Come retreat and create on
Vancouver Island, Canada
The Work You've Been Postponing Needs a Place to Happen.
You know the project—the one that keeps getting pushed to "when things calm down." Things don't calm down on their own. Sometimes you have to retreat.
A Position on Retreat offers two weeks to three months in Vancouver Island's temperate rainforest: a comfortable home, a private studio, and the rare gift of uninterrupted time. Space for the work that matters.
Apply Now — Spots available throughout 2026
What You'll Find Here
Quiet
Lake Cowichan is a small town on the edge of wilderness. The forest is immense. The lake and river are crystal clear. The mountains have morning mist on them.
Comfort
This isn't roughing it. The Blue House is a fully renovated home with modern heating, quality beds, fast WiFi, and a well-equipped kitchen. You'll have a private bedroom and a private studio. Everything works.
Community
Up to five residents share the house at any time. You'll cook together, hike together, and talk over dinner about work and life. The community is friendly, respectful, and consistently drama-free. Many residents arrive as strangers and leave as friends.
Freedom
There's no schedule here. No mandatory programming. No requirement to show your work or justify your time. The residency is what you make of it—whether that's twelve-hour painting sessions or long walks with a notebook.
Two Ways to Be Here
Most residents come for one of two reasons. Both are welcome. Many find both.
Both paths share the same house, the same meals, the same trails. The magic often happens in between.
Deep Work
You have a specific project and need the focus to finish it. Maybe you're on sabbatical, writing a thesis, or developing a body of digital work. You need real infrastructure—fast internet, serious equipment—and ideally someone to discuss ideas with.
You'll find: High-speed fiber internet. NVIDIA GPU workstation. VR equipment. High-end camera. Field recorder. Mentorship with Dr. Brad Necyk on traditional and digital media, AI, creative practice, and professional development.
Restoration
You need time away from the demands of daily life—work, family, the endless pull of obligation. You want to create in a beautiful place, surrounded by nature, without pressure or performance. The goal might be a finished painting or simply permission to slow down.
You'll find: Natural beauty. Comfortable accommodation. A supportive community. Space to breathe.
Why come?
The Landscape
We chose Lake Cowichan for its position at the center of Vancouver Island's most dramatic geography.
The town itself sits in the mountains on a stunning lake—swimming in summer, reflections year-round. A 50-km hiking trail begins a five-minute walk from the house, winding through temperate rainforest thick with moss-draped cedars.
To the west lies the rugged Pacific coastline: tide pools, surf beaches, and some of the oldest forests on Earth. To the north, waterfalls cascade through untouched wilderness. To the east, the harbour city of Victoria and the famous artist haven of Salt Spring Island are easy day trips.
This isn't a residency that happens to be in nature. The landscape is the reason we're here.
What You'll Bring Home
Residents leave with more than finished work. They leave rested, reconnected to their practice, and clear on what comes next. Many describe it as a turning point—the month that changed how they think about their creative life.
The Mentorship
Every resident receives a complimentary 30-minute session with Dr. Brad Necyk—artist, researcher, and founder—to discuss your practice, your project, or whatever's on your mind.
Brad works across painting, drawing, photography, video, film, 3D animation, AI, creative coding, VR, and writing. He holds a PhD in psychiatry-based art research (Governor General's Gold Medal) and has taught digital media at the University of Victoria and University of Alberta. His book All Sky, Mirror Ocean: A Healing Manifesto explores mental illness, visionary experience, and the art of recovery.
His current work focuses on awe, creativity, and human flourishing—including The Psychedelic Puppet Show, a viral collaboration with poet and futurist Jason Silva that has reached millions worldwide.
Whether you're a painter wanting feedback on composition, a digital artist exploring AI workflows, or a writer trying to unstick a project—this is a real conversation with someone who's worked across mediums and cares deeply about what creative practice can do for the human spirit.
Beyond the studio, Brad can also help you navigate the professional side: writing grant applications, preparing for graduate school, developing exhibition proposals, or mapping out your next career move.
Want to go deeper? Additional one-hour sessions are available for $125 CAD.
The Blue House
A comfortable, renovated character home in a central location in the tourist town of Lake Cowichan. Groceries, coffee houses, restaurants, beaches, and hiking trails are all within a five-minute walk.
The house has:
high-speed wifi
one fully equipped kitchen with fridge and stove, coffee makers, kettles, coffee grinders, blenders, microwaves
a second breakfast area with a fridge, microwave, and toaster
washer and dryer
two full bathrooms
five private bedrooms
five private studio spaces
The house is
a 5-minute walk from the grocery store
a 2-minute walk to a great coffeehouse
a 5-minute walk to a 50 km-long hiking trail
minutes walk to several restaurants
a 2-minute walk to a beach to swim
a 1-minute walk to a public library
across the street from a local fitness center
a 1-minute walk from the bus route
a day trip to amazing landscapes around the residency
Address: 30 Renfrew Ave, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0
Contact us at brad@apositiononretreat.com
Application form here
About the founders
Drs. Brad and Candace Necyk created A Position on Retreat to bring artists from around the world to this beautiful, healing island.
Brad is a visual artist, filmmaker, and writer whose practice explores consciousness, landscape, and the pursuit of flourishing. After completing his formal art training (BFA, MFA), he pursued a PhD in psychiatry to research mental illness and healing through art. His doctoral work was awarded the Governor General's Gold Medal, Canada's highest doctoral honour. In 2024, he published All Sky, Mirror Ocean: A Healing Manifesto.
He was a postdoctoral fellow at York University researching AI video and 3D-rendered dance films, and teaches digital art, photography, video, and media arts at the University of Victoria and the University of Alberta.
His practice spans painting, photography, video, 3D animation, AI, creative coding, and VR. He collaborates with filmmakers, musicians, and dancers, and is currently creating the Psychedelic Puppet Show with contributors including Paul Stamets, Rick Doblin, and Jason Silva.
Candace is a professor of Pharmacy at the University of Alberta, bringing a unique perspective and design touch to the residency. Her passion for exploring the island's landscapes and engaging with its healing communities adds a rich dimension to the retreat experience.
Together, they're committed to the positivity created by bringing artists to Vancouver Island—allowing them to rest, retreat, connect, and carry perspectives and artwork back home.
A Position on Retreat: Residency Vision
The name is intentional. Just as we take positions in life, there's a time to take a conscious position to pause—to withdraw with purpose.
"Something is healing about this island."
"I feel like I am going home changed."
Apply today and be part of a self-directed residency that will nurture your spirit, expand your artistry, and offer a retreat unlike any other in Canada.
Disciplines
Our residency embraces all forms of creative and scholarly work.
Traditional Media: Painting, drawing, printmaking, textiles, and mixed media. Studio spaces with easels, desks, and ample wall space.
Digital Media: Video, photography, 3D animation, AI, creative coding, and immersive work. Equipment includes VR headsets, a 4K HDR projector, RTX 4090 GPU workstation, field recording gear, and a high-end digital camera with lenses.
Writing & Research: Quiet space for poets, essayists, memoirists, and fiction writers. Academics on sabbatical will find the focus they need for dissertations, manuscripts, and research projects.
Whatever your medium—or if you're working between several—there's space here to do the work.
Art Supplies
Two excellent art stores are near the residency:
Opus Art Supplies — Victoria (~1.5 hours)
Iron Oxide — Nanaimo (~1 hour)
Equipment & Experiences
Resident-initiated group nature trips
Technical guidance and demos for digital mediums
Traditional media studios with easels, desks, and wall space
High-end digital camera and lenses
High-end NVidia GPU Workstation
4K HDR Projector
VR equipment (Meta Quest and others)
Local AI models
Adobe Software
Field recording audio equipment
High-speed internet
Duration of residency
Two-week to 3-month residencies.
Reduced Winter Fees from November - March 15, 2026
$1100 for two weeks/ $2,200 per month
Fees from April 2026 onwards
Fees are tiered for room/studio combos / Taxes are included in the residency fee
Cedar
$1400 CAD for two weeks (~$1,000 USD)
$2,550 CAD per month (~$1,820 USD)
Fir
$1400 CAD for two weeks (~$1,000 USD)
$2,550 CAD per month (~$1,820 USD)
Pine
$1350 CAD two weeks (~$960 USD)
$2,450 CAD per month (~$1,745 USD)
Maple
$1350 CAD two weeks (~$960 USD)
$2,450 CAD per month (~$1,745 USD)
Arbutus
$1300 CAD two weeks (~$925 USD)
$2,350 CAD per month (~$1,675 USD)
Please plan your total budget before applying, including:
You can either rent a car to travel around the island (check https://www.expedia.ca) or get a ride from the airport or ferry from me. We coordinate with the group before they come to discuss sharing rentals.
Art supplies
Food (often $500 CAD for a month)
Payment Terms
Upon acceptance: $400 non-refundable confirmation deposit
One month before arrival: Full fee due (non-refundable upon receipt)
Funding Your Residency
Most residents—nine out of ten—fund their stay through personal savings. They treat it as an investment in their practice, and they leave feeling it was worth every dollar. In most countries, it is a tax write-off!
But grants exist for those who need them.
Upon acceptance, we can provide a detailed Letter of Invitation outlining the professional development value of your residency—suitable for submission to bodies like the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, and international equivalents.
Relevant Grant Programs:
Canada Council for the Arts: Arts Across Canada, Explore and Create
Provincial Art Councils: Professional Development grants
US Artists: NEA Grants for Arts Projects, Pollock-Krasner Foundation
European Artists: Culture Moves Europe (mobility grants)
If funding is the barrier, reach out. We're happy to help you identify opportunities and strengthen your application.
Flying In
Three options:
Nanaimo Airport — 45-minute drive to residency (most convenient)
Vancouver + Ferry — Fly to Vancouver, ferry to Nanaimo. Beautiful journey, often cheaper. $50 Uber ride and the walk-on ferry is $20.
Victoria — Longer trip (1.5 hours to residency). We do not offer pickup from Victoria airport.
Ferry info: BC Ferries
The closest terminal to Vancouver Airport is Tsawwassen, which connects to Duke Point in Nanaimo (a 50-minute drive to the residency).
Address: 30 Renfrew Ave, Lake Cowichan, V0R2G0
Getting to the Residency
Option 1: Rent a Car (recommended)
Allows you to explore the island. Compare prices on Expedia between Nanaimo and Victoria. We connect residents via group text a month in advance—many share car costs.
Option 2: Ride with Brad ($100 CAD)
Pickup from Nanaimo airport/ferry, or from Mill Bay if arriving via Victoria–Brentwood Bay ferry. Available 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM only.
Option 3: Public Transit
Nanaimo to Duncan → Duncan to Lake Cowichan
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring a pet?
No pets. While we love animals, communal living means varying levels of allergies and comfort with animals.
Can my partner attend?
Yes, but they will pay a residency fee.
Should I rent a car?
It depends. Many artists stay in Lake Cowichan, using the bus and taking occasional trips with Brad. But if you want to explore the island extensively, rent a car. We connect artists beforehand—many share costs.
Are there exhibition opportunities?
Not currently, but developments are incoming in 2026.
Is it safe for solo travelers?
Yes. Lake Cowichan is a quiet, friendly town. Most of our residents travel alone. The community here is respectful, supportive, and drama-free. If you've hesitated about residencies because you weren't sure what you'd be walking into, this is a safe harbour.
Will the winter be freezing?
No. Vancouver Island has a mild climate. Winter temperatures range from 5 to 10°C, with a mix of overcast skies, sunshine, light rain, and occasional snow. Everything stays green and alive. Many residents find winter especially quiet and creative.
Is cannabis legal?
Yes. There's a dispensary in town.
What do I need to bring?
We provide linens and kitchen supplies (like an Airbnb). Bring your own art supplies and food.
Are there funding assistance opportunities?
We don't have public funding to subsidize fees, but we provide Letters of Invitation for grant applications and can help you identify relevant funding sources. (See "Funding Your Residency" above.)
Your Residency Is Waiting
The project you've been postponing. The creative practice that keeps getting squeezed out. The version of yourself that makes things—not just consumes them.
That person needs time and space. We have both.
Apply Now →
Questions? Reach out: brad@apositiononretreat.com
