The Nest Artist Residency

Scroll to meet the 2025 Nest Artists Residents!

The Nest Artist Residency is a structured program that seeks to deepen the relationship between local new-generation artists and the broader artistic community. The goal of this residency is rooted in process, with a focus on risk-taking, mistake-making, embracing failure as a step toward greatness, and exploring new ways of artistic creation. This year, selected Nest Residency alumni and emerging arts workers have been the necessary space and mentorship to cultivate their ideas further into works that are innovative and ambitious.

Residency in The Nest includes personal mentorship, a series of workshops informed by resident artists’ needs, and paid time for artistic exploration and creation. Residency in the Nest culminates in public presentations at various stages of development at a very special new edition of In the Soil Arts Festival.

The 2025 Nest Artist Residency

With the support of a grant from Canada Council for the Arts, Suitcase in Point is furthering support the work of up and coming artists in our region. We believe that artists need access to supportive places, people and programs so they can create new ways of working that reflect a variety of lived experiences and creative priorities. The Nest offers opportunities for artists and arts workers to build personal and professional relationships and to strengthen their practices. 

Artists and arts workers have begun to move away from ways of working that perpetuate exclusion, devalue our personal lives and prioritize traditional approaches to our practice over the needs of artists, arts workers and audiences. Early career artists and arts workers need environments where they can develop their own ways of working that keep within their needs and values. 

The Nest supports artist's capacities to contribute meaningfully to the artistic community of Niagara. Participants develop skills, insights and personal approaches to artistic work with guidance from arts professionals as they pursue your practices. 

 

About the Residency

The Nest is an opportunity for directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, poets, dancers, musicians, divisors, and artist creators of all kinds looking for the space and mentorship to cultivate ideas into works that are provocative, innovative, and ambitious. 

The Nest Artist Residency period: January 2025 – September 2025

Residency Details

Residents Receive

Professional Development:

  • Each resident is given the opportunity to be matched with a professional mentor who they will meet for one-on-one sessions throughout the residency.
  • A series of workshops and networking opportunities with industry professionals and community organizations.
  • Monthly group writing sessions with Suitcase in Point’s AMP Director and other Nest Artists
  • Access to “The Forum,” a monthly discussion series that offers an opportunity for Nest Residents to come together in dialogue on current trends and inspirations, offering a place for meaningful exchanges and harmonious debate.
  • The full support of SIP staff in service of an artistic project.
  • An opportunity to showcase their work at In the Soil Arts Festival 2025.

Use of Suitcase in Point’s Studio Space, “The Green”:  

  • The Green will be made available for each resident throughout the 8-month residency period for a maximum of two weeks.
  • The Green is located on the third floor of the Oddfellows building in downtown St. Catharines and can only be accessed via two flights of stairs.
  • Accommodations for alternative working space can be made available if necessary.
  • The Green was named in honour of SIP mentor, Michael Green, co-founder of Calgary’s One Yellow Rabbit.

Administrative Support:

  • Access to office space, and printing where applicable.
  • Opportunity to meet with SIP staff to learn more about revenue generation, grant writing, marketing, developing partnerships and more!
  • Marketing, front of house and technical support for Nest Artist showcases.
  • Nest Residents will have the opportunity to serve on the selection committee of the following Nest Artist Residency.

Eligibility

How:

The call for applications is now closed.

  • The 2025 Nest Residents were selected based on proposals from resident alumni.

Meet all past residents

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