Short Description
HIAP, Bioart Society, Koynẽ Program and SWAMP: Art Material and Waste Management Point and TUO TUO invite applications for a new pilot residency programme focused on socially engaged, process-orientated and material-driven practices.
Learning Materials investigates how biomaterials, traditional practices, new technology and existing knowledges can be brought together to rethink our relationship with materials and the planet. The project aims to focus on conscious and tangible approaches to ecological and sustainable material practices for artists and communities.
The project’s intent is also to investigate obstacles and solutions related to the use of sustainable materials in the operations of cultural organisations, focusing on the implementation of multipurpose, reusable and recyclable materials.
Hosted at HIAP Helsinki International Artist Programme (Suomenlinna Studios), 3 artists based outside of Finland in one of the Nordic Baltic countries will undertake a 3 month residency.
The residencies will respond to one or more of the following themes under the Learning Materials umbrella:
- Waste and circular economies
- Material legacies and biomaterials
- Tourism and greenwashing
Residency Activities
Residents can choose to take part in activities organised by HIAP during their residency period. These activities include:
- Welcome lunch with all newly arrived residents and local guests, with an opportunity to present your practice.
- Weekly afternoon coffees in HIAP’s Community Room to check in with fellow residents and hear from visitors to HIAP’s premises.
- Trips and visits to openings and events taking place in Helsinki: the HIAP Residency Team will gather and share weekly roundups of events happening in the city.
- Open Studios with an opportunity to share works in progress: this is one of HIAP’s most popular events that takes place towards the end of the residency season and provides an opportunity to celebrate.
Eligibility
This call is for artists living and working outside of Finland and based in a Nordic Baltic country (Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Åland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).
Arts practitioners from all disciplines are welcome to apply. Whilst experimentation is encouraged, you must be able to demonstrate a long term commitment to the Learning Materials themes within your practice beyond the scope of this residency programme.
There is one pet friendly residency apartment in Suomenlinna Studios. Family members are welcome with no extra residency fees but must cover their own travel costs.
Submission Requirements
- Brief outline of your professional background and biography (up to 500 words)
- Motivation statement including how your work responds to the Learning Materials themes (up to 500 words)
- Work Plan (up to 250 words)
- Portfolio / examples of previous work (max. 10 images or 3 video/audio files) provided as an external link (no upload optional available).
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
- Travel to and from the artist’s home – we encourage slow travel (see here).
- Internal travel budget for field trips and research up to €150.
- Working Grant of €1300 per month (€3900 in total).
- Material budget up to €750.
- Budget for delivering a Learning Materials Lab up to €400.
- Publication budget of €200 for delivery of text at end of residency.
Entry Fee
None
Location
Finland
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 23 September 2025
- Residency Period: 13 April – 16 July 2026
Website Link: https://www.hiap.fi/open-calls/
