Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal Opens Call for Résidence Empreintes 2027

The Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal (MBAM) has opened applications for the Résidence Empreintes 2027, an eight-week residency designed to support artists in engaging with the museum’s collection through research and creative practice. The residency will take place from March 22 to May 14, 2027.

The selected artist will receive a total grant of $9,000, which includes a $6,000 stipend and a $3,000 allowance paid at $375 per week for the duration of the residency. In addition to financial support, the artist will benefit from eight hours of guidance with a museum curator to help shape their artistic or research approach. Access to the museum’s archives and personalized assistance in developing research methodologies are also provided.

The program aims to encourage new perspectives on the MBAM collection, inspire artists’ practices, and foster professional development by enhancing skills related to artistic presentation. Participants will have unrestricted access to the museum’s exhibition spaces during opening hours and will receive invitations to museum events to promote networking and exchange.

Applicants must demonstrate familiarity with the MBAM collection to ensure the feasibility of their research project. They must be available for the residency dates, consent to background checks, agree to submit a one-page report on their residency experience, and present their work in a public lecture. Only one candidate will be selected for the residency.

Applications that are incomplete, late, or deemed ineligible will not be reviewed. Ineligible candidates include MBAM and CAM staff members and their close relatives, as well as artists whose works are already part of the MBAM collection. Selection criteria focus on the originality of the project, its relevance to the museum’s collection, adaptability and autonomy, knowledge of the collection’s artistic and historical context, and the project’s positive impact on the artist’s career, public engagement, and the museum’s collection.

After the December 2 deadline, the evaluation committee will require nine weeks to process applications. This residency offers an opportunity for artists to deepen their engagement with the MBAM collection and develop their artistic practice within a supportive institutional framework.