Seasonal Studio Residency (Akin Community Discount)
Glamping Farmstead Barn Studio Residency 5 day-2 week slots Aug 7 - Nov 1, 2026 (30% Discount + Early Access for the Akin Community)
Salmon River Studios invites Akin community members to apply for discounted residency stays during our inaugural 2026 season. The Akin community has exclusive access to the booking calendar until June 18th when it opens to the general public.
This opportunity is designed for artists seeking flexible, self-directed studio time in a nature-immersed environment.
Program Details
Date range: August 7 – November 1, 2026
Duration: 5 day to 2-week stays
Residency Cost: 30% discount on 5 day accommodation fee of $1500 ($1050 for 5 nights) Includes: Glamping accommodations for Artist + family, unlimited studio access
What This Residency Offers
Focused studio time in a 2000+ sq ft heritage barn studio with facilities including ceramics equipment (pottery wheel and kiln), large format etching press, water, electricity and plenty of light filled space and walls.
Immersion in a 52-acre eco-art farm environment w/ river access and private hiking trails
A family-inclusive residency model with optional children’s programming, children’s studio/library, tree fort, sand box, toys and games.
Kingston Via Rail station Pick up/drop off if needed.
Marketing and promotion
Founding residents will be featured in Akin and Salmon River Studios online platforms and will have opportunities to exhibit at Salmon River Studios and Tamworth Central.
Includes:
Accommodation for the artist +family, friends, partners or artist group in our luxury bell glamping tent which comfortably sleeps up to 4 people (6m Canvas Camp Sibley Apex 600 Double Door).
Featuring king-sized bed + two singles (proper mattresses & all bedding provided)
Amenities
Wood-fired stock tank hot tub
Private decks w/ adirondacks & picnic table
Outdoor shower w/ on-demand hot water
Tre-chic outhouse
Laundry facilities
Indoor/outdoor kitchen facilities (Screen porch/kitchen w/ fridge, kettle, induction hot plate,quality cookware and dining ware)
BBQ/firepit
Access to our garden and chicken coop (fresh eggs)
Free fire wood
Towels, picnic blanket, baskets, wagon
First aid kit
What is not-included
Artist residents are responsible for their own meals- Tamworth has a grocery store and local dining options
Artists must bring their own art materials (water soluble/non-toxic preferred)
How to Apply
Submit:
A short statement of interest (max 200 word count)
Portfolio or website
Deadline: Oct 1st
Applicants will be notified of acceptance or contacted for discussion within 2 weeks of submission
About Salmon River Studios
Ten years ago, Salmon River Studios began as a dream of connecting urban artists with the land and nature. On July 31, 2026, we are officially reopening our gates with a fully reimagined 52-acre eco-art farm.
Located along the winding banks of the Salmon River, our residency is a sanctuary for artists who seek deep studio immersion while reconnecting with the natural world and nurture their practice without leaving their family or their comforts behind. We offer a unique 'living studio' experience, where high-level creative practice coexists with the restorative rhythms of the land. Here, you can retreat into focused work within our private barn studio while your friends and loved ones have the opportunity to join you in the studio or pursue their own creative and wild explorations.
From the comfort of luxury glamping accommodations to hands-on farm discovery and riverside play, we provide an inclusive environment where the whole person—and the whole family—can thrive, explore, and find inspiration. From gardens and art studios to a wood fired hot tub, private hiking trails, tree forts and animal visits- participants and their families can unplug, recharge, rejuvenate and reconnect while building their artistic practice and contributing to a creative community that bridges urban and rural spaces.
The Studio, Equipment & Materials
The Studio: A light-filled, 2000sqft+ heritage timber-frame barn equipped for printmaking, ceramics and suitable any 2D, 3D or media based art practices that thrive in spaces with character and room to breathe. The space has been lovingly restored with the addition of a ramp, track lighting, large sink and electrical power throughout. The barn is a barn and not entirely sealed off from the outside world... As such, you are likely to have wild visitors such as the odd squirrel join you in the studio.
Equipment: LargeEtching press (24”x48” print bed), pottery wheel, Kiln, dry walled section for work and display, large glass top table, kids easels, steel flat file drawer for personal storage use
Materials: Basic drawing, painting materials and printmaking supplies, hand tools and some power tools as well as paper rolls for free use. various printmaking papers and surfaces for painting available at cost.
*Artist residents should bring their own inks , paints, etc (water soluble only) and communicate any material needs in advance
The Land
The 52 Acres: Private forest trails, kitchen gardens, chicken coop for fresh eggs and chicken fun and direct access to the Salmon River for swimming, picnics, and relaxation.
What to bring
Sensible footwear- sandals, trainers, hiking boots, work boots, galoshes- yes. Heels, shiny new kicks- probably not
Water shoes, swim wear
Clothes for hot days and cool nights as well as shells for windy or rainy weather
Fav coffee/tea- not a huge selection in tamworth grocery store
Special snacks or foods (you will have a full sized fridge to yourself)
Special art materials/tools
Any special medical supplies you require
Sense of adventure!
Tamworth
We are perfectly situated for a creative getaway without the grueling drive.
We are located just across the river from Tamworth, which is a one minute drive or ten minute walk and has groceries, LCBO, book stores, cafes- even a new skate park!
Lots of great info about Tamworth and the surrounding area here
Driving distances:
Ottawa: Approx. 1 hour 45 minutes.
Toronto: Approx. 2.5 hours.
Kingston: Approx. 45 minutes.
Napanee: Approx. 25 minutes.
The "Parent-Artist" Challenge met
As parents, we appreciate the challenge of finding residencies that accommodate families and we have tailored ours to support parent artist’s need for focused studio time sans kiddos while celebrating the value of shared creativity and collaboration with the kids/partners on creative projects. At Salmon River Studios, your family isn’t just "allowed"—they are encouraged to join and are actively supported.
*This residency is not exclusively offered to families- all applications are welcome
OCT-Certified Programming: While you are in the studio, your children can participate in our nature/play-based art/craft, gardening and animal centred programming lead by Ontario Certified Art Teachers (must be arranged in advance and additional fees may apply for staffing).
Play: Tree forts, sand box, kids art studio / book library, disc golf, and river / trail exploration are open to your family all day.
Giving Back
Salmon River Studios is dedicated to bridging urban and rural creative communities and we ask that as a visiting artist resident, you contribute to the development of our local community and this new program. This can be through offering a workshop, artist talk or other activity or by contributing a skill or just elbow grease to any of the myriad of projects that are ongoing on the farm such as helping with the gardens, facility improvement projects, etc.
We’re excited to announce that Akin member Shayla Bond has been selected as the recipient of the inaugural Salmon River Studios Community Impact Residency.
This special residency, taking place in the summer of 2026, offers dedicated time and space for an Akin member to devote time to artistic research and creation in a rural studio setting at Salmon River Studios in the countryside of Tamworth, Ontario.
Shayla’s proposed residency project explores natural dyeing, memory, grief, and place through textile-based research. During the residency, she will work with responsibly sourced plant materials from the surrounding landscape to create a journal of colour, process, and observation rooted in the environment itself. Shayla will also facilitate a guided “colour walk”, open to the Tamworth community, introducing natural dye materials, exploring the relationship between landscape and textile.
Congratulations Shayla, and we’re thrilled to see this opportunity support the continued development of her practice!
