RESIDENCY OVERVIEW

The Nest Artist Residency is a structured 6-month 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 expression that starts by asking ‘what do you need?’. This is an opportunity for directors, dramaturgs, playwrights, poets, production technicians, designers, divisors, and creators of all kinds looking for the necessary space and mentorship to cultivate ideas into works that are provocative, innovative, and ambitious.

Residency in The Nest involves a public presentation, performance, workshop, or similar event that showcases the work-in-progress. While individuals are encouraged to apply, we also welcome duos and collaborators to apply as a group.

A call for applications for the 2023 Nest Artist Residency will open in Fall 2022. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates!

Artists-in-Nest receive:

FREE use of The Green Studio space for a duration of two weeks to engage in a self-directed creation process of their choosing.
Professional development opportunities through one-to-one mentorship, attendance at Forum discussions and Writer’s Block sessions,
Networking opportunities with industry professionals and other artists in the Nest
Technical expertise and producing support from SIP in service of an artistic project
Tickets to see theatrical shows (virtual and hopefully in-person) in St Catharines/Niagara
Opportunity to share your work at In the Soil Arts Festival, presented by Suitcase in Point.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Taking place over six months, The Nest Artist Residency begins with an in-person gathering at the Green Studio. What follows will be a five-week devising period, working toward the development of a piece for the 2023 In the Soil Arts Festival. The Residency then moves into a period of one-on-one mentorship and artistic development, pairing each artist with a mentor of their choice to help in the development of their pieces.

Showings will happen at the 2023 In the Soil Arts Festival, giving artists the opportunity to share their work and test ideas. This can be in the form of scenes, readings, music, installations, questions, games, conversations, a virtual party – nothing is off limits. The journey to the piece is rarely a straight line and Suitcase in Point wholeheartedly supports experimentation along the way. Sprinkled throughout the six months will be a series of artist-led workshops and Forum discussions.

Meet the 2021/2022 Nest Residents

Molly-Louise Lacey

Nathan Rossi

Nyasha Nherera

Shendel Rogers

Skye Rogers

Taylor Bogaert

The Nest Artist Residency has wrapped its third year of compelling creation and community gathering! A big shout out to our 2022 residents – Skye, Taylor, Shendel, Nathan, Nyasha and Molly. These incredible emerging artists from across the Niagara Region came together for six months of workshops, forums, and mentorship to culminate in a weekend of fun that combined several disciplines to showcase their original work.

Nest Fest (July 15-16) was a chance for our residents to show their magnificent works in progress. Downtown St. Catharines was treated to a walk-through poetry experience in Mahtay Cafe, a play reading in Someday Books, and rooftop screenings at the Niagara Artists Centre. They created a photography book surprise for Brazen Cafe visitors and an interactive arts experience throughout the whole downtown core.

Through the residents’ six-month journey, they were mentored by trailblazers in the Canadian theatre industry. A huge thank you to these phenomenal artists who took the time to share their knowledge, time, and advice with our residents. To Coyote Park, Miquelon Rodriguez, Karen Knox, Michael Healey, Deanna Jones, and Marcel Stewart – THANK YOU!!

We are incredibly grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support in funding our Arts Mentorship Program, and to the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts for supporting our emerging artist showcases at the 2022 In the Soil Arts Festival.

With the Nest I shared my idea with others, which helped it grow and turned it from something bobbing around in the back of my head into something real. I learned that for work to get done I need to work on it … the Nest was also really helpful in putting my theatre degree in context. I learned so many skills at school but using them seemed so far off, the Nest made sense of how I could use those things now. That was exciting. This program was really special to me.

Josh LoewenThe Nest Alumnus

2020/2021 Nest Residents

Tsipporah Shendroff

Rose Hopkins

Samantha Marchionda

Ren Reid

Kaylyn Valdez-Scott

Josh Loewen

Emily Clegg

Amanda McDonnell

2019/2020 Nest Residents

Tethered the Ghost

Pond Side Comedy Group

Common Secret

Suitcase in Point

Suitcase in Point is a St. Catharines-based arts organization that lives and works on the traditional territory of the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, Wyandot peoples and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and within the land protected by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum agreement. Today this gathering place is home to many nations and we offer our sincere gratitude to the original and continued stewards of this land, and to all nations, recorded and unrecorded, who take care of this land and have since time immemorial.