PRIM | DAZIBAO
Since 2005, Dazibao and PRIM have joined forces to offer an artist an exceptional opportunity to produce and distribute a work. The selected proposal takes into account the specificities of both organizations and, as a result, must address the formal and conceptual problems innate to image-based practices while having no qualms about tackling audio, video and digital processing.
Target candidates
To apply for the PRIM | DAZIBAO residency, you must:
- Be an artist or artists’ collective creating works independently;
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. In the case of a collective, at least one person must meet this requirement.
PRIM and Dazibao invite emerging, mid-career, and established artists to submit a project proposal. Committed to diversity and inclusion, PRIM and Dazibao encourage submissions from artists who identify as members of a minority group.
Assistance granted
Assistance granted
By PRIM
- $12,000 worth of access to all filming equipment, studios, and video and audio post-production facilities for two years.
- $1,000* for audio and/or video training and support
- Project guidance and technical support
* Calculated at the non-member rate, non-transferable or redeemable for cash
By Dazibao
- Presentation of the work as part of the regular programming within two years of the announcement of the results.
- Guidance throughout the project’s development, production of discussion material around the artist’s practice as well as logistical and promotional supervision
* The fees paid by Dazibao follow CARFAC recommendations.
Eligibility rules
General eligibility rules
An unlimited number of separate applications per application period and per artist are eligible.
There is no limit as to the number of times a project may be submitted in the event it is rejected for a previous application period.
Eligible projects
All proposals for producing independent media works in any artistic practice using sound or moving image are eligible.
Note: Projects that are part of a school curriculum are not eligible.
Eligible costs
PRIM’s support through this program takes the form of free access to equipment for the following services:
- Sound and image capture (shooting)
- Sound recording
- Sound editing and exploration
- Image editing and finishing
- Colorization
- Sound mixing (cinema and music)
- Digitization, transfer and DCP creation
- Virtual reality
* Maximum value of $12,000 calculated at the non-member rate
** PRIM’s support applies whether the artist uses the service alone or with a PRIM technician (if available). If the artist wishes to work with an external technician, the member rate applies, and PRIM’s support is limited to 50%.
Non-eligible costs
The following expenses are not eligible:
- Technicians’ fees
- Distribution media and supplies
- Travel and accommodation costs, if applicable
Registration terms and conditions
How to apply
To apply, you must complete the online application form and provide the following documents:
- Artistic Statement(maximum 250 words)
- Project Description(maximum 500 words)
- Supporting Audio/Video Materials(15 minutes total, in the form of Vimeo links or other links)
- Any relevant supporting documentation: photos, illustrations, storyboards, etc. (maximum of 20 files in JPEG, PDF, or PNG format, with a maximum size of 1 MB each)
- Descriptive list of the documentation submittedand instructions for viewing videos (PDF format, maximum size 1 MB)
- Technical and Budgetary Requirements FormTo be completed and uploaded with the application.
- Resume (PDF format, maximum size of 1 MB).
Deadlines
October 15
Evaluating applications
Evaluation process
Applications are first evaluated by the person in charge of the program at Dazibao based on the program’s eligibility conditions.
Eligible applications are then evaluated by a committee made up of representatives from both organizations.
The committee evaluates on merit based on the evaluation criteria of the program. At the end of the evaluation, the members of the committee decide on the granting of the residence. Decisions are final and without appeal.
Evaluation criteria
The projects are evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Innovative nature of the proposal
- Subject’ relevance in the context of current image-based practices
- Adequacy between the contents developed and the technologies used
Ethics
Jury members must follow PRIM’s Jury Member Professional Ethics Code and the Conflict of Interest rules as well as Dazibao’s codes and policies.
Response time
Dazibao will notify you of the jury’s decision no later than four months after the program’s deadline.
Due to the high number of proposals we receive, only artists whose projects have been accepted will be contacted. We are aware that preparing a proposal requires considerable work, and we are grateful to all the artists who share their research with us.
Other information
Artists’ obligations
To be eligible for the PRIM-Dazibao Production and Presentation Residency, recipients must become members of PRIM and carry out their project within two years of the date the results are announced.
Recipients
The previous recipients of the PRIM | Dazibao Residency are:
Anouk Verviers (2024-2025)
Lisa Lipton (2022-2023)
Abbas Akhavan (2021-2022)
Zinnia Naqvi (2020-2021)
Anne-Renée Hotte (2019-2020)
Omar Elhamy et Casper Wolski (2017-2018)
Maryse Goudreau (2016-2017)
Roberto Santaguida (2015-2016)
Léna Mill-Reuillard (2014-2015)
Scott Massey (2013-2014)
Lorna Bauer et Jon Knowles (2012-2013)
Steve Bates (2011-2012)
Frédéric Lavoie (2010-2011)
Michel Campeau (2010-2011)
Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay (2009-2010)
Sophie Bélair Clément (2008-2009)
Charles Stankievech (2007-2008)
Romeo Gongora (2006-2007)
Chih-Chien Wang (2005-2006)



