A little planning makes it much easier to arrive ready to use your residency time in the way you want. Studio H is a rural, self-directed residency, so this page brings together the practical things to consider before you apply and again before you arrive.
Residency Calendar
Use the Google Calendar to see current Studio H residency periods and selected events of interest to artists. Click or hover over an item for details.
Preparing for Your Residency
Think about what you hope to explore, the materials and equipment you may need, your budget, groceries and meals, transportation, clothing for the season and any practical supports or arrangements you need while you are here.
Your plans do not need to remain fixed. A residency can change direction. Preparing well simply gives you a strong starting point and more freedom once you arrive.
Accepted artists will have a pre-arrival check-in before the residency to review current plans, changes to the work you are considering, materials or equipment, transportation and other practical arrangements. Heidi is also available on WhatsApp for quick questions and check-ins before the residency.
Living Lightly on the Land
Living Lightly describes how we care for this particular place together. Residents receive guidance about compost and recycling, septic and grey-water awareness, laundry, water and energy use, gardens and forest, and care of shared spaces.
This does not mean that artists are expected to make environmental work. It is about how we live and work responsibly while we are here.
Studio H also provides separate Indigenous Protocols guidance to help residents understand responsibilities and respectful conduct in relation to the lands, communities and cultural places around us.
Seasons at Studio H
Residencies run across changing seasons. Weather, daylight, garden and forest conditions and opportunities to work or spend time outdoors can be quite different from February through November.
Pack for the season of your residency and for changeable Pacific west coast weather. In particular look up the local Victoria and Metchosin annual temperatures and rainfall -annual temperatures and rainfall — we are in a microclimate. It can be sunny here and pouring in Vancouver or Port Renfrew. We will share current conditions as your residency approaches rather than promising particular weather.
Explore from Here
Studio H is close to coastlines, lakes, trails, parks, communities and cultural resources across the region. Exploring can become part of a residency when it supports your interests, research, rest or curiosity.
These are possibilities rather than programmed excursions. How much time you spend away from the studio is up to you.
Getting Around
You don’t need a car to undertake a residency at Studio H, but you do need a transportation plan.
Studio H is in a rural area. Public transit is available, but getting to and from the property requires planning and the approach to the house includes a long, steep driveway. A vehicle can provide greater independence, but some artists successfully combine transit, taxis or ride services, deliveries and occasional pre-arranged rides.
Host rides are occasional and schedule-dependent rather than an on-demand transportation service. Grocery and supply delivery can also make rural living easier. If another resident has a vehicle, residents may sometimes choose to coordinate trips or share costs.
Before you arrive, make sure your transportation plan fits what you expect to do during your residency, including groceries, materials, appointments and any off-site activities.
Being Here Together
Studio H is a small shared residency environment. Artists have their own residency intentions and rhythms while sharing the studio, property and some amenities with others.
Residents manage their own meals, laundry, cleanup and ordinary day-to-day routines. Reasonable help is available when something comes up, but everyday responsibility remains with each resident.
Direct communication matters in a small shared environment. Orientation on arrival covers the property, studio, safety, shared spaces and practical routines. There may also be social and reflective opportunities during the residency.
Independence does not mean absence of support. It means arriving prepared to manage your own day-to-day needs while communicating when you need information, assistance or a conversation.