CJSW seeks musicians for new artist-in-residence program

By Fabian Mayer, February 5 2015 —

Campus and community radio station CJSW is offering local artists a chance to produce their creative projects as part of the station’s new artist-in-residence program.

CJSW music director Whitney Ota says the residency was inspired by the creative possibilities that come from making the station’s world-class equipment available to local artists.

“I was kind of just sitting here looking at the studio space,” Ota says. “It’s an incredible space. The gear is top quality. I want that space to be used all the time. If there’s ever a time when it’s not being used I feel like it’s being wasted a little bit.”

Ota hopes the residency will inspire a project that wouldn’t have been created otherwise.

CJSW’s popularity — which has garnered it the title of Best Radio Station in Calgary for over 15 years in FFWD’s annual readers poll — provides an opportunity for local artists to get wider exposure.

Ota believes the project will provide opportunities to Calgary artists and help the local music scene grow.

“We just want to make sure that we are doing our very best and utilizing our resources in the best possible way to support the community,” Ota says.

The chosen musician or band will have as much time as they need to complete their piece. The artist-in-residence program is open to Calgary-area artists and bands. Musicians will not be paid for the residency.  CJSW hopes to continue the project as long as artists art interested.

The application includes questions about how the work would benefit the CJSW listenershtip, what kind of project the artist hopes to create and if it will include a visual component.

Applications are now open and will close at the end of February.