Call for Applications: Woodhaven Artist in Residence 2026

Detached 360 sq ft art studio at the Woodhaven Eco culture Centre

Woodhaven Artist in Residence
UBC Okanagan, Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies

Application Deadline: Thursday, February 19, 2026, 11:59pm PT

The FCCS Woodhaven Artist in Residence Program provides a paid residency opportunity for a diverse variety of visiting artists including writers, visual artists, digital media artists and performance artists for 2 to 4 weeks within July 2 to August 15, 2026.

The Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre is an unstaffed retreat committed to supporting artists and students working in creative and critical practices that explore more sustainable and just ways of being in relationship with natural and non-human worlds, in a time of escalating climate change and mass extinction. It regularly hosts public events and visiting artists will develop community engagement activities that can attract local participation. The program offers a contemplative experience in a natural setting.

This residency includes accommodation in a large two-bedroom home located at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre as well as full use of a dedicated studio on the property, a 360 square foot space featuring 10-foot walls and large sliding glass doors to maximize natural light. Surrounded by mature fir and pine trees, it serves as a creative space for artists-in-residence, community gatherings, and eco-cultural study.

Project Requirements

Visiting Artists should be prepared to execute their project independently. Minimal equipment is available at Woodhaven. Each artist is expected to do at least one public outreach event in the form of a workshop or talk or demonstration that includes wider communities – from UBCO, and Kelowna, etc. We ask candidates to propose their own initiatives for community engagement in their letter of application. We will work with artists to help coordinate communications around such events or workshops to get a wider audience. This residency is designed to engage primarily with the space at Woodhaven (which includes forested trails and a creek), although UBC’s Okanagan Campus (a 30-minute drive away from the residence location) features a staffed woodshop and metal shop, which can be booked ahead of time. Transportation is the responsibility of the artist.

Eligibility

We invite applications from artists or writers who are engaged in visual arts, digital arts, performance, social and community-based artistic practices. This residency is open to Canadian and international artists. We particularly encourage applications from BIPOC artists and those from marginalized groups that are traditionally underrepresented in ecologically-focused creative practice. Preference will be given to emerging and early-career artists and writers who have a demonstrated record of professional activity.

Main house at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre for the residency

Compensation

The successful applicant will be paid $5000 for the full 4 weeks, prorated for a shorter stay (minimum 2 weeks).

The fee includes travel (artist to book to and from Kelowna), travel within the area, as well as average per diem and incidentals, and any materials the artist requires should be accommodated in the fee, paid once residency/service is complete.

Selection Process

A selection committee made up of faculty researchers in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies. Selection criteria include:

• Demonstrated record of professional practice in environmental art, writing, or performance
• Quality of past and proposed creative practice and public engagement activities
• Preference will be given to emerging and early-career artists
• Connection to the Okanagan and/or Woodhaven in proposed creative practice and/or public engagement activities
• Capacity to work independently

Applicants will be contacted in early April with the results of their application.

Interior of the art studio featuring 10-foot walls and large sliding glass doors at the Woodhaven Eco culture Centre

Submission Requirements

• A cover letter explaining why you’re interested in this residency, a description of the site-specific work you plan to carry out during your residency, the expected duration of the residency, your capacity to work independently, and plans for community engagement.
• A CV which documents your professional artistic practice, your community engagement experience, and contact information (including telephone and email address)
• Contact information for 2 referees who can speak to your artistic practice and your interest in eco culture
• Samples of your art, performance, or writing or appropriate links to samples of produced work
• Please include dates of desired length of stay
• If you have contacts in the local region that could act as a supporter/sponsor during the residence, please include in the application – this is not a determining factor for approval.

How to Submit

All application materials must be received by the application deadline. Please send one PDF document that includes all of the requirements via email to: fccs.ubco@ubc.ca

Application Deadline: Thursday, February 19, 2026

For additional information or questions, please contact: fccs.ubco@ubc.ca

Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, UBC Okanagan
1148 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
fccs.ok.ubc.ca/about/events-workshops/artist-in-residence
fccs.ubco@ubc.ca

Facebook @UBCFCCS
Instagram @fccs.ubco

Image Descriptions:
1. A photograph of the detached art studio at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre on a sunny day. The wood studio has large glass windows and is surrounded by trees.
2. A photograph of the interior of the detached art studio showing the empty studio space with tall, open walls and large windows that flood the room with natural light. The windows frame a view of the outdoors, showcasing the surrounding greenery and trees.
3. A photograph of the main house at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre on a sunny day. The centre is surrounded by trees and a gravel driveway.