ALCHEMY ISLAND 2025 Frequently Asked Questions

Alchemy Artists Residency is an Ontario-based international artist-run residency, founded in 2015, and committed to community engagement by making and sharing art, food, and ideas. 

Participating artists explore the synergy between artistic practices and the growing, cooking and sharing of locally cultivated food in a community setting. 

Since its first programmed residency on the Toronto Islands in 2015, Alchemy  has grown through the thoughtful participation of more than 100 working artists from three continents –many of whom form collaborations that extend well beyond their time together. This hands-on, creative model has a positive effect on individual participating artists and their communities.

A community and relationship building residency, Alchemy is based on four pillars:

• Art
• Food
• Farm 
• Community

Since 2017, Alchemy has nurtured food, art and dialogue between visiting and local artists, wine makers, growers, long-time residents, and seasonal agricultural workers in Hillier, Prince Edward County (PEC), Ontario, Canada.

Alchemy is 2.5 hours by car from Toronto, 3 hours from Ottawa and 90 minutes from Kingston. It is easily accessible by plane, train (to Belleville or Trenton, Ontario) and automobile. “The County” is known for its strong agricultural roots, a thriving arts and cultural community, outstanding natural beauty, and farm to table cuisine. Our location boasts hundreds of acres of stunning countryside to explore and access to the Millennium Trail.  It is also Ontario’s fastest growing wine region and the home of Sandbanks Provincial Park, the world’s largest freshwater sandbar. For more about our location: http://prince-edward-county.com. 

During harvest season, eight selected artists will create site-specific art and engage in community life, events, and activities. Digital and in-person programming will unite artists and the community to explore, learn, create, and share lines of inquiry about what compels people to continue to create, grow, farm, and live here. These artists may:

• be connected to a local farm or vineyard to inspire site-specific work.
• have access to a studio/workspace. 
• have the option to host one community workshop or artist talk. 
• consider leaving something behind for a site-specific exhibition. 

PEC is a magical place for artists to continue work in progress, explore   new ideas, consider collaboration, and connect with residents, farm and vineyard owners, and seasonal agricultural workers. 

Through our annual residency programming and ongoing conversations with lifelong residents, farmers, vineyard owners and artists, we have developed a deeper appreciation for both the beauty and physically demanding work that come with living and working at the western edge of Prince Edward County. Our conversations led us to consider how the simple, yet profound acts of artmaking and food sharing can further foster and engage makers, residents, workers, and visitors in a location with stated interests in furthering community engagement and food sovereignty. 

Participating artists in Alchemy PEC have an opportunity to share their creative cooking skills and examine themes of food sovereignty, creative practice, and community engagement. 

We match local vineyards and farms with visiting artists to inspire the development of site-specific work. 

This will be our first summer since 2020 that we are not running our weekly Table Settings initiative -- which brought our artists together in a donated kitchen one to two nights per week to plan and cook suppers for 40 seasonal agricultural workers in Hillier wineries and farms.  This year will see our community engagement work continue on an informal basis, in forms currently under consideration. 

To help crystalize the approach to your work., we meet with each artist individually (on line) prior to your arrival in PEC.

We facilitate informal Open Studios in a publicly accessible location. Open Studio encourages the sharing of work between local and visiting artists and the PEC wider community.  In the past, we have organized and curated individual artists’ work in a month-long group exhibition called “Field Notes.” “Field Notes” takes place in and around the County at participating wineries, farms, and other publicly accessible spaces.  You can see previous “Field Notes” work here.  We are in the process of deciding what format Field Notes will take in 2024. 

You will get the low down on how all this works closer to our opening date. 

There will be two 13 day sessions of Alchemy PEC in August 2024.  August 

We ask participating artists to commit to being present for the entire residency.

Alchemy 2024 artists live and work in a quiet western corner of the county called Consecon. .

Alchemy fees for 2024 are set between $1050 and 1150 (CDN). 

Artist housing, studio workspace, one supper weekly, facilitating a match and working arrangements between an artist and participating winery and farm.   This fee also covers your participation, curation, and the installation of your work in “Field Notes” and the Open Studio program. We encourage artists to apply to their respective arts councils for funding and we do provide letters of support. 

Yes.  Alchemy pays exhibition fees to artists participating in the group exhibition “Field Notes”. We also pay artists who choose to lead a community-engaged activity such as a workshop or artist talk. The Alchemy coordinators will confirm details.

We hope to provide at least one partial bursury this year and will provide more information shortly.

It costs money to run all the various aspects of our community-based programming.  At the same time, we think it is very important to pay artists.  Our goal is to only pay artists and we are not quite there yet. We will know soon if we can lower the cost because of successful grant applications. Right now, we would rather not promise lowering of fees until we understand some of our other funding streams. 

Our programming schedule is flexible enough to provide a good amount of studio time. Artists are also invited to explore several easily accessible outside porches, barns and plein air spaces in and around our housing. Some artists choose to work on the land of the winery or farm they were paired with – with magical results. 

Alchemy is strictly a bring-your-own affair. There is no local art supply shop. There is a general hardware store in Wellington. Be prepared and bring your own supplies. We provide the space, and usually good size worktable. 

No. Alchemy strives to maintain a very relaxed atmosphere - one in which creative people can both work hard and relax. That said, some people choose to check out at least one fancy restaurant during their visit. 

Yes. While near beaches, it is also extremely rural.  We are minutes from Lake Ontario (North Beach, Wellington Beach) and Sandbanks Provincial Park – the world’s largest freshwater sandbar. You can get to the beach within a few minutes by car and somewhat longer by biking. 

There is a laundry mat in Wellington. There may be a washer/dryer in the house where you will live.

Could it be bug spray? Sun block? These things tend to deplete quickly, so do bring some with you, or remember to pick some up in town.

We have access to fabulous farm grown local protein and produce. There are several shared dinners. If you aren’t into sharing food, you would be better suited to another residency. 

Food allergies and restrictions will be accommodated as best we can, which has become pretty good over the years. However, we cannot guarantee nut-free facilities.  

Yes. Lots. That said – be prepared for a rural setting.

There are also farmers markets and stands all over the county and vineyards! The lakeside village of Wellington is close by and has a Saturday Farmer’s market, grocery stores, coffee shops, a pharmacy, a liquor store, local restaurants, and a hardware store. Wellington is about 20 minutes by car or 45 minutes by bike. Other larger towns in the county include Bloomfield and Picton.

Most accommodations and working spaces have Wi-Fi. See above: be prepared for a rural setting. 

We want you to be able to focus on your work and the programming that has been designed especially for participants. Guests are welcome if the work of your house and studio mates are not disrupted.

In a word, Yes.  And certainly, you could begin work in advance if you choose, that is up to you.  As for the kitchen part of the project, the meals are planned by the group making supper. 

If you aren’t already –follow us on Instagram. All previous artists are also featured on our website. 

Send us an email with a specific question and we will do our best to answer promptly.  Send your questions to info@makealchemy.com