Residencies 2026
Participants in MOTHRA residency at Gibraltar Point (2024)
MOTHRA residencies are one week Monday-Monday at Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts.
Each residency can accommodate from 10-17 artists depending on the family formation of each artist. Toronto Island is a 10 minute ferry ride from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in downtown Toronto. Artists are expected to catch a specific ferry on move-in day – usually between 2-3pm. Move-out is around 10am on the final day. This coincides with a departing ferry.
OPEN CALL for March 16th-23rd residency!
Please note that MOTHRA invites artists who have previously participated on this residency back for another stay. Each residency has space reserved for new applicants and past residents.
Cost
The price is $900 (incl. HST) for you and your child(ren).
An additional adult staying longer than one night is $150 +HST for the week. This fee is collected by Gibraltar Point.
On occasion an additional “overflow” bedroom is available. The cost for this room is $220 + HST for the week.
A 50% non-refundable deposit secures your place on the residency once you have been selected.
Please note that there is a small transaction fee for those paying with credit card.
The cost includes:
- Facilitators fee
- Private accommodation for you and your child/ren (shared washroom & shower)
- Large shared studio (limited private studios)
- Transport to Gibraltar Point from Island-side ferry dock and back
- Communal kitchen
- Access to large communal room “Fireplace Room”, (if not reserved for events)
How are artists selected?
Some artists who attend have graduate degrees in their field of interest (usually art). Some are professional artists who have exhibited extensively. Some artists who attend MOTHRA have never been to art school and this residency is their first.
The main two factors involved when selecting artists to come along on a MOTHRA residency:
- A demonstrated desire and commitment to try working alongside/with your child for the week;
- An interest in being in community with other artist-parents.
Expectation of the artists
This residency is your time to think, collaborate, discuss, read, produce work. There is no expectation to produce a certain amount of work, or any at all - but everyone does. Before the residency is over, on Sunday, we do “studio tours” where we visit everyone’s studio to find out what they’ve been up to for the week. The residency does ask that you participate in discussion and dialogue, and that you help one another out.The Location
Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts is situated on Toronto Island, a ten minute ferry-ride from downtown Toronto. Visitors to the Island must cross - on foot or bicycle - to the Island on a ferry. The Island is mostly parkland with a small community of residents at the easternmost end, a public school, firehall and emergency services. Only service vehicles are allowed on the Island. GPCA is between Centre and Hanlan's docks and sits on the main road between the lagoon and the open lake. GPCA was once the Island school. There are no shops on the Island - food must be brought or ordered from the mainland. Many who stay at GPCA speak of its magic and many return. The digs at GPCA are not glamorous, but they are comfortable and practical.
In March the only working dock will be Ward’s which is about a 45 minute walk, or 15 minute bike ride from GPCA.
Toronto Island is on Treaty 13 territory.
March Residency 2026 Timeline
- November 2025 - Closed Call
- December 2025 - Open Call
- January 16th 2026 - Deadline for New Applications. Deposit Deadline for MOTHRA alumni.
- Successful New Applicants will be contacted by the end of January 2026. Request for deposits to follow.
Questions
Any questions, comments, please email: contactmothra (AT) gmail.com
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