The SÍM Residency is an international artist-in-residence program in Reykjavik, Iceland, for visual artists, sound designers, researchers, curators, creative writers, cross-disciplinary artists, performance, dance, and all various forms of creators and scientists. The main objective of the residency is to provide a venue for international artists to take part in the Icelandic art scene, thereby creating a broader context within which local and international artists can experience their own work.
The SÍM Residency seeks to promote an environment of reflection, research, study, and play by providing artists with a working environment that supports the artistic process.
Artists can stay for a period of one to three months and are accepted based on their project proposal and work examples. A bachelor’s degree in fine arts or similar qualifications is required. The residency program includes two public events: artist talk and open studios. Additional events like solo exhibitions at SÍM Gallery, educational workshops, or collaboration projects with local art schools or kindergartens can also be organized.
SÍM Residency is a sustainable residency without receiving state grants. Visiting artist pay a residency fee between 455,00€ and 900,00 € per month. This meets the minimum cost of running the residency program. The fee includes accommodation, studio space, and where applicable, access to technical facilities.
Open calls
SÍM Residency open call applications are open twice a year:
From 1st till 31st January for period July – December
From 1st till 31st July for period January – June
*additional announcements for rooms/studios availabilities due to cancellations are available with our newsletters, and applications for short notice availabilities are accepted throughout the year. To receive the latest news please subscribe to our newsletter.
Apply link here: SIM Residency | APPLY (sim-residency.info)
Duration of Residency
1-3 months
Granted residency is from the second to the last day of the relevant month.
Application Requirements
The SÍM Residency is a self-directed art project-based residency and requires a project proposal as well as work examples.
Disciplines
All mediums of visual arts (painting, sculpture, engraving, photography, drawing, illustration, mixed techniques, sound art, installations, comic strips, performance, textile arts or any other form of related expression) are accepted including cross-disciplinary art project proposals. SÍM Residency also welcomes curators and art writers for research-based projects.
Qualifying applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in fine arts or similar qualifications.
Events / activities
SÍM Residency self-directed artist-in-residence program includes an introduction meeting, two public, and two private events. All event dates are announced one month before the residency program begins.
All events are optional, only the introduction meeting is mandatory.
Introduction meeting
Type: private meeting
Participation: mandatory
Time: beginning of each month
Location: both residency locations
Artist talk
Type: public event
Participation: optional
Time: beginning of each month
Location: SÍM meeting and coffee house – Korpúlfsstaðir, Thorsvegur 1 112 Reykjavik
Group dinner
Type: private gathering
Participation: optional
Time: after artists’ talk
Location: SÍM meeting and coffee house – Korpúlfsstaðir, Thorsvegur 1 112 Reykjavik
Open Studios
Type: public event
Participation: optional
Time: the end of month
Location: both SIM Residency locations
*each applicant is welcome to propose ideas for individual lectures, workshops, talks or other artistic activities.
*SÍM Residency collaborates with local kindergartens and art schools where educational workshops can be organized.
Accommodation
Currently, SÍM is hosting two residency locations in Reykjavik; Seljavegur, and Korpúlfsstaðir each place is unique and can offer different type of experiences.
Seljavegur - is situated in the western part of Reykjavík city center in one of SÍM’s most popular local artist`s studio spaces. In 2019 the residency apartment was moved to the second floor of the building for practical reasons, however, the magnificent view over the ocean towards Snæfellsjökull (Snaefellsnes Glacier) is still able to be enjoyed.
Seljavegur 32 is 10-minute walk from the old city center of Reykjavík. Close by are libraries, museums, galleries, bus stops, supermarkets, a hardware store, swimming pools, cinemas, the University of Iceland, restaurants, etc. The Residency apartment consists of 9 private single bedrooms/studios, one private single bedroom with a separated individual studio, and one double bedroom/studio. The central residency location allows artists easy access to libraries, museums, and galleries. It is a perfect residency location for research-based art projects. Every month Seljavegur residency can host up to 11 artists, which makes the shared space active, alive, and vibrant. Perfectly suitable for shorter stay residencies.
Korpúlfsstaðir residency is situated 10km from the city center in the eastern outskirts of Reykjavík with a beautiful view to Mount Esja. It is surrounded by one of Reykjavík’s popular golf courses, inspiring hiking trails, and long walks by the seashores.
Close by are city bus stops, supermarkets, a hardware store, swimming pools and a cinema. Korpúlfsstaðir houses 40 studios for SÍM artists, as well as a textile workshop, and ceramic workshop. The workshops are not included in the residency fee, but access can be arranged with their curators.
The residency apartment consists of two private bedrooms with separate studios, and five private bedrooms/studios. On the upper floor, all artists have access to large, shared project spaces. This is the perfect location for longer residencies, as it is a peaceful and quiet location. Korpúlfsstaðir allows artists to develop their research, focus on art projects, and gain easy access to workshop facilities.
Studio / Workspace
Seljavegur residency apartment offers artists bedrooms/studios where they work and sleep in the same space. There is also a shared project space in the basement available for bigger projects.
Korpúlfsstaðir’s residency apartment offers 5 bedrooms/studios where artists work and sleep in the same space, 2 rooms with separate studio spaces (on the top floor), and a shared project space. Korpúlfstaðir hosts two workshop studios - textiles, and ceramic.
Work equipment
Artists have to bring their own materials. The residency only provides living and working space. SÍM Residency artists are able to use all the equipment at our partners’ workshops. Availability and payment need to be arranged directly with workshop staff.
The residency can provide two projectors, speakers, headphones, screens and all essential equipment to install artworks at the gallery.
Fees and Support
Artists pay their own expenses including travel, insurance, and living costs.
SÍM Residency does not have a funding body and we are unfortunately unable to offer scholarships or stipends. It is advised that artists seek funding in their own countries since most Icelandic funding is especially for Icelandic projects or artists.
Benefits
For their stay in Reykjavik, each artist receives an SÍM Guest artist card which grants free access to most major art galleries and museums in Iceland, as well as giving discounts at multiple stores and visual arts suppliers.
Website link: SIM Residency | Iceland (sim-residency.info)
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