The story of rooming houses, and of this particular residency, is one of increasing relevance for our city. Rooming houses host some of our city’s most vulnerable population that live well below the poverty line. The conditions of these spaces vary significantly, but common characteristics are small, single-room, shared amenities (kitchen, toilet, bathing facilities), and very low rent. A report written by University of Toronto professor, Emily Paradis, shares, “Dwelling rooms (another term for rooming house) have played a vital role in the development of cities, meeting the need for housing that is affordable, low-barrier, and sometimes temporary. The reflect their cities’ history, built form and economy.” Though activists and community groups are working hard to protect these spaces, in Toronto and around North America, we continue to lose these spaces as our city develops and expands.

The focus of Anda_2 is to tell the story of these spaces, their residents and how this unfolds in our cityscape.

For our second Anda Residency we will be occupying a portion of a Riverdale rooming house.

Dates: April 1-29, 2019.

Our artists-in-residence will occupy a space in a rooming house, where we will be sharing space with the last of its remaining residents. Only 9 of the 24 residents remain; holding onto the weeks or months that they have left in their home. Thereafter these residents will be shifted to a new home somewhere in the GTHA.

To help weave the story of these residents with the story of our city,, we are looking for 1-3 visual artists or collective and 3-5 non-visual artists (poets, writers, map makers, performers, etc.) to use their craft to tell the story of these spaces. Artists-in-residence will be given space and material to create during the Anda 4-week residency.

The square footage of this residency is intentionally small. To feel the squeeze of confinement.

The timeline of this residency is intentionally short. To feel the great sense of urgency that surround space and place in our city. Let’s step into that discomfort.

We are now accepting artist applications.

Application open from March 8 to 20. Successful applicants will be notified by March 23.

They are looking for urbanists, artists, community folks, academics and people with lived expertise to share knowledge, stories and have conversations with our artists-in-residence. If you are interested click here to share more!

Note: Anda understands the emotional labour that this residency may entail. There will be space holders and councillors available for artists to talk through any personal challenges they may experience in this residency.

Learn more here