The iconic Glenfiddich Distillery Pagoda, (Photo: Coldupnorth/taken September 20, 2021/cropped/CC by SA 4.0)

Canadian visual artists are invited to apply for a unique summer residency in Scotland for 2025. The Glenfiddich 2025 Artists in Residence program selects artists from all over the world for a three-month, all expenses paid residency in scenic Dufftown, Scotland, home of the company’s distillery.

The program is celebrating a 24th anniversary in Scotland, and it’s the 19th year that Canadian artists have been asked to participate. Participating artists hail from across the globe, and in 2025 will include artists from Taiwan, Scotland, China and Africa along with Canada.

“The 2025 Artists in Residence program celebrates the intersection of art and the scenic nature of the Glenfiddich Distillery in the Scottish Highlands,” comments Navneet Bhullar, Brand Manager, Glenfiddich in Canada. “We look forward to welcoming new voices and visions to the distillery, and we are honoured to offer this esteemed opportunity to one skilled Canadian artist looking to explore their artistry while collaborating with other artists from around the world.”

More than 160 artists from 20 countries have taken part in the summer artist residency in Dufftown, Scotland since it began in 2002. The picturesque Speyside region of the Scottish Highlands is known for its lush greenery, rivers and rich soil. The name Glenfiddich comes from Scottish Gaelic — Gleann Fhiodhaich, which translates as valley of the deer. In short, what makes it perfect for making whisky also gives it an atmosphere and heritage that infuses the work that is created there.

“The Artists in Residence program celebrates the art of storytelling, craftsmanship, and creating shared experiences that art brings to life,” comments Andy Fairgrieve, Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Curator in a statement. “Each year we welcome a new group of artists from around the globe at the Glenfiddich Distillery and are continuously impressed by the works they create, drawing upon our rich heritage and scenic landscape.”

William Grant founded the distillery that still bears his name in 1887. William Grant & Sons, Ltd. remains an independent family-owned distiller, run today by the fifth generation. Glenfiddich is probably the most famous of its brands, which also include Grant’s blended Scotch, Drambuie, and Reyka Vodka, among others.

Marla Hlady & Christof Migone – Canadian Artists-in-Residence at the Glenfiddich Distillery (2019):

Andy Fairgrieve: Curator

Unmistakeable in his kilt and dreadlocks curator for the Glenfiddich Artists in Residence program Andy Fairgrieve acts as both coordinator and curator. He looks after all the details from artist selection to travel visas, and then connecting the participating artists with what they need locally when they reach Dufftown and begin to work.

“In short I act as a local guide, curator and gallery technician. For me whisky is all about relationships, bringing people together and sharing with friends. With that in mind it’s a positive reinforcement of ‘guid’ Highland hospitality that each year, over the weeks and months that the artists are here, lasting associations are formed.”

Andy has looked after the Artists in Residence prize since its inception in 2002.

The Jury

The jury typically considers more than 200 applications for the summer residency program.

Dave Dyment

The 2008 Canadian Artists in Residence Prize recipient, Dave Dyment has served on the selection jury panel for Artists in Residence Canada for the past 5 years. Dave is based in Toronto, where he works largely in the field of sound installation, along with multiples and photography. His work has been exhibited across North America and Europe.

David Diviney

David Diviney is the senior curator at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax, where he’s worked since 2009. His resume includes positions at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery and Eye Level Gallery, and he has taught courses at College of Art and Design, University of Lethbridge, Thompson Rivers University, and Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.

Stefan Hancherow

Toronto based curator and collector Stefan Hancherow has held positions as the Project Director of Feature Contemporary Art Fair and Assistant Curator of the Sobey Art Award. After graduating from NSCAD University, he followed with an MFA from OCAD University.

Ivan Jurakic

Based in Hamilton, Ivan Jurakic is the Director/Curator of the University of Waterloo Art Gallery. He earned an MFA from SUNY Buffalo and an Honours BA from the University of Guelph. He has curated numerous exhibitions in a 20 year career, including sitting on the curatorial panel for the 2009 Sobey Art Award, and co-curatong Zone C for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2013.

Joshua Schwebel

Canadian artist Joshua Schwebel divides his time between Montreal (Tiohtià:ke) and Berlin. His work involves direct institutional critique, expressed through process-based performances, withdrawals, delegated transactions, and impostors, and has been presented across Canada, in Europe and China.

Eunice Luk

Born in Hong Kong, Eunice Luk is a visual artist based in Tkaronto/Toronto whose practice includes installations, sculptures, paintings, and multiples. Her work explores cross cultural commonalities, and is inspired by the natural environment.

Ruth Burns

Programmer, curator, advocate and non-profit administrator Ruth Burns has been the Executive Director of Ontario Culture Days since 2017. Ruth was the founding director of Nuit Blanche Edmonton, which launched in 2015, among many other key positions held over a two decade career.

Art installation by Julie Forgues (Photo: Julie Forgues)

Details

“As an artist, the experience at Glenfiddich’s Artist in Residence program meant that I could concentrate only on the given task: create art works influenced by all mentioned above. And how can it not be!? These three months have been extremely inspiring … and utmost heartwarming,” comments Julie Forgues, Artists in Residence winner of 2024.

The three month residency includes three months of income, all-inclusive travel, accommodations and project materials, and is valued at more than $26K CAD. At the end of the residency, the works are shown in an exhibit at the distillery.

Artists living and working in Canada may apply.

There is a five-part application process;
It includes an outline of what they want to create, and how it will be inspired by the Glenfiddich Distillery;
Other requirements include a short artist statement, three-minute video and other details;
The application deadline is 11:59 EST on January 31, 2025.

Past Canadian winners include Derek Liddington, Dean Baldwin Lew, Annie Pootoogook, Daniel Barrow, Myfanwy Macleod, Damian Moppett, Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky, Jon Sasaki, Eleanor King, Lee Henderson, Vanessa Maltese, and Christof Migone & Marla Hlady, who have worked in a wide variety of media from painting and sculpture to sound art, video and performance.

Find more information about the Artist in Residence program, and the application, [HERE].

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Anya Wassenberg

Anya Wassenberg is a Toronto City Editor at Ludwig Van. She is an experienced freelance writer, blogger and writing instructor.