Studio H is designed to adapt to artists rather than ask artists to bring a whole studio with them. The shared studio is continually reconfigured depending on the work taking place. This page gives you a practical sense of the space, equipment and resources available so you can imagine how you might work here — and what you may need to bring, source or discuss with us before you arrive.
A flexible shared studio
The main studio is approximately 1,000 square feet, with high ceilings, large wall surfaces and room for changing configurations. Worktables, walls and other working surfaces can be arranged according to the needs of the artists in residence while respecting shared space and each other’s work.
The studio is in a separate building from the resident accommodation and overlooks the garden. A flat concrete area outside the studio can extend the working space for construction, sanding and other suitable activities when weather and the nature of the work allow. High-speed internet is available.
The studio rarely looks exactly the same twice. Photos from previous residencies show some of the ways artists have adapted and reconfigured the space.
There is also a soap studio at the back of the main studio – this is the home of our daughter’s soap enterprise Little Avalon’s Soapistry. As a result it almost always smells delicious in the studio! However, because soap is made there, fragrance is often present in the studio — something to keep in mind if you have scent sensitivities.
Equipment and shared resources
Studio H has a growing collection of shared tools and equipment that artists can use during their residency. The inventory changes over time and includes general studio furniture and worktables, painting and drawing supports, hand and carpentry tools, bookbinding and printmaking tools, digital and projection equipment, tripods and portable lighting, textile equipment, and sound or musical instruments. We also have a fair library of books, manuals, art journals and magazines that arrive on a monthly basis.
Some equipment requires orientation or discussion before use. The current equipment list should be reviewed before arrival rather than assuming a particular item will be available.
Studio Equipment 2026/27
| Item | Category |
|---|---|
| 6 work tables – 4 folding | General |
| African marimba (large) | Music/Sound |
| Asus Laptop | Digital |
| Bookbinding hand tools | Bookbinding |
| Books on art history, contemporary art mags | Reference |
| Brother NQ575 sewing machine | Textiles |
| Brother b/w laser printer | Digital |
| Chairs (folding) | General |
| Chop saw | Carpentry |
| Coffee/tea station | General |
| Comfy couches and coffee table | General |
| Cutting mats | Tools |
| Drum Carder | Textiles |
| Dulcimer by Applecreek | Music/Sound |
| Electric drill (battery) | Carpentry |
| Embroidery Machine – Janome 550e Limited Edition | Textiles |
| Embroidery Machine – multi-threader | Textiles |
| Embroidery Machine – couching foot | Textiles |
| Epson Colour printer | Digital |
| Extension cords (heavy duty for running out to the forest0 | General |
| External computer monitors (for lap top – Max) and 2 stand alone monitors | Digital |
| Felting hand tools | Textiles |
| Glass painting palettes plus a large rolling painting station with shelves and glass palette | Painting |
| Hand Pan drum (excellent) | Music/Sound |
| Hardware, clamps, nails, etc. | Carpentry |
| High Speed WiFi (300 Mbps) | Digital |
| Large screen tv | Digital |
| Levels, rulers and squares | Tools |
| Painting easels (2-4) | Painting |
| Paper cutter | Tools |
| Portable lights | General |
| Quebec Leclerc Tapestry Loom (dimensions & name) | Textiles |
| Scrap paper for collage, book binding | Paper |
| Sewing machine, Janome | Textiles |
| 2 Vintage Singer Sewing machines (lovely antique Singer with heavy duty head) | Textiles |
| Slide projector (old style) | Digital |
| Some print making tools for lino block, wood carving | Printmaking |
| Staple guns (regular and for canvas stretching) | Carpentry |
| Sundry containers for water, paper towels, drop cloths etc. | General |
| Tripods (5) Different sizes/purposes from light weight to heavy duty | Digital |
| Various hand tools (hammers, knives, screw drivers etc.) | General |
| Various raw wool – Icelandic lamb, ewes (additional cost) | Textiles |
| Various hand instruments – percussion etc. | Music/Sound |
| Digital Projector (RCA) | Digital |
| Wireless bluetooth speakers | General |
| Miscellaneous tape, glue, push pins, brushes, buckets etc. | General |
| Sewing and machine embroidery tools and supplies | Textiles |
Textile and Multimedia Residencies
Studio H offers Textile and Multimedia Residency options, which help us pair artists using different media and manage shared studio resources and equipment.
Multimedia Residency
Multimedia is Studio H’s broad residency option for artists working in other media or across disciplines. Artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, video, sound, installation, printmaking, book arts, writing, research, conceptual practice, performance, digital/new media and interdisciplinary approaches can all work within this option.
The gardens, forest and outdoor areas can also become part of an artist’s process where the work is appropriate to the place and shared environment.
Multimedia Photo Gallery
You can find photos of the studio in the individual blog posts here. We have also included a series of photos below — the studio will probably look different when you arrive, but these photos will give you a sense of how the spaces can be configured/reconfigured.
Studio Interior — Main entrance and textile working area (Note: missing LeClerc loom) 
in the studio 
working on paintings 
Happy Hour at the Studio 
Working on her Masters of Fine Art thesis exhibition for Ontario College of Art and Design 
Studio building exterior 
Studio Interior — Artist Laura Kunciūtė lounging in the multimedia space 
Studio Equipment — detail of various hand instruments 
Studio Equipment — detail of marimba and lute 
Bookbinding with Heidi 
at Xchanges Gallery and Studios – summer Atelier workshop in Experimental drawing with a dancer 
Learning some bookbinding with Heidi 
Installation view of drawings 
Studio exterior — outside work area 
Studio Exterior — outside work area
Textile Residency
The Textile Residency option supports artists whose work involves textile, fibre and related processes and who may benefit from dedicated access to Studio H’s textile resources.
Current resources include weaving, sewing, machine embroidery, felting and fibre-processing equipment, alongside the broader shared studio and general tools.
Textile Residency Photo Gallery
Laura Kunciūtė Leclerc Loom demo
October 29, 2023
Studio H Canada International Artist Residency
Materials, supplies and sourcing
Artists normally bring or purchase the materials specific to their own practice. You do not need to bring an entire studio with you: shared tools and equipment are available, and we can often help identify local suppliers, rentals or other resources when something additional is needed.
Victoria and the surrounding region have visual-art, textile, reuse and specialty suppliers. Deliveries can also be received at Studio H.
Planning ahead
If your work involves specialist equipment, unusual materials, significant power requirements, ventilation, noise, large-scale construction, outdoor installation or other safety or space considerations, tell us in the application and discuss them with us in advance.
The goal is not to limit what you can do, but to understand what your work needs so we can determine what is workable, what is already available and what may need additional planning. Some groups require a membership and some are drop-in or use punch cards.
Here are some useful links to get started:
- Flux Media Gallery/MediaNet -video equipment rentals and gallery
- Make Space – MakeSpace is a community makerspace, neighbourhood woodshop, and creative learning hub in Downtown Victoria.
- Victoria Maker Space – Victoria Makerspace is a member-operated shared space where people come together and collaborate while sharing tools, resources and knowledge.
- Xchanges Gallery and Studios – small print studio, Crossgrain Photography Society, Life Drawing 2x/week
- Metchosin ArtPod – weekend shows, Life Drawing 1x/week; drop-ins and sketching meetup
- Supply Victoria – recycled and reusable art supplies
- Opus Victoria – local art supplies
- Art World – local art supplies
- There are also a lot of great thrifting options in Victoria and region.
Explore Plan Your Residency for practical information about preparing for your stay, transportation and living at Studio H.