The National Music Centre has opened applications for 10 Artist Mini-Residencies at Studio Bell in Calgary, and Alberta-based musicians have until May 10 to apply at studiobell.ca/mini-residencies. In celebration of NMC’s 10-year anniversary, each residency offers two full days of access to the Centre’s living collection of instruments and music technology, world-class recording studios, and an expert studio team. It’s a rare and genuinely open-ended creative opportunity with no prescribed outcome.
The possibilities across two days are wide open. Artists can workshop new material, record singles or demos, cut a live off-the-floor record, or simply use the time and space to explore sounds they couldn’t access anywhere else. NMC Director of Programs Stephanie Hutchinson puts it plainly: “Without creative constraints, artists can achieve whatever musical outcome they are working towards. Having access to our living collection makes the experience that much more impactful for emerging and veteran musicians alike who can use history to make history.”
The residency program has a strong track record. Past alums include The Halluci Nation, Jeremy Dutcher, Jean-Michel Blais, Tanika Charles, Rich Aucoin, Bebe Buckskin, and nêhiyawak, among many others. Over 10 years, NMC has hosted hundreds of artists through its residency and development programs, building a body of work that reflects the full breadth of Canadian music.
Ten residencies will be awarded across 2026 and 2027. Applications are open now through May 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM MT. Alberta-based musicians can apply and find full details at studiobell.ca/mini-residencies.