Cape Breton University Welcomes Sandi Somers as the 2026 CBU Artist in Residence

Cape Breton University is proud to welcome multidisciplinary artist Sandi Somers as the 2026 CBU Artist in Residence, bringing a semester-long program of film, theatre design and community-based creative engagement to campus and the broader community.

A screenwriter, film director and theatre designer, Somers’ practice spans lighting, set, projection and costume design, with a strong focus on storytelling as a tool for transformation. Her career grew from theatre design into filmmaking, where she began creating visually driven dance films before moving into scripted work rooted in 2SLGBTQ+ communities. 

Through her work, Somers has been a strong advocate for mentorship, representation and creative support for women, non-binary and trans artists.

Alongside her own creative work, Somers is also the founder of Herland, a mentorship program based in Alberta that supports artists who identify outside the traditional gender binary. Her contributions to Canada’s creative landscape have been recognized with the Spirit of Helen Award and the Doug and Lois Mitchell Outstanding Calgary Artist Award, honouring artists whose work has had national and international impact.

As Artist in Residence, Somers will lead a series of hands-on workshops, artist talks and creative sessions that invite students, faculty and community members to explore filmmaking, theatre design and interdisciplinary collaboration. The workshops are free of charge and no registration is necessary. Programming will take place both on campus and in community spaces around the CBRM.

Highlights of the 2026 Artist in Residence programming include:

• A film workshop series exploring creative approaches to filmmaking, directing, editing and post-production

• Theatre design workshops focused on set design, lighting and director–designer collaboration

• Community artist talks hosted at local libraries in North Sydney and Sydney

• A term-end Creative Arts Showcase celebrating film, music, theatre and dance

• An interactive creative project inviting participants to reflect on childhood stories and transform them into one-minute works

Somers will also spend select dates on campus working directly with students and creative groups, supporting CBU’s Creative Campus programming and fostering connections between academic learning and artistic practice.

For full workshop schedules, event details and updates throughout the residency, visit cbu.ca/artist-in-residence.