A local Raccoon who regularly visits the Ayatana bird feeder

Residents patroling for injured birds with Safe Wings Ottawa

Resident Kathryn Cooke tests water conditions in Brewer Park Pond

Owen Clarkin describing the behaviour of distressed trees at the Arbouritum

Ashley Ortiz-Diaz inspects lichen in the Beechwood Cemetary

of Safe Wings Ottawa discovers an injured bird

Residents learn which wild plants are edible

Residents Kathryn and Ivetta examin wildlife in the Rideau River

COHABITAT

Gatineau Hills, September, 2019
Deadline to apply: May 15, 2019

Cohabitat is a residency for Canadian and international artists interested in the non human population of cities. It will take place over a week in Gatineau, Quebec, and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in the fall of 2019. The residency will involve daily excursions into the city to study urban wildlife with biologists, naturalists and conservationists. The program will address the vilification of wildlife, urban ecologies and the undomesticated species that thrive in human cities.

Ayatana residencies are designed to facilitate first hand experiences that will enrich visual and conceptual artists' practice within a group of like minded creative people. Artists, writers, musicians, film makers and dancers are invited to apply. The jury will select five or six international artists based on their portfolio rather than how they fit into any description of an artist.

At least half of Ayatana field trips are spent outdoors.

Artist talks: We invite you to give a private artist talk to share your work with the group.

Urban Wildlife Conservation:
A tour of the National Wildlife Research Center and talk about how species adapt to urban challenges.

Urban Foraging:
A tour of the local wild flowers and herbs of The Wild Garden, a rewilded plot on a cultivated farm, to learn about their healing properties and sustainability.

Invasive Species and Urban Habitat:
A guided visit to the Fletcher Wildlife Garden to talk about invasive species.

Light Pollution:
A presentation on how light pollution affects wildlife.

Small animal rescue and human/nonhuman conflict:
A workshop with the Ottawa Carleton Wildlife Center.

Lonely Trees:
A tour of the Dominion Arboretum to learn how trees behave outside the forest.

Bats:
Make an ultrasonic listening device to hear the chirps of bats and then test out our new devices with the guidance of an urban bat expert.

Wild & Wayward:
A talk on colonialism, invasive species and wildlife in abandoned places.

Vermin:
A talk and demonstration by a pest control professional about the insects that we live with.

Bird Collision Research, Prevention and Rescue:
Parole with Safe Wings Ottawa to collect birds injured or killed by collisions with buildings.

Crows:
Ottawa's murder is 6000 crows strong. Visit the colony with a crow expert who will explain crow life.

Chimney Swifts:
Visit ottawa's chimney swift colony and count them as they return to their chimney for the evening.

Ecology of the Ottawa River
Visit with the River keeper about the aquatic and shoreline wildlife of the Ottawa water shed. (fish, birds, mammals)

Limnology and Micro Plastics
Visit the Water and Ice Research Lab at Carelton U to look at how micro plastic affect the microorganisms in pod water.

Location:
Residents will be picked up in Ottawa, Canada and driven to the Ayatana Residency House, near the small town of Chelsea, Quebec. This culturally vibrant town, surrounded by forest and nestled between Gatineau National Park and the Gatineau River, is home to many scientists and artists.

Cost 
$1250 USD
Residency places are limited to 6 artists. Official invites will be given to accepted applicants to help in the search for grants and funding.

What is included:
All activities.
Transportation to all activities.
Supplies, equipment and technical gear.
A comfortable bed in the Ayatana residency house.
Most meals will be provided, cooked by our resident chef. *Residents will be responsible for paying for their own meals from restaurants, which will happen 2 or 3 times during the week.

Only applications that follow these guidelines will be considered.

Disclaimer: Those who do not like the outdoors or to talk about art, need not apply.

Friend us on face book for future calls for applications and posts about art and science

For more images of past Biophilia adventures see our face book albums

Aug 2018, Chelsea, Quebec

Aug 2017, Chelsea, Quebec

Sept 2016, Chelsea, Quebec

July 2015, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Sept 2014 Wakefield, Quebec