Ten artists will be selected to spend ten days in creation at Kouchibouguac National Park in June as part of New Brunswick’s only cross-cultural artist residency.
New Brunswick’s only cross-cultural artist residency returns this summer, bigger than ever. Created in cooperation between ArtsLink NB, the Association acadienne des artistes professionel.le.s du Nouveau Brunswick (AAAPNB), and Mawi’Art: Wabanaki Artist Collective, this year’s program builds upon the experience of the past two years of residencies while tripling the number of artists to potentially be involved this time around.
“The first two residencies were really well received, although they were quite a bit smaller in scope than the one we’re organizing for the summer,” said Jericho Knopp, ArtsLink NB’s programming director. “The first Cross Cultural Creation Residency took place in 2019, and had three artists (1 Anglophone, 1 Francophone and one Indigenous) working for three weeks, with one week spent in Caraquet, Metepenagiag, and Saint John.
“That first year was super successful. The artists really got a lot out of having uninterrupted time to create and be inspired. Due to COVID, the second residency was only able to meet in Saint John for two weeks, six months later than previously planned, but the artists still got a lot out of it. This will be the third year for the residency.”
The 2021 Cross Cultural Creation Residency will bring ten artists together in Kouchibouguac National Park to create art in a low-technology setting. This paid residency will take place from May 31 to June 9, 2021, and is being described as a great opportunity for artists who are interested in leaving their high-tech set up behind to spend ten days surrounded by the beauty of New Brunswick’s Acadian Coast.
The program’s first year resulted in an inter-provincial traveling exhibition of work created through the residency, highlighting the artists, their work and the program itself.
“There was a travelling exhibition that was curated by the 3E collective for the first year of the residency, thanks from support from the Sheila Hugh MacKay Foundation,” said Knopp. “The artists leveraged their work last year to secure an exhibition based on the works created during the second residency, but everything is very up in the air as to when that might happen due to covid restrictions. Hopefully, if we get funding for an exhibition and restrictions allow, there will also be a travelling exhibition based on the Kouchibouguac residency.”
Artists involved in past residencies include Dan Smeby, Francine Francis, David Champagne, Indigo Poirier, Nicole Haché, and Tara Francis. Poirier’s residency resulted in the creation of a ten track album of work (the Cross-Cultural Residency LP) that was later released through the streaming service Bandcamp.
This year’s ten artists will be chosen by a peer jury, composed of three Anglophone, three Francophone, and three Indigenous artists, as well as one jury’s choice. All artists will be invited to stay in oTENTiks, a type of accommodation that combines the convenience of a cabin with the rustic charm of a tent.
Application deadline: Feb 26, 2021
For more information or to apply for this year’s residency program, follow the links below.
ArtsLink NB
the Association acadienne des artistes professionel.le.s du Nouveau Brunswick (AAAPNB)
Mawi’Art: Wabanaki Artist Collective
All artist photos included in this article were provided by ArtsLink NB. Park photos property of Kouchibouguac National Park.
