Name: Studio H Canada
Item: Studio H Canada
Author: heidi

Time, space, and inspiration to create, plan, think, exhibit, and collaborate. This is the place.

I am a visual artist offering a studio exchange and hosted residencies in beautiful Metchosin, BC just 25 minutes from the port of Victoria, BC Canada. This gorgeous rural seaside and mountain location has miles of walking trails, lakes, mountains, sheep farms, beaches and more. From our location the views of Mt. Baker, Esquimalt Lagoon and the city of Victoria are breathtaking. The peace, beauty, and tranquility of this area and the studio will be unforgettable for you. We have done house exchanging with HomeLink in 2005 to France and I have had this dream ever since then of exchanging with other artists around thehttp://www.homelink.ca/ world. Now I am making it a reality!!

There is a thriving arts community in the region and Metchosin is home to many of them including Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts (MISSA) on the Pearson College UWC international campus. Metchosin has an arts and cultural centre in the village (MACCA) and the local community house hosts a weekly meeting of artists. I am involved in many arts activities and groups including Xchanges Gallery and Studios where I am President and an active member as well as Ground Zero Printmakers as a board member. There are many other Artist Run Centres in the area as well. You can learn more about me on my website: www.studiohcanada.ca and my blog site: https://studiohresidencyblog.wordpress.com/

About the Studio

The studio is approximately 1000 square feet and is a separate building overlooking the gorgeous organic garden, where we also like to hang out and make a feast of pizzas in our wood fired oven with organic veg and sip wine while admiring the flowers. Bonus – there are no bugs, or relatively few. There is lots of nature though and it is common for deer, rabbits, California Quail, owls, eagles and vultures to pass through on a regular basis, even a bear occasionally.

The studio space has large walls and high ceilings. The front area outside the studio is a flat concrete pad that is used for outdoor painting during good weather and construction or sanding. Activities can include all media such as drawing, painting etc. As well there is a large tapestry loom and 2 sewing machines, 6 work tables. Any artists working in textiles are welcome. Water is currently available from an outside tap, but a new sink and wet area will be installed soon. Writers, poets, academics and researchers are also welcome to work here. Photographers, media artists, installation and conceptual work can all be developed here. If we do not have something, we can help to find it and provide it.

Some space at the back of the studio is shared with our daughter’s soap business Little Avalon’s Soapistry so it smells delicious! This soap studio space is designed to be a pop-up work space for other artist pursuits as well, except on soap making days that is. Some additional space at the front of the studio is used by another artist who also is a tenant in the main house.

Accommodations and Amenities

Accommodations are provided in a separate suite in the main house.

The suite has its own private bath, small lounge and separate entrance to the outside. The bed is an extremely comfortable queen size. There is access to a shared laundry, hot tub and infrared sauna – because we know when you are tired you need a little relaxation! For food, the suite contains a small fridge for most day-to-day supplies plus a microwave and coffee/tea maker. If you want to make dinner or use the stove or bbq that is available for studio exchangers or longer residencies. We can also provide some meals as part of the package. A television is provided with a guest Netflix account or access to YouTube etc.

This suite is an Air BnB at other times (just getting renovated now so I will post updates when it’s ready). If artists wish to exchange studio/accommodations there is no charge although a damage deposit and cleaning deposit will be retained. If artists wish to have their own residency experience with accommodations separate, standard rates will apply.

Getting around & Info

I recommend having a car as local bus transportation is available but not frequent. We can also help to arrange ride shares and coordinate excursions as much as possible. We have an extra bike for local rides to the corner store, My Chosen café or the Broken Paddle Café too. Check out Google for other information links about this area and it’s artists.

About Heidi Bergstrom, MA, BFA

Heidi Bergstrom’s education includes a Master of Political Science (2018) from the University of Victoria, BC, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours (1990) from York University, Ontario where she majored in studio arts and art history. Heidi also studied visual arts full-time at the Toronto School of Art (1984-86), and in 2000 achieved a Diploma in New Media (Internet Site Design, 3D Animation, and Multimedia Production). Heidi’s fine art practice and exhibitions includes work in painting, printmaking, video and photography multimedia installations. Heidi’s artistic background also includes dance (classical ballet at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and Professional Program with Goh Ballet in Vancouver, BC). Heidi has exhibited her work in public and private galleries and artist run centres in Canada.

Heidi has over twenty years of professional experience in the corporate and non-profit sectors in diverse production and management roles such as Creative Services Manager for Corus Entertainment (training producers in television advertising production), Marketing at Campbell’s Soup corporation, and as Curator/Director with the Durham Art Gallery in Ontario. Heidi is currently a Director at the Government of British Columbia in the Ministry of Citizens’ Services.

website: www.studiohcanada.ca

ARTIST RESIDENCY SWAP

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Studio H Canada

Studio H Canada

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