Canadian Rainforest 2026 Artist-in-Retreat: October AIR
Artists at all career stages and disciplines are invited to apply for a 2-4 week artist residency on Vancouver Island that includes studio space, accommodation, mentorship, and access to specialized equipment and nature.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- annual cycle, check dates
- Entry fee
- $1300
- Location
- Lake Cowichan, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
About
Overview
A Position on Retreat is an artist residency on Vancouver Island designed for artists at all career stages and disciplines to reconnect with their creative practice and themselves. The residency immerses participants in the tranquil beauty of the Canadian temperate rainforest near Lake Cowichan, with both traditional and digital studio spaces, guided nature excursions, and a mentorship component.
Duration & Accommodation
- Two-week to four-week residencies
- Accommodates 3 to 5 artists in private bedrooms
- Shared spaces include two kitchens, two bathrooms, laundry facilities, a common area, individual and shared studios (digital and traditional), outdoor seating and studio areas, and direct access to nature trails, rivers, and lakes
- Each private bedroom includes a desk for personal workspace
Mentorship & Support
Every resident receives a complimentary 30-minute mentorship session with Dr. Brad Necyk, artist, researcher, and university educator with expertise across painting, drawing, photography, video, film, 3D animation, AI, creative coding, VR, and writing. Sessions cover creative feedback, technical guidance, conceptual development, and professional advice (grant applications, graduate school preparation, exhibition planning). Additional one-hour sessions are available for $125 CAD.
Resources & Equipment
- Group nature trips for producing new work around the island
- Conceptual and technical discussions with mentor
- High-end digital cameras and lenses
- NVIDIA GPU workstation for digital work and 3D rendering
- VR equipment
- 4K HDR projector
- Audio-visual equipment for reviewing and presenting video work
- Traditional media spaces including easels, desks, and wall space for display and creation
Fees
- Two-week residency starting at $1,300 CAD
- One month to three months starting at $2,400 CAD/month
- Taxes included in residency fee
What to Budget
- Residency fee
- Flight
- Ground transportation ($75 ride from airport/ferry, or car rental)
- Art supplies
- Food (approximately $500 CAD for a month)
How to Apply
Apply using the online form at https://apositiononretreat.com/apply. Email [email protected] with questions.
Eligibility
Open to artists from around the world at all stages of their careers and across all disciplines.
- Entry fee
- Two-week starting at $1,300 CAD. One month to three months starting at $2,400 CAD/month. Taxes included.
- Theme
- A retreat focused on reconnecting with creative practice and personal renewal through immersion in Vancouver Island's temperate rainforest landscape.
- Eligibility
- Open to artists from around the world at all career stages and across all disciplines.
- Audience
- Open to artists from around the world, at all stages of their careers, and across as many disciplines as we can accommodate.
- Contact
- [email protected]
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.