Listeners in Residence

Part Two

Call out for participants!

We are so pleased to announce a second iteration of this project, Listeners in Residence. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and Victoria Pride Society are looking for LGBTQ2+ youth (ages 15 to 35) and LGBTQ2+ seniors (ages 60+) as a part of an intergenerational mentorship and skill-sharing program, Listeners in Residence. Youth and senior will be paired together for a four-month long mentorship running from September to December 2021. Over the course of this mentorship, individuals will share their queer experiences and skills as they get to know each other.  

Participants will be paid an honorarium of $750 of the project as well as given a materials budget for their skill sharing projects. 

Each assigned group will be given monthly recommendations, but it is up to the duo to determine what is wanted out of the mentorship. Possible examples of skill-sharing ideas include:

• Dumpling making
• Using a sewing machine
• Photography
• Learning a musical instrument
• Canning

Participants will be expected to commit to a minimum of 6 hours per month. These will be done either over Zoom or in-person with CDC safety guidelines in mind. The hours include:

• Two one-hour one-on-one sessions per week with their assigned partner 
• A monthly one-hour discussion with all participating artists
• A one-hour monthly check-in with the program’s organizer

Expectations of participants:

• Meeting with the program’s organizer prior to the program’s start date
• Attending a group orientation session with all participants
• Developing a “learning contract” with your partner
• Attending a weekly sessions and monthly discussions
• Completing an evaluation form at the end of the program

Program Goals:

• Enable reciprocal transfer of knowledge between pairings
• Promote cross-cultural and intergenerational exchanges
• Learn a new skill to express self-identity and creativity

Participants who are from intersectional LGBTQ2+ communities (including but not limited to IBPOC, disabled, and low-income communities) are strongly encouraged to submit. All participants are required to obtain a Criminal Record Check, and the costs will be covered. 

In order to apply, please answer the following questions either on a Word document or directly over email, and send with subject line: “Call for Participants” to Regan Shrumm, Assistant Curator at rshrumm@aggv.ca. If you need assistance with writing or prefer an alternative submission format such as phone call, Zoom interview, or submitting a hard copy by mail, please contact Regan Shrumm at rshrumm@aggv.ca or call 250-896-8966. 

Please reply to the following:

• First, last name, email, and phone number
• Are you applying as a youth or a senior?
• How do you identify within the LGBTQ2+ community? Are you hoping to be matched with a particularly identifying LGBTQ2+ and/or other intersectional community member (ie: trans, asexual, disabled, Indigenous, etc.)?
• Why are you interested in participating in this LGBTQ2+ mentorship? (maximum 150 words)
• What skills are you interested in learning? What skills are you interested in sharing?  (maximum 150 words)
• What is your availability like? What days of the week and times work best for you?
• Do you already have a criminal record check? If not, are you willing to get one (the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will pay for the fee)?
• Any other comments or pieces of information that you want 

Deadline for application: July 15, 2021

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the Victoria Pride Society understands that access needs are different for everyone, and that these needs can also change and be different every day. We are committed to offering meaningful access and services to make our institution and programs as accessible and barrier-free as possible.

If you have questions or requests for accessibility needs, please contact Regan Shrumm by email rshrumm@aggv.ca.

Images above are from Part 1 of the project (click below to learn more): (L-R): Victoria’s first glamour shoot at the age of 92, photo courtesy of Libby Oliver. Jessica and Lennor, photo courtesy of Libby Oliver. Participants in the Listener in Residence program sit together in Luther Courts sunroom to eat together, photo courtesy of Regan Shrumm.