Nature as a catalyst for

creativity, rest, and discovery

We The Roses Fondation is a non-profit organization that connects a global community of Black creatives utilizing nature as a form of therapy for creative exploration.

2022. Digital print on Dacron, 10’ x 4’. Becky Bair, Susan Hobbs Gallery

Our Mission

To empower a global community of Black creatives utilizing nature as a form of therapy for creative exploration. Through bespoke curation and a dedication to Black imagination, it serves as a beacon of rest and recalibration using the healing and expansive power of nature.

Blending environmental engagement with artistic expression, WTRF allows everyone who walks through the door to create without the confines and expectations of western ideals, and to find potential within a space of rest.

Through "geographical activism," WTRF builds global connections by addressing the lack of cultural representation locally by offering sanctuary to artists seeking creative renewal, deepening community.

Our programs

We employ immersive experiences – residencies, workshops, symposiums – that intertwine creativity, community, and nature-based therapy, located in a residence nestled in the woods of Vancouver, Canada.

Nature as a therapy for creative exploration
The Roses Residency provides a space for Black creatives to reconnect with nature, and find creative clarity, making it a sanctuary for rest, recovery and rejuvenation.
Each artist arrives into an abundance of possibility - though a series of bespoke experiences ranging from First Nations elder walks in ancient forests, open ocean swimming and paddling tours, equestrian therapy, to sound bath treatments, each artist is welcomed into a space of like-minded community members aimed at enriching their journey.
One artist is welcomed into the residency each quarter for a duration that fits into the business of the artist's life. There is no requirement to produce, however, space and resources can be provided should that be part of the creative’s journey.
Through an evolving network of local First Nations and Black partners, The Roses Residency is a first of its kind in Canada, and remains committed to the creative freedoms for all underserved communities.

A seven-week program designed for curators of color in British Columbia. The workshop provides training in curatorial concepts, community activism, and non-profit arts development, with guidance from international artists and gallery directors.

An immersive day-long symposium to root and celebrate how creatives across the Black diaspora can connect on common soil through nature and through art and forge transformative collaborations.
By recontextualizing “environment” beyond nature to include history, legacy, and social order, the symposium included art workshops, talks, nature walks, and a sound bath experience to a curated group of artists, curators, and culturalists from Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and LA.