deer lake artist residencies
Deer Lake Artist residencies provide unique opportunities for emerging and established artists from various disciplines, cultures and locations to create and produce new work. Multiple disciplines are represented in the residency program–visual artists, theatre artists, musicians, land-based practitioners, poets, authors and more.
Burnaby's Deer Lake Park is located on the ancestral and unceded territories of thexʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Peoples. The setting provides a tranquil environment for artists to contemplate and create. Hiking trails through forests and meadows allow for bird and animal watching all year round.
The City's cultural amenities around Deer Lake Park include the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby Art Gallery and Burnaby Village Museum. These public facilities are cultural anchors in the area owned and operated by the City. The live in accommodations in the residency program are heritage houses: Baldwin House was designed by Canadian architect Arthur Erickson and built in 1963-1965 and Eagles Estate, the former home of Drs. Blythe and Violet Eagles was built in 1929. These homes are nestled around the lake and are a 10-minute walk from the Shadbolt Centre and Burnaby Art Gallery. Studios and community engagement spaces are available at the Arts Centre, Gallery, Museum and may include libraries, parks and community centres.
Residencies may include short-term housing, studio use or production, and can be as short as 2 weeks or as long as 8 weeks. Note exception is ceramics which is available only for approximately 6 weeks starting early August and ending mid-September. We may provide some equipment if needed, but we expect all artists to be self-sufficient.
Shadbolt and Burnaby Art Gallery staff will support you in creating artist-led community engagement projects relevant to your residency. These projects may include performances, public readings, artist talks, panel discussions or online engagements.
Residencies between March 1 to December 5, 2027