FAQ

The vision for Leña is to make it easy to get work done, be it early research or finishing touches. The space is simple and the cost is low. There is no request for work to be shared or exchanged. Leña provides space and time that allows you to design a creative week however you need.

Leña is not a residency that culminates in an exhibit or performance or requires any work exchange.

We expect Leña and the island will be treated gently. We expect residents will be respectful of the spaces, the host, and the other artists, leaving things as they were found. This includes conserving water and electricity, awareness of noise levels, avoiding toxic materials, and tidying up after yourself, for example.

We hope guests choose a mix of focused individual work, shared experiences, and conversations with one another. If you are looking for total solitude, it is recommended that you seek out one of the many great residencies on the West Coast that offer non-shared spaces.

While at Leña you have your own room, your own workspace, and shared living, kitchen/dining, bathrooms. Residencies run from Sunday (morning check-in or later) to Saturday (morning check-out or earlier). If an artist is choosing to spend a partial week, cost is not prorated.

Food and groceries are DIY in a kitchen stocked with dishes, utensils, and basics like oil & spices.

Studios don’t have specialized equipment. If you need something specific for your practice, it is up to you to bring it.

The cost is a sliding scale based on your room being just you ($250-400) or being you & a collaborator ($350-500). This covers the accommodations and workspace. If on the primary arrival and departure date, it also covers pick up and drop off at the ferry terminal.

The sliding scale is meant to honour different moments in an artist’s career and different conditions that might influence an artist’s budget. Sometimes we are leaving other paid work in order to get away or do not have grant funding to support a specific project phase. The sliding scale is offered with no questions asked.

Calls for applications are posted every 3-4 months. The process requires completion of a short form that includes your bio, your intended project description, and work samples, and your request for specific weeks as posted in the application.

From the application deadline, it will be 3-4 weeks to hear if you’ve been selected, which comes with the need for a quick decision and confirmation. Due to the frequency of applications and their short timelines, it is suggested that you apply only if you are sure you want to attend.

Selection is based on a combination of many factors. These include but are not limited to: evidence of professional practice, clarity and urgency in project description, workspace and timing requested, consideration of the other two artists that you might share common areas with, and more.

Leña is purposely set up to be easy-to-access week-long residencies. Therefore, the Sunday-Saturday time frame is fixed. It is not currently possible to request a weekend residency or a month-long residency, for example.

Other West Coast residencies designed for month-long stays can be recommended.

Please send an email to info@lenaresidency.com describing your needs in advance of an application period to see what is possible.

Once an application period closes, acceptance is a very quick process. There isn’t time between the offer and request to confirm to allow for grant results.

If your stay is grant-dependent, apply here after you have your grant results and reach out if a grant letter is useful for your application. Please ensure there is at least a week between your request and your grant deadline.

The property is on a large hill and the grounds are not manicured. Entrances have steps, the house is on two floors, and some workspaces are in the woods. The property and buildings are not wheelchair accessible.

If you have an allergy that needs to be considered, please reach out to find out what can be accommodated. In the case of airborne food allergies, it is possible to agree to ensure other guests are aware. If your needs are too specific to be met in a shared space, Leña might not be the right option due to the communal intention and set up.

While there is no public transit or taxi service on Galiano, a vehicle is not necessary. Within 25-40 minutes walking distance from the property you can reach: the ferry, a grocery store, a cafe, some shops, cliff views, beach views, and forest trails.

If you arrive on the Sunday of your week and depart on the Saturday, your host will be able to get you to and from the ferry terminal by car.

In the interest of Leña’s intention to make it easy to get focused creative work done with the potential for inspiring conversations with the other artists sharing the space, we do not allow partners, family, pets, or visitors for overnight stays.

Unfortunately, due to the shared and communal spaces, neither pets or service animals can be accommodated at this time.