[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Kingsbrae International Residency for the Arts (KIRA) announces a call for artists for the KIRA Residency.  Every year KIRA awards 6 artists with a multi-week residency. Artists are provided with individual studio space, comfortable housing, two meals each day, and live on a historic property in a beautiful seaside town.

Applications are open to a range of disciplines and types of artists including, but not limited to, visual arts, music/composition, writing, new media, and interdisciplinary arts. Artists from all levels in their career who exhibit a strong professional work ethic and a collaborative attitude are encouraged to apply.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 30 November 2024

The 2025 Residency will be September 27th, 2025 – October 10th, 2025

The KIRA residency includes:

• Studio space in a freestanding 300-square foot studio.
• Private bedroom/bathroom in a well-maintained historic property located steps away from the studio.
• Up to 6 artists living on-site.
• Two meals a day for six days a week (breakfast and dinner).
• Artists are required to host public teaching sessions with students or seniors.
• Access to Kingsbrae Garden and KIRA’s public amphitheater events.
• Artists will participate in Open Studios for the public each Saturday on top of one public engagement session.

KIRA Residency Artist Benefits

Artists will benefit from the KIRA residency in several unique ways, making it a deeply enriching and impactful experience:

Focused Creative Time and Dedicated Studio Space: With a private, freestanding 300-square-foot studio, artists have the space and solitude necessary to fully immerse themselves in their craft without distractions. This focused time allows artists to explore new ideas, refine techniques, and produce significant work.

Comfortable Living in an Inspiring Environment:  The residency offers comfortable accommodations in a historic property located in the picturesque seaside town of St Andrews, surrounded by natural beauty and tranquility. This setting inspires creativity and offers a refreshing break from the everyday, rejuvenating artists mentally and creatively.

Community Engagement and Public Exposure: Engaging with the community – whether through classes, public talks, or open studio days – gives artists an invaluable opportunity to connect with new audiences, gain feedback, and share their passion with others. This interaction can often lead to unexpected inspiration and even future collaborations.

Networking with Fellow Artists: Living and working alongside up to five other artists from diverse disciplines fosters a sense of community and collaborative learning. This environment allows residents to share ideas, gain insights from different creative approaches, and build meaningful relationships with other artists that can last long after the residency.

Access to Kingsbrae Garden and KIRA’s Amphitheater Events: With direct access to Kingsbrae Garden, artists can experience an additional layer of inspiration from the award-winning botanical gardens. Artists can attend public amphitheater events, offering more ways to engage with the local culture and artistic community.

A Supportive Infrastructure for Artistic Development:  By providing two meals a day and private accommodations, KIRA ensures that residents can focus entirely on their work. This support, combined with a vibrant community setting, allows artists to produce their best work while enjoying a well-rounded residency experience.

Opportunities for Career Growth and Exposure: Participating in a KIRA residency can be a valuable addition to an artist’s portfolio and resume. The professional recognition from this opportunity can open doors to galleries, publications, grants, and future residencies.

Reflection and Growth in a Unique Setting:  Spending time in the tranquil surroundings of a seaside town offers artists a chance to pause, reflect, and grow personally and professionally. This restorative experience often leads to renewed motivation and clarity in their creative pursuits.

Testimontials

I can barely speak about my artist in residency experience at KIRA without crying tears of joy and gratitude. As a lifelong artist, it has been a dream to one day attend a residency program after raising four children and growing my business and creative brand. KIRA met and exceeded all expectations and the other fellow residents, now new friends, completely agree. The property at KIRA is incredibly beautiful and impeccably maintained. The staff attended to our every need, going above and beyond to make us feel welcomed, comfortable, well-fed and at home. We had the freedom to explore all of Kingsbrae Garden, the delicious cafe, and the quaint town of St. Andrews and surrounding areas. We were invited to attend special events at the KIRA amphitheater, we had quality time with Mrs. Lucinda Flemer, founder of Kingsbrae, and truly got to know many of the employees who work in various capacities around the property. We had 24/7 access to our beautiful free standing studios, just a short walk away from the house. Each studio is well-lit, absolutely beautiful and spacious…a perfect setting to create each day! What an amazing gift to have an entire month away from life’s daily pulls and responsibilities to artistically explore, be in nature and enjoy fellowship with other creatives from around the world. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have experienced this majestic place and highly recommend KIRA to artists, authors and creatives who desire time and space to deeply explore their craft. – Caroline Simas – Artist in Residence

The incredible location and the length of the KIRA residency provides the perfect setting for an artist to settle in, hunker down and get to work. The mansion that houses the artists during their stay is vast and comfortable. The large room where I stayed featured an en suite and views of the ocean. With acres of garden the artists have access to and the warm and welcoming town of St Andrew’s, as well as the natural beauty of New Brunswick and the multitude of parks, hiking trails, ocean and history of the area, there was no shortage of inspiration. There was also a private studio where I was free to settle in and make my own for making art for an entire month. I looked forward to the daily chef-cooked meal to attend with the other artists. It was a chance to meet international artists and allow the conversation to flow. With this meal as the only formal structure, the day was mine to create! The patron of KIRA has done her utmost for artists to make the residency experience supportive and give to artists time and space to create. – Kristin Sjaarda – Artist in Residence

After participating in many artist residencies both internationally and in the US (where I live), I found KIRA to be a highlight of my career. Everything about KIRA is topnotch. The historic mansion and well cared for property, the private light filled studios, the excellent chef prepared meals – all were the best I’ve ever experienced at a residency. Add to that, access to a large, diverse botanical garden, a welcoming community, a charming town and a variety of nearby historic, cultural or recreational sites make this residency a real standout compared to others I’ve been to. The supportive staff was always looking for ways to make the experience better, yet it would be hard to improve on this kind of perfection. If there is only one residency to consider, look no further! – Roxanne Everett – Artist in Residence

About Kingsbrae International Residency for the Arts

KIRA is an art charity that was created to support local, national, and international artists. The historic estate is not only the spot where Irving Berlin proposed, but also features multiple well appointed bedrooms and public spaces, 6 freestanding art studios, Atlantic Canada’s largest amphitheatre, and access to one of Canada’s most sought after gardens – Kingsbrae Garden.

For more information, contact kira@kingsbraegarden.com