CXRE Residency S1

A three-month, part-time creative residency for eight artists, designers, filmmakers, creative technologists, and product designers in Downtown Halifax. Studio space, an artist fee, mentorship, and a final public exhibition.

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Resident Artists

Artist Fee

$3k

Material Support

$1k

Min. Weeks Active

CXRE Residency is not a fellowship, a grant, or a passive studio rental. It is an active, structured creative program that moves residents from a raw idea through research, prototyping, testing, and public presentation.

The program follows CXRE Labs' own process: Ideation, Research, Design, Testing. The same framework we use to build products and brands, applied here to creative practice.

The residency is evening-anchored and part-time, designed to work alongside other employment. The minimum commitment is 12 hours per week, self-scheduled. Core programming — critiques, workshops, and open studios — happens in the evenings so working creatives can participate fully.

Over six months, the flagship space operates as a working studio, public gallery, event venue, and community hub simultaneously. Open studios, workshops, talks, evening activations, and a final public exhibition are built into the program from Day 1.

Who Should Apply

You do not need formal arts education. You do not need to have exhibited before. You need a project idea worth developing, the willingness to show your process publicly, and the honesty to engage in real critique. The residency is open to artists, designers, photographers, filmmakers, product designers, and creative technologists at any career stage.

You have a creative idea you keep coming back to but have never had the space or structure to build.

You work across art, design, film, photography, product design, or creative technology.

You want to develop a serious prototype or proof of concept and need real feedback to do it.

You are strong in your practice but want a structured push toward public presentation.

You have a full-time job and need a program designed around your real life.

You want to be in a room with other ambitious creatives who will challenge and support you.

Program Timeline

The full flagship runs July to December 2026. The active residency runs September to November. Everything is designed to culminate in a strong public exhibition in December.

July 2026

Flagship Opens

The CXRE space opens in Downtown Halifax. Buildout, setup, and public launch preparation.

August 2026

Open Call + Launch

Public launch event. Open call for residents goes live. Applications open.

September 2026

Residency Begins

Eight residents start. Orientation, research mapping, and first prototypes.

October 2026

Production + Testing

Technical development, critique loops, and a public test event with live audience feedback.

November 2026

Exhibition Readiness

Final production, exhibition design, and the residency showcase.

December 2026

Final Exhibition

Public exhibition opens. Artist talks, closing celebration, and impact documentation.

What You Will Receive

Everything you need to build something real.

Artist Fee

Paid in two installments across the program. For your time, your practice, and your creative labour.

Materials Support

A dedicated budget for the materials, tools, and production costs specific to your project.

Studio Space

Dedicated workspace in the CXRE flagship, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 9pm, for the full 12 weeks.

Weekly Critique

Structured group critique led by Niyi every Wednesday evening. The most important fixed point in the program.

Mentorship

Weekly workshops on process, research, materials, documentation, and installation. Guest mentors matched to your project needs.

Final Exhibition

A spot in the final residency exhibition at the Downtown Halifax flagship space, open to the public in December 2026.

Apply As A Resident

Applications for CXRE Residency 2026 open in August 2026. The application takes 20 to 30 minutes and covers your practice, your project idea, and your fit with the program.

Go To Application Form

Join The Team Behind The Residency.

Three fractional contract roles for the full six-month flagship period. Evening-forward schedules. Halifax-based.

Program Coordinator

16 hrs/week · 4 days · 6 months

Resident communications and support
Event logistics and scheduling
Partner and community coordination
Budget tracking and procurement

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Studio and Events Assistant

16 hrs/week · 4 days · 6 months

Daily space setup, maintenance, and closing
Event setup, front-of-house, and teardown
Gallery installation and exhibition support
Evening activations and community nights

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Documentation & Content Lead

16 hrs/week · Flexible schedule · 6 months

Own CXRE Labs social media channels
Short-form video and process documentation
Resident interviews and archive building
Impact report visuals and content

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FAQ

Do I need formal arts education to apply?

No. We do not have an education requirement. What matters is a genuine creative practice, a project worth developing, and the willingness to engage seriously with the program structure.

I have a full-time job. Can I still participate?

Yes. The residency is designed for this. Core programming happens in the evenings — critiques on Wednesday evenings, workshops on Tuesday evenings, open studios on Friday evenings. The studio will be open extended hours to accommodate working creatives, including before and after standard work hours. The minimum commitment is 12 hours per week, self-scheduled. Specific studio access hours will be confirmed and shared with accepted residents before the program begins.

What kind of work can I develop during the residency?

Almost anything: installations, AR artwork, short films, photography series, product prototypes, kinetic sculpture, immersive experiences, mixed-media work, sound or performance pieces, or digital and interactive experiences. What matters is that there is a genuine idea and a process for developing it.

When do applications open and close?

Applications open in August 2026 with the flagship launch. The window will be approximately three weeks. Add your email above and we will notify you the moment the call goes live.

Where is the residency located?

Downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. The exact address will be announced at the August launch.

Is the artist fee paid upfront?

The $3,000 fee is paid in two instalments: 50% at the start of the residency and 50% on successful completion, including the final exhibition and documentation deliverables.