The NARROWS Art Retreat
The Place
a sustainable shelter for Artistic pursuits
To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of, because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions.
- Deepak K. Chopra
A special place to experience the solitude necessary to re-connect with ourselves.
We would like to acknowledge, with deep gratitude and sincere appreciation, that the land on which we walk and live is the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa, the Sinixt (Lakes), the Syilx (Okanagan) peoples, and is home to many other indigenous peoples.
We honour and respect their connection to the land and waters.
​
A short boat ride to Grohman Creek, from the City of Nelson, The Narrows Art Retreat was built with the objective of sustainability, energy efficiency and local & natural materials in mind. Green, eco and natural building includes appropriate design elements, ‘green’ technologies and eco products that make our building energy efficient, comfortable, and healthy. Our straw bale design lessens our footprint on the earth and provides a natural setting in which to create art.
​
FOR ARTIST RESIDENCIES, CLICK HERE!
​
​
AT THE NARROWS, WE OFFER:
​
Artist Residency Program: The Narrows Residency Program is open to artists at all stages of their career, providing space and time for artists to strengthen their practice. We provide artists of various disciplines the opportunity to unplug from daily life, and deeply engage in their work. The Retreat is away from the distractions of daily life, allowing artists the time to renew and focus on their creative practice in an inspirational, contemplative and remote setting. For more information on a residency stay, visit here.
​
Workshop Program: provides art enthusiasts of all levels the transformative experience of making art in a natural inspired setting. We offer one-day to one week intensives with art instructors in their specialized field. If you long to explore your artistic side, please enquire about a workshop in a particular field.
​
* There is no smoking at the retreat centre, for the benefit of all guests.
This place is special. There is water, a clean source that runs through the property. Life is abundant here, because of the water. Birds and plant life are plentiful. Ungulates, bears and coyote all travel through because of the water and forest cover. The source of water is hidden, as is the retreat. It is isolated.
​
You have to travel there by boat. The lake provides a buffer from the town, so you are removed yet still relatively close. Hidden while there and then hopefully exposed, both personally and in your creative work, when you leave.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |
The Residence
The Residence is available primarily for Artist Residencies.
Creative workshops, eco retreats, youth gatherings, board meetings, health and wellness or brainstorm sessions are also welcome at certain times of the year, when it is not occupied by artists-in-residence.
Built with straw bales, with a modern aesthetic, the residence is passive solar, radiant heat, wood stove for extra comfort, and natural materials. It is equipped with a full kitchen, gathering area, sleeps five, with 4 extra beds in the yurt, bathroom facilities and large outdoor deck.
The Studio
The Studio is equipped for diverse creative needs and artistic work. It is a fully functional straw bale art studio, including a complete ventilation exhaust system, a work sink, plenty of shelves, half bath, tables, easels, work bench, chairs, canvas storage area, and space to spread out and imagine your next body of work or to teach a workshop.