And what do you do with a building at the end of the Earth? You start thinking what it's got going for it. And the major thing it's got is an incredible view. I thought artists would love the place."

Baird was right. In the late 1980s he was in Toronto where he saw a painting by Nancy Kembry entitled Still Life: Fragmentation. He was so haunted by it that he invited Nancy to visit Newfoundland; she appeared the following year with Marlowe, Milkweed and Ken (dog, cat and husband). Their immediate enthusiasm for the craggy coast of Pouch Cove prompted her to tell people about the place and it wasn't long before Baird's phone was ringing.

At first it was one studio for a couple of months in the summer, then, it ran from the arrival of the icebergs through the departure of the whales, after a few years a second studio was added, then it was residencies throughout the year. A second facility in Corner Brook on the province•s west coast was attempted for a few years and finally, with the assistance of a benefactor, the elementary school was acquired in 2002.

Newfoundland has struck such a chord with many of the visiting artists that over thirty of them have acquired full and part time homes in the province. Inexpensive ocean front accommodations, when combined with fresh air and friendly people have proved a tempting mix for many visitors.

Lack of funding is an ongoing issue for any arts organization and the Foundation has had to be very creative to fill its mandate to provide a creative and pleasurable experience for visiting artists.

Any assistance that you could offer is gratefully appreciated.