Twelve paid residencies a year.

Every residency pays a stipend or a project fee, and every one is built around a community in Edmonton.

The Residencies

A hand dabbing a brush into paint on a wooden palette, with a floral canvas behind

Elder-in-Residence

Elder-in-Residence is a paid, year-long role for an Indigenous elder. Elders-in-Residence lead workshops, shape what the studio teaches, and share traditional art forms with everyone who comes through the door: beadwork, quillwork, hide painting, storytelling, and weaving.

Up to four elders hold the role at once, with overlapping terms, so there is always an elder in the studio.

Duration
12 months, renewable
Monthly stipend
$1,200 a month
Studio time
Dedicated space, flexible hours
Eligibility
Indigenous elders · Any tradition
Apply for this residency

Youth Artist Residency

The Youth Artist Residency is a six-month intensive program for emerging artists aged 18–26. Residents receive full studio access, a monthly materials stipend, and one-on-one mentorship from an established Canadian artist of their choosing (from our approved mentor network).

The program ends with a solo or duo exhibition in our main gallery space, a modest stipend for exhibition costs, and a portfolio review with a panel of Edmonton arts professionals. We run four residencies a year, and we give priority to BIPOC and low-income artists.

Duration
6 months (two cycles a year)
Materials stipend
$400 a month
Mentorship
One-on-one sessions every two weeks
Eligibility
Ages 18–26 · Edmonton area · Any medium
Apply for this residency
A young man in a dark jacket, arms crossed and smiling, standing in a field of dried teasel at sunset
Large, brightly coloured pop-art portraits on easels at an outdoor art fair, with a crowd walking past

Community Mural Residency

The Community Mural Residency embeds an artist in one Edmonton neighbourhood for a full project cycle, from community consultation through design to final installation. Residents lead the creative vision while working with neighbourhood residents, including training and hiring local co-painters.

Each residency produces one large-format mural (minimum 400 sq ft) on a designated public building. Residents receive a project fee plus a neighbourhood stipend for the length of the engagement.

Duration
4–6 months per project
Project fee
$6,000–$9,000 total
Co-painter budget
Separate; the resident manages it
Eligibility
All visual artists · Mural experience an asset
Apply for this residency

What Residents Say

"Six months of studio time changed how I work. I came in with a phone full of sketches and left with a solo show and a mentor I still text every week."
Darnell Whitecap Youth Residency, 2023 · Painter, Edmonton
"I have worked with a lot of organizations over the years. This is one of the few that asked how we wanted to teach before they set a schedule. My granddaughter comes to the studio on Wednesdays now."
Elder Rose Swifthawk Elder-in-Residence, 2022–present · Cree beadwork artist
"I have painted a lot of walls. This is the first one where the neighbours picked the colours, and a retired couple in their eighties showed up every Saturday to paint beside the teenagers. Their names are on the wall next to mine."
Mei Fournier Mural Residency, 2024 · Muralist & illustrator

Start Your Application

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for Elder-in-Residence and Mural Residency. Youth Artist Residency has two annual intakes: applications open in March (for June start) and September (for January start). The application asks about your ideas and your community connection, and it does not ask for a CV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a formal arts degree or exhibition history to apply?

No. The panel scores community connection, creative vision, and fit with the residency. A degree or an exhibition history scores nothing extra.

Can I apply for more than one residency?

Yes, but please submit separate applications for each residency you're applying to, and indicate which is your first preference. We find single-focus applications stronger than general ones.

What does "paid at Edmonton artist rate" mean for the Mural Residency?

We follow the CARFAC minimum fee schedule for public art commissions, adjusted for local cost of living. For mural projects, the project fee ranges from $6,000 to $9,000 depending on scale, plus a separate budget for co-painters and materials that you manage. You see the full budget when you apply.

Who reviews the applications?

Applications are reviewed by a panel that includes at least two community members (often past Lantern participants or residents), one board member, and one Lantern staff member. We use a rubric that scores community connection, creative vision, and fit with the specific residency. Prestige and production history do not score points.

What if I have accessibility needs or need language support during the application process?

Please contact us at hello@lanternarts.ca before submitting your application. We can provide application support in French, Cree, and Arabic; accommodate audio or video submissions in place of written statements; and make the in-person interview accessible to you.