Vue de l'atelier de Dominique Pétrin en résidence
Dominique Pétrin, Vue d'atelier, 2019. Photo: ENE / Jean-Sébastien Veilleux photographe
Site and facilities
Living environments

Site and facilities

Offering a balance between flexibility and functionality, encounter and introspection, the artist spaces and studios at Est-Nord-Est encourage residents to experiment and are adapted to material and technical research in an inspiring and welcoming workspace.

The architectural design by Bourgeois/Lechasseur – a contemporary tribute to regional urbanism – articulates a transition from the collective to the private. This exceptional building combines open areas, simplicity, and natural light. It invites experimentation and artistic revitalization, both in contact with other residents and in solitary contemplation of the river.

Production and creation studios

Miyuki Inoue, Studio view, 2019. Photo credit: ENE / Jean-Sébastien Veilleux photographe. Atelier de bois, Est-Nord-Est, 2019. Crédit photo: ENE / Jean-Sébastien Veilleux photographe. Atelier de métal, Est-Nord-Est, 2019. Crédit photo: ENE / Jean-Sébastien Veilleux photographe. Atelier commun, Est-Nord-Est, 2019. Crédit photo: ENE / Jean-Sébastien Veilleux photographe.

Artist studios

The work spaces in the five studio-workshops occupied by the residents have been thought out to foster the creative process and the tranquillity essential to artistic exploration. In each studio, a work area equipped with a workbench and ceiling hooks allows for all types of creation to take place. A loft space, equipped with a bed and brightly lit by a skylight, overlooks the studio.

A similar sixth studio-workshop is reserved for ENE members and special collaborative projects hosted by the centre.

Technical workshops

A wood workshop and a metal and ceramics workshop, both shared, offer residents all the materials needed for artistic research. A wide variety of specialized machines and tools are also available.

To these production and creation workshops is added a shared assembly room – containing a large work table and a decantation tank – where residents can help themselves to a variety of materials and tools. Supervised by a technician who ensures safety and proper use, these common spaces allow visual artists to trade expertise and thoughts to nurture their approaches and techniques.

Technical equipment

Wood workshop

  • Band saw (14 and 21 inches)
  • Radial-arm saw (12 inches)
  • Table saw (10 inches)
  • Mitre saw
  • Scroll saw
  • Planer (20 inches)
  • Jointer (12 inches)
  • Drill press
  • Oscillating spindle sander
  • Combined belt and disk sander
  • Edge sander
  • Wood lathe (48 inches)
  • Wood kiln
  • Router on router table
  • Bench grinder
  • Electric plane

Metal and ceramics workshop

  • Metal band saw
  • Column drilling machine
  • Metal chop saw
  • Sharpening grinder
  • Welding torch
  • Arc welder
  • MIG welder with spool gun for aluminum
  • Roll former (24 in., 22 gauges)
  • Propane forge
  • Digitally controlled ceramics kiln (kiln capacity 0.57 cubic foot)
  • Potter’s wheel (installed in the assembly common room)

Assembly common room (portable tools)

  • Portable jigsaw
  • Biscuit jointer
  • Circular saw
  • Orbital sander
  • Belt sander
  • Dremel
  • Chain saws (electric and gas)
  • Electric planer
  • Grinder and Lancelot blade
  • Plunge router
  • Soldering gun
  • Compressed-air nail gun (calibre 18)
  • Compressed-air boring machine
  • Various basic tools for working with wood and metal (hammers, drill, wireless screwdriver, clamps, etc.)
  • Sewing machine

Safety equipment

  • Ear plugs
  • Goggles
  • Visors
  • Protective gloves and pants for mechanical sawing

Audiovisual equipment

Audiovisual projection

  • Optoma EH515TST wall-mounted projector
  • Epson Powerlite 1286 projector
  • 5th generation 4K Apple TV
  • Sound console
  • Behringer NU1000DSP amplifier
  • Speakers

Visual recording

  • Canon EOS 90D with EF-S 10-135 mm lens
  • Canon 5D mark IV with EF-S 18-135 mm lens
  • Portable flash
  • Set of lights and softbox
  • Manfrotto MVH400AH tripod with fluid head
  • Manfrotto MKCADV-BK tripod
  • Scrim

Audio recording

  • ZOOM H6 with XYH-6 X/Y, MSH-6 MS, SGH-6, and SSH-6 microphone capsules
  • 2-metre extension pole (boom)
  • Blimp-R shotgun microphone
  • Microphone and tripod
  • Sennheiser wireless Lavalier microphone

Computer, peripherals, and software

  • iMac with macOS Catalina, 2.3 GHz dual-core processor, with 8 GB of RAM
  • Office 2020 Suite
  • HP OfficeJet Pro X576dw MFP all-in-one printer
  • Canon PIXMA MG6320 all-in-one printer

*Non-exhaustive list

Common residency areas

Centre de documentation, Est-Nord-Est, 2019. Crédit photo: Adrien Williams. Est-Nord-Est, 2019. Crédit photo: Adrien Williams.

Common areas

In addition to the artist studios, ENE has a number of common areas that are conducive to conversation and encounters. On the mezzanine, a documentation centre offers a collection of art magazines and books in a quiet, well-lit reading area. With a concern for preserving a record of its activities, the centre also has numerous publications by former residents available for consultation.

A multifunctional room at the entrance offers a space for exchanges among artists and authors, and it can be transformed into a presentation hall when the public visits. Sheltered alcoves in the outdoor spaces offer room for relaxation. ENE also has all the conveniences needed to host the residents (shared kitchen, bathrooms, laundry).

Administrative areas

The ENE team works at the centre, either in the offices below the documentation centre mezzanine or in the adjacent conference room. Each team member is available to assist the artists and authors with the logistics surrounding their stay.