ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
The artist-in-residency program at the Chester Art Centre is made possible by the Donald Curley fund, established in memory of the Chester based artist with an international reputation upon his death in 2009. Funded by contributions of friends and family, as well as the proceeds from the Donald Curley lecture series, please check back here for lecture details and to make donations or purchase tickets for upcoming lectures.
The residency exists to support emerging artists as they stretch and grow their artistic scope. Please check back regularly or sign up for our newsletter for information on upcoming residencies.
Max Dooher
2025 Artist in Residence
Max Dooher is an interdisciplinary artist and computational designer primarily based in K'jipuktuk (Halifax), Nova Scotia. Max creates screen-based applications, media installations, creative toolkits for artists, and technology-embedded craft objects that explore the histories between art and digital culture. His work uses the internet as a poetic archive, examining how networked spaces shape memory, identity, and community in contemporary society.
During his residency with the Chester Art Centre, Max will be developing a website called the Chester Sound Project (chestersoundproject.com), which will host field recordings of the local ecology he collects throughout his time in the area. Using his code-based approach to sound making, Max will also transform these recordings into a generative soundscape that reflects and responds to the natural rhythms of the community.
In addition to the creation of this new work, Max will also be leading a discussion of his process and an interactive presentation of the sound project. Members of the community are invited to experience the work as an interactive soundscape installation, exploring how their movements in the space activate the various sounds.
May 28, 2025
12-4 PM
Chester Art Centre
We are thrilled to announce that Max Dooher will be joining the Chester Art Centre as our 2025 Artist in Residence!
"Wander" by Max Dooher. Medium: Video Game.
2026 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
APPLY NOW FOR OUR 2026 EMERGING ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM!
We offer a 4-week emerging Artist Residencies in the Village of Chester, Nova Scotia during the month of May. Now accepting applications for our spring residency.
Spring Residency Dates: May 1st, 2026 to May 29th, 2026
Completed proposal submission deadline is: January 1st, 2026 at 4:00 PM.
Program Details
The Chester Art Centre (CAC) located in the beautiful seaside Village of Chester, Nova Scotia, Canada invites applications for its 2026 Emerging Artist-in-Residence program. The AIR program allows artists to create new work that will contribute to the development of their art practice and to interact with the local community.
All visual art mediums and styles are welcome to apply. The goal of the residency is to provide you with the resources you need to grow and stretch as an artist. Your proposal must highlight how the support will propel you in new artistic directions, as well as why you are interested in doing a residency in the Village of Chester and how this will impact your work.
We will be awarding one residency for our Spring 2026 program.
Stipend: The Centre will pay the successful applicant a stipend of $1000.
Accommodations: Accommodation will be provided by the residency program unless the applicant lives locally. Please let us know if you have accessibility needs.
Studio Space: Studio space will be provided by the residency program. Please specify your studio needs so that we can match you to the most suitable studio.
Materials and Equipment: Materials and equipment are the responsibility of the artist.
Travel: Applicants are responsible for the cost of travel arrangements to and from Chester.
Community Engagement: As part of the residency, the Arist-in-Residence will be required to hold a workshop, demonstration or interactive artist talk during their time in Chester, as well as participate in one open studio day at the end of their residency which will serve as a chance for the artist to showcase what they've been working on in an informal studio show.
Mentorship: On request, the Chester Art Centre will try and pair artists with a mentor to support them during their residency.
Application
Completed application forms along with supporting materials must be emailed to info@chesterartcentre.ca with the subject line “Artist-in-Residence Application” no later than January 1st, 2026 at 4:00pm. For accommodations during the application process please email us at info@chesterartcentre.ca or call (902) 275-5789.