Escape to Vancouver Island this Winter

Eligibility

Emerging and established creatives; self-directed, focused practice expected

Escape to Vancouver Island this Winter Deadline: 30 Nov 2026 Country: Canada The winter season can be a busy time, but being at The Ou is a call to slow down and turn inward with your practice. The forests have gone quiet as they drink up the rains, but the air is fresh with evergreen cedar boughs, pine and fir, and the moss has turned back into its brightest shades of green. A gorgeous container for your creative rest and renewal, The Ou’s studios and accommodations have been thoughtfully appointed and kitted out, so that all that’s left for you to focus on is you and your work. Maybe that looks like learning how to nap again. Maybe it looks like staring out at the trees and watching squirrel acrobatics while the heron fishes below. Maybe it looks like long, uninterrupted studio hours. The choice is yours, and you are welcome here. Winter is mild here on Vancouver Island – for us that means cool, rainy days. Snow, if it happens, usually lasts only a day or two (and gives you another excuse to stay curled up next to the fire). Duration of residency Two weeks Accommodation Minutes from a 200km forest trail that follows the creek and winds through towering cedars and big-leaf maples, The Ou has been renovated to create a sense of ease and to bring in views of the surrounding nature. The Great Room, with its modern fireplace, fir floors, 12’ ceilings and windows on all sides is a perfect place to unwind and decompress. Your thoughtfully appointed private bedroom in a shared suite includes: WIFI (fast enough for video calls and streaming) Hot water + heat Bedding Bathroom supplies: towels, shampoo, conditioner Dishwasher, stove, microwave, washer and dryer Patio and deck above a year-round creek fed from Mount Swuq’us Up to two artists will share a kitchen and bathroom. Disciplines, work equipment and assistance We welcome applications from emerging and established writers, painters, photographers, textile + 2D artists, and host up to four artists at a time. We’re looking for creatives who demonstrate a commitment to their practice and love hosting folks who are self-directed, focused and kind. Our hope is that you will leave the residency feeling rested, renewed and inspired.Studio / Workspace Artists have 24/hr access to their own designated 10’ x 20’ studio space with a large window in a historic boatbuilding workshop with open rafters, old-growth fir floors and views overlooking the creek. The studios are full of creative history and feel inviting and open. Facilities include: 4×6 work-tables, caddy for supplies, stools, desk lights, an 11×17 scanner, printer, darkroom with a Durst 605M enlarger, basic hand tools, easels and plenty of wall space. Supplies can be mailed to The Ou ahead of time or purchased in Duncan at the lovely Excellent Frameworks, in Nanaimo at Iron Oxide (close to the ferry from Vancouver) or in downtown Victoria at Opus Art Supplies.Fees and support $1,300 CAD + 5% GST Expectations towards the artist None – our only expectation is that creatives demonstrate a commitment to their practice, are self-directed, focused and kind. Application information Complete the short form on our website: https://www.theougallery.com/residencyretreat

How to apply

Complete the short form on the organizer's website