Application Closed
Thank you to all those who applied
About
The goal of this residency is to amplify the voices of community-based artists by providing free printmaking materials, technical training and assistance, and studio space at the well-equipped Wachiay Studio Screenprint Shop in K’ómoks Territories, Courtenay, B.C.
Artists-in-residence will have a week of studio time to create projects of their choice! Experience printing on paper, fabric, or any other flat surface using the magic of screenprinting. We have one of the best equipped print studios in North America. Each week of residency will see two artists from across Canada sharing the studio. We are looking for eight artists for 2026!
The Residency is generously funded by Canada Council for the Arts, Wachiay Studio, and the Comox Valley Art Gallery. This is the 3rd year of the residency program.
Schedule
Four residencies with two artists in each residency (8 total), taking place between March and October 2026.
Each residency will be 10 days long:
- Friday: Artists arrive
- Saturday: Introduction to Screen Printing workshop to introduce you to the basics of screen printing and to familiarize yourself with the studio layout and equipment
- Sunday: An additional optional day in the shop or explore the Comox Valley
- Monday to Friday: Five days of studio time from 10am-5pm to work with studio staff on a project of your choice
- Saturday and Sunday: Finish projects, artist talk (optional), and studio clean up
- Monday: Artists pick up their finished projects. The residency is complete
In the fall 2026 there will be an exhibit at the Comox Valley Art Gallery showcasing work created by all the residency artists.
Accommodation
We have the use of an apartment in downtown Courtenay for an out-of-town artist during their residency week. The apartment has 2 bedrooms as well as an extra bed for the living room if needed. Artists pairs can stay at the apartment – We have also had artists travel with their families.
The apartment is up a steep flight of stairs with no elevator, so it is sadly not wheelchair accessible. If this is a barrier we will work to find alternate accommodation.
Materials
These materials are included in the residency (Per Artist):
- Waterbased Acrylic and Textile Inks (Brands: Speedball and TW)
- Screens 20” x 24” up to 40” x 53”
- Film production – Up to 23.75” wide
- All necessary set-up and clean-up equipment- emulsion, cleaners
- Paper (can also be cut into smaller pieces to make 100-200 sheets):
- 50 sheets of 26” x 40” Cougar cover poster paper
- 50 sheets of 22” x 30” Stonehenge Rag
- Scrap paper and textiles for practice
- T-Shirts and Hoodies available for purchase at wholesale cost
We welcome you to bring your own materials, alternate sources of paper, fabric, clothing, wood, drums. We can print pretty much anything flat. We love challenges.
Selection process and criteria
The selection committee is made up of community and Wachiay artists, screen printers, and staff.
The selection criteria will prioritize:
- High quality and original print work, as well as innovative projects and ideas
- Work that is well-suited to the screen print medium
- Artists doing community-based work (a few examples include: artists who work with youth, artists working with the unhoused community, street artists, activists, land-based artists)
- Indigenous artists and artists from any underrepresented background
Financial support
Each residency artist will be provided with art materials, training, studio space, and accommodation if needed. Meals and transportation are not covered and are the responsibility of the residency artists.
Here are a couple of grants that cover travel for artists:
- Canada Council Arts Across Canada travel grant:
- Canada Council travel grant for Indigenous artists:
Accessibility information
The residencies take place at the same time as our production work. We have a ventilation system, however there are often some chemical smells in the studio from our textile printing.
The studio space is on the ground floor of Wachiay Friendship Centre and is wheelchair accessible.