Near North Mobile Media Lab’s Artist Residency programming began with the Northern Ontario Mobile Residency, a bold and ambitious initiative that reimagined what a residency could look like in Northern Ontario. Launched in 2019, the program offered media artists the opportunity to travel throughout the region in a 29-foot mobile live and work studio. Designed to connect artists to landscape, geography, and rural communities, the residency encouraged critical reflection on land, cultural identity, and regional experience.

The Mobile Residency prioritized artists whose practices engaged with landscape and identity, and aimed to overcome the geographic barriers that often limit access to artistic opportunity in the North. Artists developed new work while immersed in northern environments, contributing to national media arts discourse from a distinctly northern perspective.

However, the long-term trajectory of the Mobile Residency was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions, safety considerations, and shifting realities made the model difficult to sustain in its original form. While the program did not continue as initially envisioned, its spirit and intentions laid the groundwork for what would come next.

In response, N2M2L adapted and expanded its residency model into more site-based programs rooted in community engagement and creative skill development. The Digital Creator Artist in Residence program brought emerging artists into the Digital Creator North Bay space at the Capitol Centre, where they developed new digital media work while mentoring youth and leading public workshops. These residencies combined artistic growth with hands-on community learning, culminating in public artist talks and presentations that strengthened connections between artists and local audiences.

Most recently, the launch of the Near North Makerspace Artist in Residence reflects the continued evolution of this vision. Located at 108 Main Street East in downtown North Bay, the Makerspace residency supports interdisciplinary artists working across digital media, fabrication, installation, and emerging technologies. The program emphasizes experimentation, mentorship, and public engagement, while also offering time at an off-grid lakeside camper studio, reconnecting to the residency’s original relationship with northern landscape.

From a mobile motorhome studio traveling across the region to dedicated creative spaces embedded within the community, N2M2L’s residency programming has continually evolved in response to changing circumstances. At its core, the mission remains the same: to support emerging artists, expand access to media arts in Northern Ontario, and foster meaningful connections between creative practice, place, and community.