2026 CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
Out of Line is an annual peer-led artistic professional development program that brings together a cohort of 7-9 trans and gender-nonconforming local artists. Out of Line is intended to be a space where you can talk about your work without needing to explain or defend your being. It is also a space to develop professional and community connections that can continue beyond the program.
Monthly group sessions will run from October 2026 to June 2027, culminating in a group exhibition with public programming at the Khyber in July 2027.
Out of Line 3 will be facilitated by artists Marley O’Brien and Wren Tian and will include sessions with guest artists Chris Cochrane-Stillwell (Elle Noir) and Truly Am. The program is facilitated yet self- and group-directed, and will develop in response to the interests, needs, skills, and curiosities of the selected group.
More details are outlined below!
Submissions are now open.
APPLY BY 5PM ADT ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
OUT OF LINE 1: www.khyber.ca/out-of-line-01
OUT OF LINE 2: www.khyber.ca/out-of-line-02
WHO IS IT FOR?
Out of Line is for trans and gender-nonconforming artists interested in dedicating time to their work, receiving and offering critical feedback, and building relationships with other local trans and GNC artists.
We encourage submissions from actively engaged artists working in any discipline or across mediums, as well as from individuals with a dedicated creative practice who may not identify as an “artist.” An art practice might include, but is not limited to: performance, drag, sound, music, writing, filmmaking, photography, craft, comedy, visual art, interdisciplinary work, architecture, etc. Past cohorts have included a violinist, puppet maker, quilter, animator, comic artist, and also installation-based artists, painters, sculptors, theatre artists, and more, all working alongside each other.
Formal arts education or professional experience is not required. You may be someone who has exhibited or performed extensively, someone who has never shown your work publicly, or someone who has been making creative work for years without considering yourself part of an arts community.
Out of Line may be particularly useful for those looking to develop confidence in sharing their work, build professional experience in a low-stakes environment, connect and collaborate with other local trans artists, or create more accountability around art practice and community engagement.
Participants must be committed to:
- Attending in-person sessions at the Khyber: 6-830PM on the second Wednesday of each month from October 2026 to June 2027
- Dedicating time to their own art practice and/or collaborative works
- Participating in the installation, reception events, and deinstallation for the group exhibition in July 2027
- Communicating with the facilitators and Khyber staff about potentially conflicting commitments
APPLICATIONS
Please submit the following:
- Artist bio
Tell us about you! A CV can also be included, but is not required. - Artist statement and/or description of your practice
Share what you are currently making, thinking about, or interested in exploring. We would like to know what you are invested in creatively. - Why would you like to participate in Out of Line?
Speak to what you hope to share and gain from spending a year in a peer group of trans and gender-nonconforming artists. - Commitment to participation
Please confirm your availability to attend monthly in-person meetings and participate in the final exhibition. - Support materials
These may include images, video, audio, writing, documentation of past or current work, an artist website, social media handles, reviews, or other relevant materials.
Please email your application to submissions@khyber.ca
We accept applications in text, image, video, and/or audio formats. Submit using the combination that works best for you. Email attachments, Dropbox, Google Drive, and WeTransfer links will all be accepted.
All applications will be reviewed by a peer jury of trans and/or gender-nonconforming artists.
If you have questions about the application process or would like to discuss an access need or an alternative way of submitting, please contact Hannah (they/them) at hannah@khyber.ca
APPLY BY 5PM ADT ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
FACILITATOR’S BIOS:
Marley O’Brien is a queer and trans painter, performer, filmmaker and facilitator of white settler colonial descent, working and living in Kjipuktuk, Halifax, Nova Scotia. She graduated from NSCAD University in 2022 with a major in Fine Art and has an acute interest in transfeminine perspectives and pop culture. O’Brien is best known for her evocative oil paintings, her drag persona Moist Towlette, and her performances in Atlantic Canadian short films. All of her practices are driven by her sensibilities and intuitions. O’Brien pursues beauty, passion, humour, and truth in all of her work as she does in her personal life. She endeavours to create evocative images that exploit and subvert more recognizable iconography from the canons of painting, filmmaking and popular culture.
Wren Tian is an interdisciplinary artist and facilitator working primarily in lens-based (photo, video). They hold a BFA in Expanded Media Arts from NSCAD University and have exhibited both locally and nationally. Wren considers himself a jack of all trades, master of none, with experience in arts administration, arts programming, and gallery installation, as well as supporting and educating queer and trans folks on topics around gender and pleasure. Right now, their arts practice primarily looks like finding ways to connect and play with friends through artistic collaboration.
GUEST ARTISTS:
Annually, two guest artists present solo talks and mentorship to the cohort during scheduled sessions. In previous years, guests have included Vivek Shraya, Chris E. Vargas, Arielle Twist, and Dr. Syrus Marcus Ware. This year, we are pleased to be joined by Chris Cochrane-Stillwell (Elle Noir) and Truly Am.
Chris Cochrane-Stillwell (Elle Noir) is a 21-year veteran of drag and a local legend in Halifax’s drag community. Her impact has been recognized year after year on The Coast’s Best Drag Performer list for 18 consecutive years, earning 7 Gold, 7 Silver, and 4 Bronze titles. Chris is known for bringing a dynamic new-skool energy to her performances. Often referred to as the Beyoncé of Halifax, she draws inspiration from both contemporary artists and the divas of previous generations, including Tina Turner and Diana Ross. Chris is a proud trans Black activist and public speaker who uses her platform to speak about her lived experience and educate others about intersectionality and equity. She is the creator of MelaNATION, which has grown into one of Canada’s largest QTBIPOC showcases, and served as Vice Chair of Halifax Pride from 2020-22. She is also a makeup artist, Master Esthetician, and actor, with television credits including Sex & Violence, Mr. D, and Trailer Park Boys, as well as film credits for Stage Mother, Wildhood, and Dawn, Her Dad and the Tractor. Across her work as a celebrated performer, artist, educator, and advocate, Chris is committed to uplifting QTBIPOC youth and supporting the next generation of 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and community leaders.
Truly Am is a stand-up comedian, preparator/curator and artist who lives and works in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They have worked in exhibition installation and design for over a decade, and have collaborated with a variety of artists as a sculptural fabricator. Their own previous projects include their recently released comedy album, several plays, and their short film “Baggage.” They also have written for a variety of publications, including Visual Arts News and The Outport. As an illustrator, Am has produced projects for CBC East Coast, TEDx, CBC Podcasts and Edible Maritimes. They were long-listed in the CBC Comedy Next Up competition as one of the top 100 up and coming comedians in Canada, and won Gold (2019) and Silver (2023) in the Best Of Halifax reader’s poll for Best Comedy Show. They have opened for a variety of acts, including “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars” winner Trixie Mattel.