Call for Applications – Terrains Vacants Residencies 2026

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – TERRAINS VACANTS 2026 – ÉCOTONE

Écotone – Espace d’expérimentation is proud to launch its new residency program dedicated to research in the arts, across all disciplines: Terrains Vacants. The residencies will take place at the Cité des hospitalières in transition, on the unceded territory of Tio’tia:ke/Mooniyang (Montreal). The project is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Écotone (def.): A transitional zone between two ecological systems, where new species emerge and where those that existed on either side coexist in new ways.

Écotone – Espace d’expérimentation is a mobile, occasional research platform for the performing arts. It moves with the wind and settles where the need arises, responding to spontaneous contexts and desires, creating a gathering space where communities can converge and exchange, and where artists can pause to reflect. Patience, curiosity, openness, and the crossing of disciplines and knowledge are core values of the project. To date, Écotone remains the first and only center in Quebec exclusively dedicated to fundamental artistic research, welcoming all artistic and craft practices outside of an academic framework.

This year, Écotone’s mandate will run from March 1 to November 30, 2026.

Through its mandate, Écotone aims to:

• Offer a space for fundamental and practical artistic research for those wishing to deepen their artistic practice.
• Spark cross-disciplinary, knowledge, and artistic exchanges.
• Be a vector for inclusive and welcoming communities.
• Organize and support reflective activities such as discussion circles, conferences, multidisciplinary meetings, and workshops.
• Value transversal forms of knowledge.

This call is open to anyone with an artistic practice, whether considered emerging or established, craft-based, or marginal.

TERRAINS VACANTS

Fundamental research on artistic practice

The Terrains Vacants residency format consists of two non-consecutive weeks where the artist has exclusive access to an alternative space to reflect, let go, and question their artistic practice. Participants will be connected with facilitators (such as researchers from the social sciences) to enrich their research.

These residencies serve as artistic fallow periods for the selected creators, free from production requirements.

What we offer:

• Logistical support from the organizers for the residency and stay.
• Tailored mentorship from an Écotone artistic mentor.
• A total fee of $800 for two non-consecutive weeks (Monday to Sunday).
• Workspace (table, chairs) with internet access.
• Opportunities to engage with various artistic and community organizations based at the Cité des hospitalières.
• Opportunities to attend discussion circles and other activities organized by Écotone to foster connections among resident artists.

Accommodation is not included. Artists not living in Montreal will be responsible for arranging their own accommodation if selected.

Residency process (once accepted):

• Welcome at the start of the residency and a tailored mentoring session during each stay with an Écotone team mentor.
• Final meeting after the last stay and preparation of a short post-residency report.

Desired profiles: Artists interested in deepening and developing their practice outside of production constraints; open and curious; able to embrace doubt; rich in questions related to their artistic process. We recognize that many creators are often excluded from institutional arts structures: we favor unconventional, singular, and atypical applications while also welcoming strong unidisciplinary practices.

If this experience interests you:

To facilitate the process and make residencies accessible to all, please choose one of the following three options to submit your application:

1. Complete the written application form, available here.

OR

2. Create and share a Padlet board responding to the form questions in your own way. Treat this board as your personal space: you may add images, video links, text excerpts—anything is possible! The Padlet platform is easy and intuitive to use. You can create an account or access via your Gmail/Microsoft/Apple account. Once your submission is complete, email us the link and ensure it is accessible to shared users. Include your basic contact information so we can follow up. Example here.

OR

3. Create and share a video (maximum 5 minutes) responding to the form questions in your own way. Videos should be accessible via Google Drive, YouTube, Vimeo, or any other viewing link that does not require downloading.

Deadline: December 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM.

Due to the high number of applications in past residencies, a pre-selection stage will be conducted before interviews. Selected artists will be invited to a 30-minute interview. Interview scheduling will follow a “first come, first served” principle. Interviews will begin on December 10, 2025, and continue into January 2026. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to maximize available interview slots. Final selection of artists for the residency will occur after interviews.

For any questions, contact us by email. We look forward to discovering your applications!

Écotone – Espace d’expérimentation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/espaceecotone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espace_ecotone/
Questions: espace_ecotone@hotmail.com

Looking forward to meeting you!

The Écotone Artistic Team
Thomas Duret and Stefania Skoryna