A one-of-a-kind program.
What if we gave artists the means to do research, without immediately asking what they will produce?
Le Cercle is a Le Labo program dedicated to artistic research and experimentation. Since 2022, it has supported an essential but often invisible stage of artistic work: research. For about ten days, a professional member artist takes over Le Labo’s studio and equipment. To test a technique, revisit an idea left aside for six months, learn something, make mistakes, start again, or simply see where an intuition can lead.
Halfway between an artist residency and mentorship, Le Cercle never requires a result. We insist: no work to finish, no exhibition, no performance, nothing to present to the public. Unless, of course, the artist wants to. What interests us here is everything that comes before, and the questions around it.
And because research doesn’t have to be done alone, the artist can also benefit from the perspective of a peer, curator or mentor chosen for their practice and questions. A conversation to shift perspective, unblock something, open a new lead or sometimes confirm that it’s worth digging deeper.
Le Cercle = time + space + tools + an outside perspective. And above all, the right to search without knowing exactly what you will find.
Frequently asked questions
Who is it for?
Professional member artists working in French in a minority context.
How long do Le Cercle residencies last?
10 days.
Where do the residencies take place?
Le Labo, Studio 277, 401 Richmond, Toronto.
What are the benefits?
- Access to Studio 277 and equipment (worth about $3,000)
- Micro-library and archives
- Possible meeting with a paid mentor
- $200 micro-fee and $100 per diem, plus a letter of support for your funding applications
What kind of support is offered?
Feedback from a peer, curator or mentor.
What are the goals?
Artistic research and experimentation, with no required outcome.
I have another question
Write to us at info@lelabo.ca and our team will get back to you.