Organizer Information
Narva Art Residency (NART) is a cultural platform founded in 2015, facilitating residencies, art exhibitions, talks, and educational workshops. It is located in Narva, on the Estonian-Russian border, at the historic Kreenholm site, in a historicist villa originally built for the director of the Kreenholm Textile Manufacture — once the largest textile enterprise of its kind in Europe, founded in the mid-19th century. NART is operated by the Estonian Academy of Arts in collaboration with Narva Gate, and is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture. The founding agreement was signed in 2015, following the impetus of artist Tõnis Saadoja's 2014 exhibition at the site, and the residency celebrated its 10th anniversary in September 2025. Its 2025 Finno-Ugric creative residency call — the first edition — drew 131 applications, reflecting strong ongoing demand. The 2026 edition of this program is organized in partnership with the Department of Fashion Design of the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA), Estonia's national university of art and design in Tallinn.
Title & Description
2026 Finno-Ugric Creative Residency in Narva
NART is opening its second call for a Finno-Ugric creative residency, taking place in late 2026 in collaboration with the Department of Fashion Design of the Estonian Academy of Arts. The residency invites artists and creative practitioners with roots in or strong ties to Finno-Ugric peoples to create a contemporary art project inspired by Finno-Ugric cultures. The first edition, held in 2025 as part of the Narva Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture programme, selected artist Weronika Trojanska to work on the theme of lament songs; the organizers describe that edition as demonstrating art's capacity to build dialogue and strengthen cultural identity, particularly for small Finno-Ugric peoples whose identities have been continuously threatened by Russia's actions, and for diaspora communities losing touch with their heritage.
The 2026 edition introduces new elements alongside the core format: beyond producing an original artwork, the selected artist will work closely with EKA's Department of Fashion Design, delivering an open lecture and two workshops for fashion design students. The residency also expects direct engagement with the local Narva community, including presenting the resulting work.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Fashion
- Multiple Disciplines
- Performance
- Sound/Music
- Theatre
- Residency
- Culture
Eligibility
- Open to artists and creative people with roots from or strong ties to the Finno-Ugric peoples
- Open across creative fields including visual art, music, theatre, and performance
- Applicants must be from a country eligible under the Erasmus+ programme (see the linked eligible countries list)
- The residency is granted to one artist (individual, not stated whether collectives may apply)
- The application must be completed in English
Program Benefits & Awards
- Erasmus+ per diem allowance of €170 per day, totaling €1,700 for the 10-day residency period, covering accommodation, daily costs, and other residency-related expenses
- Accommodation provided at the NART building at a rate of €45 per day (€450 for the residency period)
- Additional Erasmus+ support covering costs toward production of the artwork
- Travel cost reimbursement provided separately and in addition to the per diems, following Erasmus+ programme guidelines, with the amount depending on the distance between the artist's place of domicile and Narva, Estonia
- Collaboration with the Department of Fashion Design of the Estonian Academy of Arts, including delivering an open lecture (1.5 hours) and two workshops (5 hours and 1.5 hours) to fashion design students
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 10 August 2026
- Selected artist announced: late August 2026
- Residency period: November 23 – December 6, 2026 (10 days)
Location
Narva, Estonia
Additional Details
- The residency is supported by the Erasmus+ programme, which shapes both eligibility (applicants must come from an Erasmus+-eligible country) and the structure of financial support (per diems and travel reimbursement following Erasmus+ guidelines).
- Expectations for the artist-in-residence include: producing a unique contemporary art project introducing Finno-Ugric culture in a new and engaging form; willingness to involve the local Narva community and to introduce and present the resulting work; and engagement with EKA fashion design students through a workshop and an open lecture connected to Finno-Ugric cultural topics.
- The call includes a photo credit — by Jelizaveta Gross — from an exhibition curated by Piret Puppart, suggesting visual reference material tied to a past or related NART exhibition.