Factory Media Centre is seeking submissions from new media and experimental film artists for our annual &NOW Production Residency & Scholarship (PR&S) program set to begin this upcoming Winter 2027!
DEADLINE TO APPLY
Monday November 30th, 2026 | 11:59pm EST
The &NOW Production Residency & Scholarship (PR&S) program is a valuable opportunity for artists and creators to utilize the space and resources at FMC to produce a new work, or continue a developing body of work. Selections are based on project originality, its potential for artistic growth, and the use and integration of FMC as a production location.
We are excited to announce that this year’s &NOW Residency will host 3 resident artists concurrently (as a cohort) from mid-January to April, with a cumulative group open-studio or exhibition taking place at the FMC gallery in May. &NOW Resident Artists will share FMC resources and space during the residency period. Creative collaboration during the residency is encouraged, but not required!
FMC welcomes submissions from independent artists or artist teams/collectives working in a variety of digital, film, and media art forms including but not limited to: Film –– Animation –– Photography –– Expanded Cinema –– –– Experimental / Immersive Video –– Electronic Literature / Experimental Digital Publishing –– Interactive Mediums –– Augmented / Virtual Reality –– Live Coding –– and many other forms & definitions of new media artwork.
Recognizing that our ways of working are ever evolving, our &NOW Residency structure will continue to embrace a hybrid model, with resident artists able to select a structure of working both remotely and in-person at the FMC gallery and studios.
Applicants for our &NOW Residency Program must be members with Factory Media Centre. Click here to learn more about becoming a member.
Have questions about the &NOW Residency? Stay tuned for updates on a free Residency Info Session and Application Workshop!
The &NOW Residency and Scholarship provides
- $2000 artist fee for the residency period (If applying as a team the artist fee will be split equally among team members)
- $1500 – $2000 scholarship for FMC equipment rentals (Equipment Rentals are open to local artists only, click here view our Equipment Library)
- Payment for public program (to be determined in collaboration with FMC staff)
- 24/7 access to our editing and audio studios (available to local artists only)
- Please note that our building is often rented for filming and other productions. FMC staff will communicate with residents regarding film productions that might effect space use.
- Opportunity to showcase residency work in a short exhibition or open studio format (to be determined in collaboration with FMC staff, please note: this opportunity is seperate from the public program)
- Introduction orientation session and technical assistance as needed
- Staff and board support
- Opportunity to hold studio visits with peers from Hamilton’s art community
Eligibility
- Emerging, mid-career, or established artists (or artist teams / collectives)
- Must be a member of Factory Media Centre (Click here to learn more about becoming a member)
Expectations during residency
- Dedicate part-time to developing new or existing work during the residency period
- Utilize this opportunity for production, post-production or to test work for an exhibition
- Work well alongside other resident artists to ensure a welcoming environment
- Experiment with media art form, technique, or content
- Resident artist(s) must update FMC online community with residency progress once a week
- Develop and deliver a public program that engages with one of the FMC’s surrounding communities (this could be a workshop, participatory experience, or artist talk – to be determined in collaboration with FMC staff)
- Acknowledge the support of FMC and the &NOW Residency when presenting work that was made while in residence
- Utilize FMC’s production and post-production rental equipment and studios (optional to local artists)
Adjudication
- Selection criteria will be based on project originality, potential for artistic growth, and the use and integration of FMC as a production location (applicable to local artists only)
- Selections will be made by the members of the FMC’s Programming Committee along with guest adjudicators from the Hamilton arts community
How to apply
Please find below a breakdown of submission requirements, followed by an online application form. Please email Eli at programming@factorymediacentre.ca with any questions or concerns.
- Applicant(s) name
- CV (3 page max)
- Artist Bio (250 words max) + Short Artist Bio (50-75 words)
- Project Description (300 words max)
- Rough Residency Work Plan and Goals (200 words max)
- A rough work plan helps us understand your goals for the residency and demonstrates that your project is realistic
- What type of residency structure you would prefer: Remote, Hybrid, In-Person
- What production and post-production equipment are you interested in using during your residency? Please review our rentals page here, and list the equipment we have available.
- We encourage artists to experiment and explore equipment/softwares during their residency period. You do not have to be specific in which equipment or software you’re interested in – listing general categories such as “Video cameras”, “3D Rendering software”, etc. is acceptable. This helps our jury understand what resources at FMC applicants are interested in accessing.
- What public program would you provide to FMC’s community, and how does this compliment your project? (150 words max)
- Visual support material: (only one option from below is required to submit, but applicants are welcome to provide both a still images and direct website links in one PDF package)
- Formatted in one PDF document: 5-7 still images with image information: title, year, medium, duration/size
- Formatted in one PDF document: 1-4 DIRECT website links to video projects or video/photo documentation : with project information: title, year, medium, duration/size. (Videos over 3-5mins accepted, however if there is a specific portion of a longer video you would like the Jury to watch, please indicate it under the video hyperlink)
- What would help you feel supported during this residency? Is there anything else you would like to share with us to better understand your application?
About Factory Media Centre
Factory Media Centre is Hamilton’s not-for-profit artist-driven resource centre for film, video, new media, installation, sound art, and other multimedia art forms. Our mission is to develop and support a vibrant, sustainable, creative, and diverse community of Members and non-Members within Hamilton and its surrounding region.
Factory Media Centre is committed to equity in all aspects of its operations. We encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, and racialized persons; newcomer and immigrant persons and refugees, Francophones, LGBTQI+ persons, women, persons with disabilities, and persons of all socio-economic walks of life. If you require support during your application process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Factory Media Centre’s Programming Committee and members of the community select proposals through a group jurying process. Jury members must identify any conflicts of interests before taking part in the selection process. Conflicts of interest include Artists, Artwork, or Projects by family or friends, and projects which would directly benefit the juror themself. Artists who have been selected for an exhibition or residency may not be selected again for a minimum of three years.
Please contact Eli at programming@factorymediacentre.ca with any questions or concerns about the &NOW Residency application process.
Header Image: Documentation of work by 2026 &NOW Resident Artist Emma Eichenberg.