Your art, 75 feet underground: Apply to be the Diefenbunker’s 2026 Artist-in-Residence

The Diefenbunker is seeking artists working in all media to apply to be the Diefenbunker’s 2026 Artist-in-Residence. Bring new perspectives and stories to Canada’s Cold War Museum, an impressive four-storey underground facility that operated as the country’s central communications headquarters during the Cold War. Today, the Diefenbunker is a one-of-a-kind museum and national historic site.

Now in its 13th year, the Diefenbunker’s Artist-in-Residence Program fosters connections between the museum, local artists, and the wider Ottawa-Gatineau community. The program offers a unique and meaningful public platform for emerging and established artists.

Project Requirements
The successful applicant will create original works inspired by the Diefenbunker, the Cold War, or related themes, for presentation in an exhibition at the museum. The Diefenbunker welcomes one artist for a period of three to six months. Artists are given full access to the museum, its library, collections, and archives for research, and on-site artwork creation can be discussed.

Eligibility
The program is open to artists of all ages, working in all media, and living within 200 km of Ottawa. The residency is not a live-in opportunity, and artists must have their own means of transportation (there is no public transit to the Diefenbunker).

Submission Requirements
Applications must include a CV, artist statement, proposed project description, and examples of recent work.