The Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, in a 3.5 hectare nature conservancy, located at 969 Raymer Road. The Centre is a project of an agreement between the Regional District of the Central Okanagan and the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS) at the University of British Columbia.
The Woodhaven Eco Culture Center is a unique setting for research, creative scholarship and community connections.
In 2010, Creative Writing professor Nancy Holmes and then Masters of Fine Arts student Lori Mairs launched a year-long eco art project, under the umbrella of the Eco Art Incubator, in the Woodhaven Nature Conservancy, working closely with students and community members. During the course of the project, over 100 local artists and students, including musicians, performers, writers, sculptors and other visual artists created multiple works of art in Woodhaven Nature Conservancy. The project was a success, and the Regional District of the Central Okanagan (RDCO), which supported the initiative, saw the potential for Woodhaven to become a destination park.
Since 2012, FCCS has managed the property, which has a large heritage home with two self-contained apartments, providing opportunities for graduate students from FCCS to live during the academic year, and a place for visiting artists and scholars to stay during the summer months. There is a small studio cabin and art studio on the property that is an ideal place to hold seminars, small retreats, art projects, events, and meetings. The site has become a hub for author readings, art events, and outdoor learning activities for local elementary schools.
In 2021, a formal artist-in-residence program was launched, inviting artist to spend dedicated time on their art practice living on the property using the studio cabin as a place to create their work. In 2024, a new 360 sq. ft. art studio was added to the property, serving as a creative space for artists-in-residence, a venue for community gatherings, and a site for eco-cultural study.
The FEELed Lab research centre, located on the top floor of the main house, fosters interdisciplinary research and dialogue on environmental questions, emphasizing inclusive perspectives.
Over more than a decade, the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre has become a vital space for creativity, research, and community engagement, grounded in a commitment to place, relationship, and inclusive environmental inquiry. These spaces offer more than creative opportunities, they foster collaboration and innovation. The outdoor space, art studio, small cabin and studio apartment are available for rentals to UBC collaborators; students and employees. (see “Retreat Rental” page)
Search this blog for information on rental of the artist studio (reasonable rates and a lovely space for writing, drawing, thinking, being.) Contact Frances.Brouse@ubc.ca for more information.