About Us

Young Catholic artists are in desperate need of a support system. People today are starving for true community, and artists are led to see their gifts strictly as a form of economic opportunity.

St. Joseph’s Home for Artisans was created in order to promote the strong artistic traditions of the Catholic Church. The home provides young artists with the space, guidance, and confidence they need to create work that is good, beautiful, and true. Similarly, it seeks to ease their financial burden by gifting them with affordable space in which they can create art and community.

Our mission is to provide young Catholic artists with a space to explore and express their faith and creative gifts. By engaging with the community around them, living with other faith-filled artists, and actively working on honing in their crafts, our artists become bearers of hope and beauty to the Church, and the world.

For a period of 3 months, our resident artists have the opportunity to live in an old convent in the North End of Boston, working on creative projects and community outreach initiatives.

How we started

In 2021, St. Joseph’s Home for Artisans was created by Clare McCallan, Ena Urbalejo, and Fernando Limbo. After hearing Clare perform her original poetry, Fr. Michael Della Pena, pastor of St. Leonard’s Parish, asked how he could support young Catholic artists. “By giving us a place to live!,”Clare joked! What she didn’t know is that Fr. Michael had just the place.

The residency is located on the 5th floor of St. Leonard’s former convent. North End locals often will recall having played on the rooftop of the convent as children, when the Sisters of St. Joseph occupied the building.

Details & Who Should Apply

Residencies last for a period of 3 months. There is a residency fee of $550/mo

Tentative dates for Summer/Fall 2025: July 16-October 19

Visual artists, performers, musicians, writers, poets, and other young Catholic creatives are welcome to apply. We are very involved in the church community and faith based conversations are prevalent.

Artists are expected to propose projects that in some way involve the surrounding community. For example, past artists have performed for the community, painted murals in the area, led workshops, created projects out of secondhand materials collected in the community, or created bodies of work inspired by the community. Upon completion of their residency, artists should be able to in some way showcase what they have worked on while here.

As we are located in a former convent, please keep in mind that rooms are quite small. We ask that you bring only what you absolutely need with you!