Organizer Information:
The Saari Residence, maintained by the Kone Foundation, is an international residence located in a culturally and historically significant countryside setting in Mynämäki, Southwest Finland. The residence's long-term activities are underpinned by an ecological approach that encompasses social and psychological sustainability.
Title & Description:
Applications are open for the 2027 Residency Program.
The Saari Residence offers artists a peaceful rural environment to focus on their work. The residency keywords are slowness, insight, and change. There are no obligations for exhibitions or performances.
(CRITICAL NOTE FOR 2027: A major renovation project will be underway at Saari Manor. Separate working spaces will be out of use. Fewer residency places are available, and artists will work directly in their apartments. Therefore, 2027 individual residencies are primarily suited to "clean" work conducted at a desk. Minor noise disturbances may occur on weekdays).
Category:
Multidisciplinary Arts.
Eligibility:
- Who: Individual professional artists, artist duos, fiction writers, poets, translators, composers, curators, critics, and artistic collectives (3-10 people) of all disciplines and nationalities. (Researchers, non-fiction writers, and students are NOT eligible).
- Experience: Open to artists at all stages of their professional life, from emerging to established. Priority is given to interdisciplinary, new, or non-mainstream themes.
- Language: The working language of the residency is English.
Program Benefits & Awards:
- Individual/Duo Grants: A monthly grant determined by experience (€2,700 / €3,200 / €3,800 per month) to cover living and travel expenses for the 2-month stay.
- Collective Grants: Each group member receives €800 per week for the 2–4 week summer stay.
- Travel Support: Applicants from the Global South can apply for specific support covering flights and visa fees. All others are strongly encouraged to apply for ecological travel support (avoiding flights where possible). Travel support must be requested within the initial application.
- Accommodation: Private apartments for individuals (with a basic kitchen, shower, and toilet). Collectives will share accommodations during the summer. One apartment is wheelchair accessible.
- Professional Development: Two remote mentoring meetings are offered during the individual residency periods (September–April).
Application Fee & Program Costs:
- Application Fee: Free to apply.
Application Requirements:
Submit the electronic application form via the online service, including:
- A work plan.
- CV(s).
- Portfolio.
- Certificates (if applicable).
- A travel plan (especially if applying for travel support).
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the online portal linked on the Kone Foundation website.
Key Dates:
- Application Window: March 1 – March 31, 2026 (4:00 PM Finnish time / UTC +3).
- Notification of Results: June 17, 2026.
- Individual Residencies (2 Months): Jan-Feb, Mar-Apr, Sep-Oct, or Nov-Dec 2027.
- Collective Residencies (2-4 Weeks): June to mid-August 2027.
Location:
Saari Manor, Mynämäki, Southwest Finland.
Contact Information:
Email (Applications/Residency): pirre.naukkarinen@koneensaatio.fi (Pirre Naukkarinen)
Email (Artistic/Media): leena.kela@koneensaatio.fi (Leena Kela)
Website: Saari Residence Open Call