Writing / Literature Residencies in Canada

A Position on Retreat

Lake Cowichan, Vancouver Island, Canada

A Position on Retreat, an artist residency situated in Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island, Canada, offers a serene environment for artists from diverse disciplines. Known as 'The Blue House,' this comfortably renovated home sits at the center of a picturesque tourist town, surrounded by Canada's breathtaking natural landscape. Within a five-minute walk, residents have access to grocery stores, charming coffee houses, restaurants, beautiful beaches, and scenic hiking trails. Enveloped by a temperate rainforest, ancient old-growth forests, the vast Pacific Ocean, and numerous lakes and waterfalls, the residency is a haven for creative inspiration and rejuvenation. A Position on Retreat strikes a perfect balance between community engagement and the tranquility of nature, providing artists with an ideal setting for both creativity and reflection. This artist residency on Vancouver Island is an exemplary retreat for artists who seek to immerse themselves in nature and focus on their creative pursuits. It's an environment where the natural beauty and calm of the surroundings contribute significantly to the artistic process, making it a sought-after destination for artists looking to enrich their practice.

Alchemy Artists Residency

Waupoos Island, Ontario, Canada

Alchemy Artists Residency, founded in 2015, is an artist-led international program on Waupoos Island, Prince Edward County, Ontario, where food, art, garden, and table converge to foster site-inspired artmaking, collaboration, and community engagement. The Summer 2026 residency, held August 7–14 on a 15-acre island in Lake Ontario, emphasizes extended studio time, private reflection, shared meals, and exploration of process and materiality in artistic and culinary practices. It welcomes local and international artists interested in living and working within a temporary community.

Artscape Gibraltar Point

Toronto Island, Canada

Artscape Gibraltar Point, also known as Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts, is a beachfront artist residency on Toronto Islands offering short-term self-directed residencies for artists and writers in a distraction-free environment surrounded by parkland and Lake Ontario. It provides private accommodations, studios, shared kitchen, and amenities like WiFi and bike rentals, hosting thousands of local and international creatives since 1999 in a former school building. Residencies support research, deadlines, collaborations, and are open year-round with typical durations of 1 week to 1 month.

BareneedStudios

Canada

Name of Residency: Sharon PippyArtist retreat and residency, bareneedstudios is located in Bareneed on the raw and natural Port de Grave Peninsula, a one hour drive west from St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.The year-round dual studio space offers artists, curators and creative types a getaway from their everyday existence – an experience framed within a unique geographic and cultural context.bareneedstudios encourages cultural exchange through local, provincial, national and interna

Branscombe House Residency

Richmond, Canada

Branscombe House Artist Residency offers professional artists an 11-month live-in stay in a restored 1908 Edwardian house in Steveston, Richmond, BC. Rent is 100% subsidized for 22 hours/month of community-engaged programming. Open to all disciplines.

Caetani Cultural Centre

Vernon, Canada

The Caetani Cultural Centre, located in Vernon, British Columbia, offers international self-directed residencies for emerging and established artists, writers, curators, and cultural researchers. Situated within a historic 1895 heritage home, this residency provides private living spaces and two on-site studios designed for visual and interdisciplinary artists. Participants are encouraged to explore creative practices across a variety of mediums, including visual arts, writing, music, and digital media. Artists can book short-term residencies from three days to up to three months, with extended stays available upon negotiation. The residency fosters a quiet, independent atmosphere while offering optional opportunities for community engagement such as artist talks, open studios, or workshops. The nearby Vernon Community Arts Centre provides additional access to ceramics and printmaking facilities. Nestled in the Okanagan Valley, the Caetani Centre allows residents to immerse themselves in nature, history, and a vibrant local arts scene. Residents are responsible for travel and project costs, but the program provides affordable fees for both accommodations and studio spaces.

Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec

MONTRÉAL, Canada

The Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) offers the Atelier-résidence à Montréal, a six-month program exclusively for Quebec artists and writers living outside Montreal, providing access to a studio in the city. In partnership with PHI Montréal, CALQ supports the Résidence artistique d'engagement public, also six months long, for one Montreal-based artist and one from elsewhere in Quebec to develop and present public engagement projects. These residencies include financial support, with the PHI program offering a 12,000 CAD stipend per artist and housing for the non-Montreal resident.

Empire of Dirt Residency

Canada

Name of Residency: Marnie TempleEmpire of Dirt (EoD) prioritizes creating space for artists to connect with the land, community, and each other. EoD has grown out of a desire to create residency opportunities for artists experiencing reduced access to rural or non-urban spaces, in particular Black and Indigenous artists. Our annual programs include Black Artists Gather, Indigenous Arts, and Artist-Led Cohorts; these programs prioritize artists connecting with each other in a variety of ways, bot

Gibraltar Point

Toronto, Canada

Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts on Toronto Island, Ontario, Canada, offers two types of artist residencies: self-directed and thematic/programmed. The self-directed residencies provide artists, writers, and composers with private accommodations and studio spaces for short-term stays in a distraction-free environment, ideal for creative focus, research, or collaborative work. Studios are well-equipped, ranging in size and amenities, and the serene, car-free island provides a peaceful retreat year-round. The thematic residencies, on the other hand, bring together up to 18 artists to explore specific topics under the guidance of facilitators, fostering collaboration, dialogue, and new perspectives. Gibraltar Point offers accommodations, shared facilities like kitchens and lounges, and access to beautiful outdoor spaces, including scenic lakefront views, making it a unique and inspiring environment for artists across disciplines.

Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts

Toronto, Canada

Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts offers fully subsidized month-long residencies for professional artists on Toronto Islands, providing uninterrupted time to think, create, and experiment. The center hosts various residency types including self-directed programs, thematic residencies, and specialized programs like graduate research-creation residencies, accommodating up to 19 residents at a time.

Gushul Residency

Lethbridge, Canada

The Gushul Residency, owned by the University of Lethbridge and located in Blairmore, Alberta, provides private studio and living spaces in the Artist's Studio and Writer's Cottage for professional artists and writers amid the inspiring Crowsnest Pass landscape. Opened in 1988/1991 and managed by the Gushul Residency Program Committee, it hosts residents year-round on a competitive or rental basis, with durations typically from one to four months. Residents cover all fees, travel, and supplies, though select student prizes offer funded stays.

The International Writers' and Artists' Residency is a non-profit organization in Val-David, Quebec that offers residencies of one to six weeks to writers, poets, fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers, and visual artists. The residency provides a creative community with communal spaces and hosts biannual international festivals in May and October to facilitate global artistic collaboration and exchange.

Kingsbrae International Residence for the Arts (KIRA)

St. Andrews, Canada

Kingsbrae International Residence for the Arts (KIRA), founded in 2016, is a prestigious artist residency program located in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada. Designed to support artists across various disciplines, KIRA provides six selected artists with a multi-week immersive experience, including individual studio space, private accommodation, and two meals per day. Participants are encouraged to engage with the local community through public teaching sessions and open studios, offering unique opportunities for cultural exchange. Situated on a historic seaside property, the residency provides access to the renowned Kingsbrae Garden and an amphitheater for public events. Artists bear costs for materials and travel, but enjoy full support through dedicated studio and living facilities. KIRA welcomes artists from all career stages who demonstrate a strong work ethic and collaborative spirit.

Kingsbrae International Residency

St. Andrews, Canada

Kingsbrae International Residence for the Arts (KIRA), established in , is an artist residency program in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada, that awards six artists multi-week residencies to foster creativity and promote excellence in the arts while benefiting the local community. Residents receive individual studio space, private housing on a historic seaside property, two daily meals prepared by an on-site chef, and a stipend, with requirements to engage the community through workshops, talks, or collaborations. The program supports diverse disciplines including visual arts, music/composition, writing, new media, and interdisciplinary arts, welcoming artists at all career levels with a collaborative attitude.

Literary Seminars

Montreal, Canada

Blue Metropolis is a major multilingual literary festival in Montreal featuring interviews, discussions, readings, debates, master classes, and writing workshops. It promotes reading, writing, and intercultural understanding year-round.

Main & Station Nonesuch

Parrsboro, Canada

Main & Station Nonesuch is a privately funded artist residency program based in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, and Montreal, Canada that encourages artistic activity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community involvement. The program hosts 1-10 residents at a time (up to 6 in Parrsboro facilities) who are self-directed in their practice and expected to give artist talks, provide community arts programming, and participate in the life of the centre.

MOTHRA

Toronto, Canada

MOTHRA is an artist-parent collective based in Toronto, Canada, that offers child-inclusive residencies to support the integration of caregiving and art practices. Founded in 2018, MOTHRA aims to normalize the presence of children in the arts sector, providing a platform for artists to work alongside their children. The residency, hosted at Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts, encourages collaboration, co-working, and dialogue on issues relating to caregiving and art. It supports artist-parents by addressing the challenges of maintaining an art practice while caring for children, promoting a more inclusive and vibrant art community. The program emphasizes the need for systemic change in arts funding, studio practices, and societal attitudes towards caregiving. MOTHRA also engages in research, activism, and networking with similar groups globally to advocate for the rights of artist-parents.

Ross Creek Centre for the Arts

Canning, Canada

The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts offers self-directed and project-based artist residencies in a rural Nova Scotia retreat setting, providing time, space, studios, accommodations, and meals to professional artists across disciplines like visual arts, writing, theatre, dance, film, music, performance, photography, and fibre arts. Residencies last 2 weeks to 4 months (typically 4-12 weeks), with options for community engagement, teaching workshops, or large-scale projects, and applications accepted year-round. The program emphasizes inspiration from the changing landscape and supports both individual and collaborative artists.

Saskatchewan Writers/ Artists Colonies

REGINA, SK S4P 3R9, Canada

Saskatchewan Writers/Artists Colonies offers year-round individual retreats at St. Peter's Abbey in Muenster and Emma Lake Colony. Operated by Saskatchewan Writers' Guild, providing self-directed stays for writers, with scholarships available.

Studio H Canada

Canada

Name of Residency: Studio H multimedia & interdisciplinary artist residencyStudio H Canada collaborative art residency and exchange is hosted by Heidi Bergstrom in Metchosin, a stunningly beautiful rural municipality of Victoria, BC, Canada. Artists from around the world and Canada, in all disciplines and media, are invited to engage in collaborative projects or to develop new work on their own in this creative and inspiring setting. The vision of the Studio H Canada Art Residency program is to

The Herdsman House in Neubergthal

Canada

Name of Residency: The Herdsman House in NeubergthalWe accommodate year-round, self-directed, and self-funded individual residencies for up to 3 people, with the option to accommodate family, and negotiate financial limitations. The Herdsman House offers 2 bedrooms with writing desks, a bedstee, kitchen, living space, and 3 piece bathroom. Below the art studio of the residency owner, Margruite Krahn, there is a suite that includes a large bedroom, kitchenette, and private bathroom. Both spaces i

The Ou Gallery

Vancouver Island, Canada

The Ou Gallery is a gorgeous and intimate place to nurture your creative rest and renewal. Artists and writers have 24-hour access to their own designated studio in a 100 year-old boat-building workshop and a thoughtfully appointed private bedroom in a shared suite with a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. Our Great Room, with its modern fireplace, original fir floors, 12’ ceilings and huge windows overlooking a creek fed by Mount Swuq'us (and frequented by herons and owls) is a perfect spot to unwind and connect with other creatives after a full day in the studio. Located in the Quw'ustun Valley, in the heart of Vancouver Island, a stunning, nature-filled place. Come here to decompress, gather new inspiration alongside like-minded artists and devote space and time to your work. There is no fee to apply. Residencies are two or four weeks long. See website for details: www.theougallery.com.

The Sointula Art Shed Residency

Sointula, Canada

The Sointula Art Shed is a small artist-run residency program established in in Sointula, British Columbia, Canada, offering a self-contained cottage and adjacent shed studio with a window gallery in a remote fishing village founded by Finnish socialist utopians. It welcomes writers, musicians, visual, and performing artists seeking quiet, nature access, and community engagement through workshops, open studios, and exhibitions. Residencies typically last 1-2 months at a cost of around $700-850 CAD, with no stipends provided but support for grants and local outreach opportunities.

Toronto Artscape Inc.

Toronto, Canada

Toronto Artscape Inc. operates artist residency programs, most notably at Artscape Gibraltar Point on the Toronto Islands, offering affordable short-term studio and accommodation rentals for artists seeking focused creative work in a distraction-free environment. The organization is a not-for-profit that develops real estate projects, programs and services to empower artists and connect them to communities across Toronto.

Wild Rose Farm Artist Retreat

Canada

We offer a one week retreat at our eco-friendly organic farm. Artists can pursue their work, cultivating their creativity in direct contact with nature in a restful and beautiful setting. Working space is provided, and farm, nature and found objects are available to those who would like to make use of them with gratitude.Whether seeking inspiration, rest or just time to work in a rural and peaceful environment, this retreat offers all of these possibilities.There are only 4-6 spaces available at

Woodhaven

Kelowna, Canada

The Woodhaven Artist in Residence Program, hosted by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan, is a unique opportunity for artists from various disciplines to immerse themselves in a serene natural setting. Situated within a nature conservancy in Kelowna, British Columbia, the program supports artists engaged in visual arts, digital arts, performance, social, and community-based artistic practices, with a special encouragement for BIPOC artists and those from marginalized groups. The residency offers accommodation in a two-bedroom home and full use of a studio at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre, promoting work that explores sustainable and just relationships with nature amidst climate change. Artists are expected to engage in community programming, contributing to the vibrant exchange between the artist, the university, and the broader Kelowna community. The program highlights UBC Okanagan’s commitment to ecological stewardship and creative exploration, providing a paid residency for artists to develop site-specific projects that engage with the local environment and communities. This residency is a testament to fostering artistic innovation and environmental consciousness, offering a contemplative experience for artists to create, reflect, and connect.

Yukon Arts Centre

Whitehorse, Canada

The Yukon Arts Centre offers multiple artist residency programs for visual arts, performing arts, film, music, and literary arts. Programs include the Jenni House Artist Residency (June-October , one-month residencies with $1,000 CAD honorarium), the Kluane National Park Artist Residency (two-week residencies June-August with $3,000 CAD honorarium and accommodations), and the @YAC Residency for performing arts. Residencies serve artists from the Yukon, northern regions, and circumpolar countries.