
Yukon Wildlife Viewing (Department of Environment) and Yukon Arts Centre are pleased to offer an artist residency at the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre during the 2025 Celebration of Swans in April.
Witnessing the spring mass migration of tens of thousands of swans, ducks and geese is a unique experience. The Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, located on the shore of McClintock Bay in Marsh Lake, is a prime location for bird viewing during this time. Artists will find inspiration in the local sights and sounds during a two-week stay in the area. They will fall asleep and wake up to a chorus of swans, see birds silhouetted in the sunset and connect with the natural and cultural history of this special place.
Residency dates: April 17-30 (13 nights). Other two-week periods in April may be considered if accommodation is available.
Eligibility: This application is open to emerging and established Yukon artists.
The purpose of the residency is to create new artwork inspired by the location, bringing together nature and art through connection to place.
Application deadline: Feb. 24, 2025.

About the residency
The selected artist will receive:
- A $3,000 honourarium (paid at the conclusion of the residency).
Use of a wall-tent studio located next to the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre as well as secure storage for materials/projects. - Accommodation in a simple cabin with a kitchenette (blue-jug water system, small fridge and hotplate) and wood-stove heating within walking distance of the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, for 13 nights.
- Access to a shower facility within a short walk.
- The opportunity to attend Celebration of Swans events and interact with scientists, facilitators, students, and the public.
The artist will:
- Host three public evening or weekend workshops, talks, demonstrations or events at Swan Haven during the residency, including one that is family-friendly. (Yukon Wildlife Viewing will assist in the set-up and facilitation of these events as needed. It will also provide basic art supplies for participants attending public programs.)
- Host two evening or weekend “artist at work” drop-in sessions during the residency.
- Share a digital copy of the artwork produced during the residency with Yukon Wildlife Viewing and Yukon Arts Centre, who may use it for promotional and archival purposes. The artist should provide this within three months of the conclusion of the residency.

About Swan Haven and the Celebration of Swans
The shallow, open water of M’Clintock Bay offers food (primarily the roots of aquatic plants) and a place for birds to rest en route to their breeding grounds. Approximately 10 per cent of North America’s Trumpeter Swan population stop here each spring. The early open water attracts other birds too, including Mallard, American Wigeon, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser and Northern Pintail ducks. This important aquatic environment is part of the Lewes Marsh Habitat Protection area.
A Celebration of Swans is held annually during the month of April, during peak migration. Yukon Wildlife Viewing hosts evening and weekend events throughout the month to raise awareness about the importance of this area for spring bird migration and offer educational information and programming on Trumpeter Swans and other water birds. Each year, approximately 4,000 people visit Swan Haven to see wildlife and welcome the arrival of spring.
Swan Haven is located in the Traditional Territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, who continue to have strong cultural ties to and interests in the area. Prior to colonization, Marsh Lake was a gathering place for trade, with people coming from as far away as the coast. This area offered the opportunity to harvest a variety of wildlife, including swan, and the M’Clintock River in particular drew large numbers of First Nations for the seasonal migration of salmon. There are many heritage sites in the area including fish camps, cabins, trails and berry-picking sites.

Considerations
- The Swan Haven Interpretive Centre is open and staffed evenings and weekends throughout the month of April. The building is closed outside these hours but the grounds stay open to the public, including stairway access to the beach. Yukon Wildlife Viewing staff will help the artist get situated and assist with workshops/public events but they should otherwise be self-sufficient. During workdays, the building, grounds and lakeshore are used by school groups for organized environmental education programming.
- There is cell service in the area but few other amenities. The nearest medical centre and grocery store is in Whitehorse. The artist must supply their own groceries/food for the duration of the residency. McClintock Bay Adventures, located next to Swan Haven, has a canteen with snacks and small meals for sale.
- The wall tent workspace is spacious but rustic. There are windows and a small propane heater if needed (a carbon monoxide detector is also provided). While the artist can come and go at will, the expectation is that they will stay in the provided accommodation and do the majority of their work on site.
- The artist must arrange their own travel to and from Swan Haven, which is approximately 35 minutes by car from Whitehorse.
All applicants will be reviewed by a committee of representatives from the Yukon Arts Centre and Yukon Wildlife Viewing. Selections will be made within six weeks of the deadline.