Alchemy Island Spring, Gibraltar Point, April 4, 2026
More 100 artists from around the world have joined Alchemy since 2015.
ALCHEMY is an artist-led international residency offered to make time and space for participants to explore and expand the relationship between their creative and social practices on Toronto Island, a unique community setting in Lake Ontario. More then 100 artists from around the world have participated in Alchemy since 2015 in one of two locations -- the Toronto Islands off the coast of Toronto, Canada's largest City and rural Prince Edward County, a wine growing region two hours east of Toronto. This call is for our Spring 2026 Toronto Island residency.
Founded in 2015 on the Toronto Islands, Alchemy's pillars are food, art, garden and table -- all inspired by the original gardens and community at the Centre. Shared meals, artist talks, studio visits, and dialogue with community members and guest artists all contribute to a magical inspiring time in this magical setting. This Residency is designed for artists to focus on their practice in a respectful and supportive studio environment. Participating artists will be encouraged to cultivate new directions in their work, experiment with process and materiality techniques, and direct their research, activities, and time in collaboration with other visiting artists.
Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts is a peaceful artist retreat nestled against the magnificent backdrop of Toronto Island - the largest car-free community in North America and 15 minutes by ferry to Toronto's downtown core.
A community setting for inquiry and discovery
Through community engagement and commitment to a collaborative process, we collect, tell, and document multiple stories showcasing what compels people to continue to create, grow, farm, and live in two unique communities.
Shared meals, readings and discussions probe the creative intersection of food & art in a community setting & help us better understand the magic & inspiration created by making & sharing art & food.
This residency brings together working artists working in visual arts, sculpture, photography, craft, food, performance art, writing and video. Participants share their work & practices while also contributing culinary creativity to lively communal discussions and dinners.
Coordinators: Claire M Tallarico, is a visual artist, chef and urban gardener whose social practice explores how the everyday activities of art & food making & sharing contribute to the positive experience of participating artists and the communities they return to. Tonia DiRisio is a visual artist and arts administrator. Her work has developed through ongoing investigations of the growing, making, preserving, celebrating, and sharing of food.
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
We encourage artists with an appetite for living in a community setting while creating art and shared meals to submit their applications. Applications are currently accepted on a rolling basis in ONE single PDF addressed to info@makealchemy.com with the subject line Alchemy Island 2025 and your LAST NAME(AlchemyIsland2025ARTISTLASTNAME)
- An artist's CV and artist statement, including your full permanent address (city/country).
- ·A 500-word letter of intent sharing why you wish to participate in Alchemy Island 2025 and what work you plan to undertake while in residence. In your letter, please tell us other residencies you have participated in (or if we would be your first)
- A social media link to images of your work and/or an artist website. Please do not send images as attachments.
- Two names of references with contact emails
- Your $25 application fee by EFT or PAYPAL to info@makealchemy.com
Please see detailed Q and A at www.makealchemy.com
Alchemy Spring Island 2026
Dates: April 20-May 4, 2026
Cost: Private/Shared Accommodation, studio, most food including several shared dinners, participation in community engaged programming, guest artist talks and visits, open studio visits
Partcipants may attend the first week and choose to stay for a second -- the first week is for all partcipants and the second (which will include a supplementary accomodation fee) will have a focus on collaborative and self directed studio work.
Application Deadline: $25 application fee via etransfer or paypal
We offer individual letters of support for artists applying for funding.