Organizer Information

The Estonian National Museum (ERM) is one of the foremost cultural institutions in Estonia, dedicated to preserving and interpreting the nation’s cultural heritage, material culture, and social history. Its collections encompass extensive archives—including over 400,000 photographic works—spanning from the 19th century to the present day. ERM engages in research, exhibitions, public programming, and international collaborations that explore cultural memory, identity, and visual anthropology.

Title & Description

International Artist Residency – Estonian National Museum The Estonian National Museum International Artist Residency offers four selected artists the opportunity to work closely with the museum’s extensive photographic archive, covering material from glass negatives to contemporary digital images. Over a six-month residency, participants will conduct research, collaborate with peers, and co-produce a joint exhibition staged in the museum’s temporary exhibition hall (742 sqm). This residency prioritizes critical engagement with photography as both a visual and cultural archive, encouraging residents to explore photographic media through the lens of memory, representation, social structures, and archival practices.

Categories

  • Photography
  • Research
  • Visual Arts
  • Exhibition
  • Interdisciplinary Arts
  • Curatorial Practice
  • Archival Studies / Visual Anthropology

Eligibility

  • Artists, researchers, and practitioners with a substantive engagement in photography, visual anthropology, archival research, or hybrid practices.
  • Open to international applicants; proficiency in English is required.
  • No academic degree or prior archival experience is mandatory, but relevant background in cultural studies, ethnology, semiotics, film, or related fields is welcomed.

Program Benefits & Awards

Selected residents will receive:
  • Creative Grant: €10,000 per resident.
  • Accommodation & Transportation: Support during co-working periods and exhibition installation.
  • Production Support: Financial backing for exhibition costs (subject to approval).
  • Institutional Access: Full access to ERM’s photographic archive with expert support.
  • Professional Support: Collaboration with the museum’s exhibition architect and production team.
  • Exhibition Opportunity: Co-creation of a public exhibition within ERM’s temporary exhibition space.

Application Fee

None

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following materials:
  • CV (maximum of 2 pages).
  • Portfolio showing relevant work samples.
  • Role Statement that explains the applicant’s position and suitability.
  • Research Proposal outlining key questions, methodology, and engagement with archival material.
  • Contact Information and any required identifiers (e.g., email). These materials are submitted through the designated online application link.

How to Apply?

Online Application

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 28 February 2026
  • Resident Selection Notification: 27 March 2026
  • Residency Period: 1 May – 30 September 2026
  • Exhibition Opening: 25 November 2026
  • Exhibition Run: 25 November 2026 – 4 July 2027

Location

Tartu, Estonia

Additional Details

  • This residency focuses on research-based artistic practice that engages with photography as a medium of cultural memory.
  • Residents are expected to collaborate with museum staff and other participants throughout the research and exhibition development stages.
  • The project spans both research and public presentation, culminating in a jointly developed exhibition.
  • Professional skills in critical analysis, visual theory, and collaborative creative practice are essential.

Website Link: https://www.erm.ee/en/residency