RESIDENCIES
PHI MONTRÉAL
About PHI Montréal
The PHI Montreal residency, carried out in partnership with the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ), invites one artist residing in the Greater Montreal area and one artist residing in Quebec outside of the Greater Montreal area to collaborate with PHI on public engagement projects. Artists are asked to imagine, develop, and present projects built on collaborative or co-creation processes, in which communities are involved in the ideation, production, and final presentation. Supported by PHI's expertise and resources, the selected artists will work to rethink the dialogue between their practices, institutions, and audiences.
At the end of the PHI Montreal residency, artists will be invited to present their work or research findings in a public space located on PHI’s ground floor. This presentation may take various forms: showcases, events, discussions, performances, workshops, or any other format suited to the project. The aim is not only to track the artistic process, but also to highlight tangible results and the project's lasting impact on partner communities and audiences.
Information Session
Theme
For its 2027 edition, PHI Montreal wishes to examine the asymmetries and iniquities that often characterize cultural and educational production—between experts and amateurs, or between an artist and their audience. We invite artists to propose projects in which learning is shared in more horizontal or decentralized ways, where curiosity, experimentation, and collaboration prevail over more directive forms of teaching.
Reflections during the residency may focus on the following issues:
• How can artists learn alongside the participants of their projects?
• How can artistic practices be viewed as shared learning spaces that promote intellectual equality and empowerment?
• What types of explorations or collaborations can lead artists to venture into less familiar territory and open up new horizons in their practices?
• How can the discomfort of “not (yet) knowing” become a source of collective creativity?
What is public engagement?
Public engagement is an approach that reframes the dialogue between institutions, artists, and their audiences. In the museum context, it aims to actively involve communities in the design and presentation of artistic projects, usually through collaborative or co-creation processes.
The concept of public engagement can be linked to a variety of methodologies in contemporary art, including cultural mediation or socially engaged practices, in socius or in situ, pedagogical or educational.
Public engagement ultimately aims to decentralize institutions and foster close, active collaboration between artists, institutions, and members of the public.
PHI Montréal Program Schedule and Timeline
→ Cohort Kick-off Session: November 17, 2026
→ Residency Period: January to June 2027
Research and Ideation (1 month – January 1 to February 1, 2027) During the first month, the artist immerses themselves in PHI’s environment, explores its resources, and identifies key partners. The artist defines the scope and objectives of the project, aligning with their artistic vision and resonating with the communities involved. By the end of this phase, the artist must have determined the format of their end-of-residency presentation.
Workshop and Implementation with Communities (3 months – February 1 to May 2, 2027)
During this phase, the artist actively engages the community as co-creators of the project. The artist leads workshops, refining the project through trials, collaborating with PHI teams, and directly involving communities in the project's development.Project Preparation and Presentation (2 months – May 3 to June 30, 2027) As the residency draws to a close, the artist prepares and presents the tangible results of this collective work. The artist strategically prepares the presentation of these results in the form of conferences, workshops, performances, or multimedia showcases, in collaboration with the exhibition curator.
→ End-of-residency Public Presentation at PHI (1 month – May 31 to June 30, 2027)
Presentation Install: May 31 to June 2, 2027
Public Launch: June 2, 2027
Projects Presentation: June 3 to 27, 2027, during PHI's opening hour
Teardown: June 28 to 30, 2027
Call for Applications
The call for applications is now closed. Thank you to all the artists who submitted their projects.
What Artists Are Saying
1 / 4
“This residency allowed me to connect with many people, to develop a map of permeable potentials for my work. What’s wonderful is that, to my great surprise, they were able to help my work evolve and move in unexpected directions.”
— Annie Baillargeon, PHI Montréal 2024-2025
“This residency has been fantastic! I learned so much about organizing an exhibition, thanks to the invaluable help of a great mentor and team, who helped me bring my vision to life. Thank you, PHI.”
— Jacqueline van de Geer, PHI Montréal 2024-2025
“[...] a slow residency that gives a lot of time to explore ideas, to research, to follow many different paths of inspiration and really figure out what works.”
— Pavitra Wickramasinghe, PHI Montréal 2023-2024
“I feel like I wear several hats that come together: the hat of creation-production, the hat of research, and the hat of the cultural worker. Within the residency, I really feel like I’m using many of my hats, which I find truly interesting."
— Amélie Brisson-Darveau, PHI Montréal 2023-2024
General Information
Eligibility Requirements
→ Residency and Citizenship
The candidates must be artists residing in Quebec and who are Canadian citizens or have the status of Canadian permanent residents.
→ Professional Status
To be eligible, you must be a professional artist and have minimal experience in one of the disciplines supported by the CALQ. The CALQ considers professional artists those who:
• declare themselves to be professional artists;
• produce works or practice an art on their own behalf or offer services for payment, as creators or performers, in disciplines within the CALQ’s jurisdiction;
• have been recognized by their peers;
• publicly present or perform works at sites or in a context recognized by their peers.
→ Artistic Discipline
The project must fall within one of the artistic disciplines recognized by the CALQ: circus arts, multidisciplinary arts, digital arts, visual arts, songwriting, film and video, dance, literature and storytelling, crafts, music, theater, or architectural research.
→ Nature of the Project
The project must address a public engagement issue relevant to the theme proposed by the PHI Montreal program.
What Selected Artists Will Receive
→ Project Support and Guidance
• Personalized mentorship from PHI throughout the residency: advice on design, production, technical aspects, and installation.
• Access to PHI resources as needed and available, as well as its extensive network of collaborators.
• Production of a short video interview conducted and broadcasted by PHI on its platforms.
→ Public Presentation at PHI
• Final presentation of projects or research results in one of PHI's spaces at the end of the residency.
→ Financial Support
• A residency fee of $15,000 for the six months of residency, corresponding to 32 days of work, calculated according to CARFAC-RAAV rates.
• The amount of $7,500 to cover the production, research, and material costs necessary for the project.
• Payment of exhibition and presentation fees, determined in accordance with the nature of the project and current standards, for the duration of the final public presentation.
• Reimbursement of expenses related to the public presentation: reimbursement of reasonable transportation, insurance, and installation costs, where applicable.
→ Accommodation for artists from outside Montreal only
• Accommodation provided by the CALQ for the duration of the residency in the Montréal area.
Toolkit
→ Examples of public engagement art projects (PDF)
→ Production budget template (XLSX)
→ Tips and tricks | CALQ’s grants for artists (Video)
→ The jury | CALQ’s grants for artists (Video)
Stay in the know
To ensure you don’t miss out on any information about PHI Montréal, subscribe to our dedicated newsletter!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We encourage you to consult the Frequently Asked Questions provided by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ), offering answers to the most common inquiries about grant programs.
Only artists who hold permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship are eligible for the program.
By “Greater Montreal area” or “Greater Montreal,” we mean the territory of the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM), which includes, among others, the Island of Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, as well as the North and South Shores. Artists residing outside this territory are considered to be from the regions, for the purposes of this call.
Each application undergoes evaluation based on its merits, aligned with the program’s objectives and assessment criteria. The selection process considers the projects’ relative value and available resources. A jury, comprised of individuals listed in the official roster of resource persons (approved by CALQ’s Board of Directors), conducts the evaluations.
The evaluation criteria used by the evaluation committee, consisting of a jury of peers appointed by CALQ, are:
• Artistic quality of the work;
• Interest and relevance of the project;
• Feasibility of the project.
Two (2) artists will be selected:
an artist residing in the greater Montreal area and an artist residing outside the greater Montréal area. Each collective can count up to two (2) members.
The PHI Montréal residency program, in partnership with the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ), is aimed at artists from all disciplines recognized by the CALQ and writers from Québec. The fields overseen by CALQ encompass circus arts, multidisciplinary arts, digital arts, visual arts, popular song, film and video art, dance, literature and storytelling, arts and crafts, music, theatre, and architectural research.
Accommodation is offered for the selected artist residing outside the greater Montréal area only, made available by the CALQ for the duration of the residency.
Projects aren’t required to be created on site at PHI, but the artist will indeed have access to select PHI facilities during the residency. These include PHI VDO’s sound recording and editing suites, as well as PHI offices and administrative spaces. Access to these spaces will be coordinated with the PHI Montréal Project Coordinator, based on the artist’s specific needs.
The PHI spaces are partially accessible for individuals with reduced mobility. Additional assistance can be arranged for anyone requiring it.
All artists are encouraged to apply with their project proposal. Whether you’re a dancer with an idea for a video project, a poet envisioning a textile installation, or a design duo looking to make an interactive artwork, we welcome a wide range of projects, not limited to object-based works.
Already-completed projects are not eligible for this residency. Your proposed project may be a continuation of a past series, but must integrate new elements to be workshopped during the residency period.
No. There are no application fees.
The selected projects will receive a grant of $13,000, an amount of $7,500 for production expenses and a fee for the exhibition and presentation rights. Participating artists are therefore not required to apply for additional funding.
Yes. All participating artists will be asked to sign a Letter of Agreement with PHI.
The PHI Montréal residency is only open to those with Canadian Resident status at this time.
Yes. PHI retains the exclusivity on the first public presentation of your project. However, the artist is welcome to use what has been produced during the residency to generate other artworks or projects as long as the PHI Montréal residency is credited accordingly. Your project remains your intellectual property, of course.
Any other questions?
Contact us!
Partners
The PHI Montréal residency program is carried out in partnership with the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
Founded and directed by Phoebe Greenberg in Montreal, PHI is a multidisciplinary arts hub dedicated to presenting the most relevant ideas of our time through art and culture. Focused on the art and audiences of tomorrow, PHI explores innovative concepts by emphasizing collective experiences, engagement, and audience participation.
PHI offers an eclectic program combining exhibitions, events, immersive experiences, an educational program, and artist residencies, fostering unique encounters between artists and the public. Committed to creation, presentation, and support of contemporary artistic practices, PHI has established itself as a must-visit cultural destination in the heart of Old Montreal.
The Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) invests in the imagination and celebrates the successes of those who create memorable works, shape Québec’s cultural identity, and make it shine. With a view to equitable, sustainable artistic development, the CALQ supports creation, experimentation, and production in the arts and literature in all regions of Québec and promotes dissemination in Québec, Canada, and abroad.
The CALQ’s residencies program is for professional artists and writers seeking regeneration and exploration, who want to immerse themselves in other cultures or have access to internationally renowned facilities to conduct research and seek out new avenues for creation.
