suitable for family audiences
- Artist statement/bio (250 words or fewer)
- Resume or CV (PDF) with demonstrated experience in public engagement, ideally with children, and examples of collaborations, awards, publications, scholarships, education, work experience, exhibitions, or grants
- Website/Online Portfolio or included folder showcasing original examples of work in children’s art and/or illustration.
If uploading files, please include artists last name in the file name:
- Up to 5 jpeg images (no larger than 2MB each)
- List of work in PDF form with title, medium and dimensions - please add short description if necessary to understand the work
In Addition, please feel free to include:
- List of possible technical needs during the residency i.e.: projector and screen
Remuneration
The Artist in Residence honorarium is $50.00 per hour to a maximum of 100 hours per residency for a total of $5000. This amount includes offsite preparation time and onsite program delivery time, and any public project expenses incurred by the applicant, except for materials specific to community engagement events.
*As noted above, pending funding, an additional contract for the Library Goes to Kindergarten promotional item. The successful applicant will be notified of the inclusion or non-inclusion of this additional contract in a timely manner.
Selection Process
At the close of the call out all COMPLETE application packages will be reviewed and scored by a committee, with the top three candidates asked back for an online interview. The final selection will be made by considering the results of the application package and interview. All applicants will be notified once the committee has made its selection, during the summer. The successful candidate will be notified, but their name will not be announced until the residency has been accepted.
Please submit applications to:
By Mail:
Residencies: Programs and Partnerships
Central Library, 800 3rd Street SE, BOH 1M
Calgary, AB T2G 2E7
By Email: residencies@calgarylibrary.ca
Application deadline: Thursday, June 11, 2026.
