Surrounded by stunning wilderness scenery, rich in natural and cultural history, the Cassiar Cannery is a perfect spot to pull out your sketch pad, set up an easel or spin, weave or carve. It's time to celebrate and support art and artists at the Cassiar Cannery with an Artist-in-Residence program.
The Cassiar Cannery Artist-in-Residence program provides opportunities for visual artists to live and work in the Cassiar Cannery for a period of 10 or 20 days over two different residencies. Artists- in-Residence are provided with accommodation and studio space as well as an honorarium to offset the cost of materials, shipping, day to day living expenses and travel. Artists-in-Residence must give one public presentation, performance or workshop during their residency.
The Cassiar Cannery long residency is intended for professional artists with formal training or equivalent experience and recognition among their peers. The short residency is open only to emerging and established artists living and working in Northern British Columbia.
Long residency (20 days):
September 16 - October 6, 2023
Short residency (10 days):
September 5 - 15, 2023
© 2023 Cassiar Cannery
Photos:
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Submissions are open for 2024 applicants September 1 - 30, 2023. Late or incomplete proposals will not be accepted.
Email your submissions to the Cassiar Cannery at [email protected]
Please put “Artist-in-Residence” in the subject line.
Successful submissions will be announced no later than November 1, 2023.
Submissions must include:
The Cassiar Cannery is one of the Top 10 Unique Places to Overnight in BC. Nestled in the Skeena River Estuary, 30 minutes south of Prince Rupert BC, it was once the longest consecutively operated salmon cannery on the West Coast. Now in its 134th year, under restoration and diversification since 2006, the Cassiar Cannery supports a thriving tourism industry, boat works, custom woodwork, reclaimed lumber, visual arts and science and research.
During the residency program artists will stay in a one bedroom, self-contained, fully equipped guest house. Studio space will be available in the repurposed and restored General Store, and in our shops, depending on the medium. The Cassiar Cannery has a full wood-shop and limited metal working tools such as a welder, band saw and vice.
There is no cell service but wifi is available. There is a courtesy phone available in a phone booth, and the Cassiar Cannery phone number can be used as a contact number. For more information about the Cassiar Cannery, visit www.cassiarcannery.com
To get an idea of the Cassiar Cannery and surrounding area, please follow their social media accounts for some fabulous photos.
Applicants should keep in mind stores and restaurants are in Prince Rupert, 30 minutes from the Cassiar Cannery. There is a small General Store and gas in Port Edward and cell service 10 minutes up the road. Successful candidates should have a valid driver’s license. Due to the limited size of the house, applications are not accepted from collaborative groups. The accommodation is not wheel-chair accessible. No pets please.
ARTIST RESPONSIBILITIES:
Transportation to and from the Cassiar Cannery:
The Cassiar Cannery is a 30 minute drive from the town of Prince Rupert. Artists wishing to rent a vehicle will have to cover the cost themselves.
The Artist-in-Residence program requires artists to donate one piece of art to the Cassiar Cannery that is about and of the Cassiar Cannery. The goal is to create a legacy collection that represents and celebrates the life and times of Cassiar Cannery. Artists will have one year to complete and ship the art at their cost.
(Please note the cannery is a historic wooden site with a pristine environment. Projects that involve open flame, toxic materials or pose any danger or potential damage to the building or site will not be allowed)
HOST RESPONSIBILITIES
Cassiar Cannery will resume the public outreach portion in 2023. Please outline your public engagement idea in your application. This can be a workshop, artist talk, use your imagination for sharing your story and art with other artists from the North Coast.
*Interested in staying in the loop with the public engagements sessions and the Cassiar Cannery Artist-in-Residence Program? Please join the specific mailing list:
2023 Dates:
Mark Tworow paints landscapes, abstracts, and still lifes and his paintings are known for their strong formal structure and lush painterly colors.
He has held several major solo exhibitions showcasing works which are now held in private collections both here in Canada, England, the U.S., and in New Zealand.
Mark graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Alberta College of Arts in the 1990s. After living in Smithers for 19 years he spent a year in New Zealand, returning to Smithers in August of 2010.
Tworow's paintings show his passion for nature. His works depict a wide variety of natural settings, and he draws much of his inspiration from the majestic mountains, sparkling lakes and noble forests in and around Smithers. “If I had to define what I am as a painter, I’d lean towards abstract expressionist, though I use their techniques and approach to try and capture the essence of the landscape around us."
Mark will be at the Cassiar Cannery October 9 - 19, 2020. You can meet Mark and join his workshop on Sunday, October 18. Details below.
Josh Harnack uses visual art to communicate ideas, thoughts, and emotions to the world. Josh was raised in Edmonton, Alberta, where his spark for the arts began. After graduating highschool in 2012, Josh moved to Vancouver to study film.
Over the next three years, Josh’s passion shifted towards fine art. Frankly, he found himself too broke to do anything but stay home and paint. During this time, Josh was diagnosed with cancer on three separate occasions, resulting in surgery, radiation treatment, and, ultimately, chemotherapy.
In 2015, Josh moved back home to Edmonton, where he began his professional career as an artist. A couple of years later, Josh graduated with honours from NAIT, majoring in both Graphic Design and Visual Communication while showing his works in exhibitions and galleries across Western Canada.
Josh’s work extends to many different mediums but specialized in oil and acrylic painting. His themes usually center around belonging, or lack thereof, blending in and standing out, and the sheer weirdness of existence.
Josh has received awards and grants in both fine art and design. Currently, he’s working on a wide range of projects, focused on creating meaningful and worthwhile art before his time expires.
My work speaks to those who wander—who don’t belong. My battles with cancer as a young adult warned me that my time should not be spent trying to fit in, but learning to embrace the strangest parts of myself, including the monsters and demons. This struggle is found in each of my pieces: the corruption of realism with the surreal; the distortion of the physical world by our metaphysical imaginations. I believe that seeking to understand this internal dialogue is critical to a healthy life. Dozens of paintings later, I’m pleased to report that I’ve been in remission for 7 years. Hopefully, beholders will use my artwork as prompts for their own self-discovery. Our journey has begun.
Where to see his art:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harnackart/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harnackart
Josh will be at the Cassiar Cannery September 16 - October 6, 2023.
Originally from Prince Rupert, Alison Newth moved with her family to Fort St. John in the 1980s and has resided there ever since, except for a short stint in the Okanagan in the 90s. Fort St. John is located in northeastern British Columbia and is known for its outstanding sunsets and northern lights.
Since childhood, Alison has loved to draw and create but she didn’t become serious about her art until she joined the Flying Colours Artists Association in 2014. Joining that group of artists proved to be the turning point for Alison, as she was surrounded with generous and talented artists who inspired and encouraged her in her creative endeavors. She was juried into the Federation of Canadian Artists in 2016 and joined the Peace River Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists the following year. Since then, Alison has taken numerous workshops from the likes of Dominik Modlinski, David Langevin, Gaye Adams, Sandy Troudt, and Mike Kroecher. Alison has been showing her work steadily over the last few years and her original paintings reside with collectors across Canada and the US. Some of Alison’s achievements include having her artwork selected as the cover art for the novel Raft Baby, by Bonnie Dunlop, and being selected for a public art display in FSJ’s new festival plaza.
Alison has three grown children and works part-time as a teacher-librarian in a local elementary school. She spends much of her free time painting, both plein air and in her studio, and finds inspiration in the vast local landscapes and stunning skyscapes. Alison uses acrylic and oil paints to capture the spirit and vibrance of landscapes that hold special meaning–the beautiful Peace River is one of her most beloved and popular subjects.
Where to see her art:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonnewthartist/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtByAlisonNewth/?ref=aymt_homepage_panelv
Alison will be at the Cassiar Cannery September 5 - 15, 2023.
Applications for 2024 Artists-in-Residence open September 1-30, 2023
JOSH HARNACK: Josh will be hosting an open studio on October 1, 2023 from 12pm - 4pm and a video
ALISON NEWTH: Alison will be creating a minimum five minute, professional style video documenting her stay
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2024
UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
Scroll down the page for submission guidelines
and 2024 dates
Short Residency (10 days):
April 30 - May 10, 2024
Long Residency (20 days):
September 4 - 24, 2024
2024 Dates: