The applications are now open for the ISSP Riga photography residency 2025 (May - December)!  Ongoing since 2018, the ISSP Riga Residency provides an opportunity for concentrated work on personal research or photography/art project informed by interaction with Riga and its residents, or much-needed time to rethink and complete ongoing work. We welcome photographers and artists interested in researching and exploring the local social and cultural context and connecting to ISSP platform of activities and other contemporary art and culture actors in Latvia. We encourage knowledge exchange and are happy to support any topical interactions with local photographic/artistic community, our students, teenagers, or other local inhabitants. In 2025, the residency programme is run in collaboration with two Latvian contemporary culture organisations - kuš! komikss and TUR telpa. The residency apartment will thus be shared with other comics artists or visual artists. The residency is supported by the State Culture Capital Programme. Who can apply? ISSP residency programme is open for photographers and artists working with photography or any type of image - based art. There are no limitations regarding age, background or photographic style of the participants. The residents will be accepted based on the strength of their portfolio, residency calendar, and possibilities for local engagement. NB! We will offer a fully funded 1 to 2 month residency to one Ukranian photographer - please see Residency for Ukrainian Artists for more information and applications.

Duration and timing 1 to 2 months. The programme is planned in full month slots, from 1st to last day of the month. Longer stays are recommended if you plan to develop locally-based work. Expences The stay in the residency apartment is free of charge. The residents will receive up to 200 EUR compensation of travel costs and other expenditures. The participants are responsible for other costs of their stay in Riga.

What we offer:  - stay in a beautiful centrally-located residency apartment in Riga, - access to the ISSP local network and introduction to Riga art and contemporary culture scene, - support in your research and project implementation, - regular contact with a friendly local coordinator, - a possibility to use library, printer, and extra equipment at the ISSP premises, - a possibility to meet with the local community at an artist talk, to organise a pop-up exhibition, a small workshop, or other events as mutually agreed. - an official invitation letter that you can use to apply for public funding.

What we expect from the residents: - to work on their artistic project in Riga / Latvia for the period of the residency, - to be open to interact with the local audience in the form of an artist talk or other public event, - within one month upon the completion of the residency, to send us a selection of images produced for publicity purposes.

Accommodation and facilities The artists-in-residence will reside in a fully equipped, spacious residency apartment close to the city centre (Brīvības Street 190, Riga), shared with 3 other residents. Each artist will have a private bedroom with a working table, and have access to a shared living room, fully equipped kitchen and 2 bathrooms. Other facilities: wi-fi, scanner, bicycle. Accessibility: The apartment is located on the 3rd floor, there is no elevator in the building.

TO APPLY  Fill in this APPLICATION FORM attaching a link to your portfolio and the idea of a project you would like to work on during the residency. Application deadline: 9 March 2025. 

Website link: https://www.issp.lv/en/residencies/issp-riga-residency