Organizer Information:

SÍM (The Association of Icelandic Visual Artists) runs the largest and most established international residency program in the Nordic region, welcoming around 200 artists and cultural practitioners from across the world to Reykjavík each year.

Title & Description:

Applications are open year-round for the SÍM Residency 2026.

This self-funded program offers stays of 1 to 3 months, providing a sustainable environment that fosters interdisciplinary exchange and cultural dialogue. The residency is highly communal and dynamic, culminating in an Artist Talk and a final Group Exhibition (which is also archived as a 3D virtual exhibition). The selection committee specifically welcomes proposals that respond to thematic focuses such as #sustainability, #ecology, #globalwarming, #postmodernsociety, and #icelandicculture.

(Note: Because the apartments and studios are located on upper floors accessed exclusively via staircases, the facility is strictly unable to accommodate children and is not wheelchair accessible).

Category:

Multidisciplinary.

(Visual arts, design, architecture, music, dance, performance, creative writing, curation, and scientific research).

Eligibility:

  • Who: Creators and art practitioners holding a minimum of a BA degree (exceptions made for highly professional self-taught artists).
  • Scope: International. Applicants must be proficient in English.

Program Benefits & Awards:

  • Workspace & Accommodation: A private bedroom and assigned studio space, plus access to a large 72-sqm shared workshop equipped with basic tools.
  • Perks: A SÍM membership card (granting free entry to major Icelandic museums and discounts at art supply stores), CV promotion, and an official invitation letter to aid in securing external funding or visas.

Application Fee:

Free to apply.

Program Costs:

  • Programme Fee: 50,000 ISK (non-refundable, payable upon acceptance).
  • Accommodation Fee: Ranges from 140,000 ISK (single room/studio) to 260,000 ISK (twin room/studio with private kitchenette) per month.
  • Artists are fully responsible for their own travel, food, materials, and living expenses.

Application Requirements:

Applicants must complete the online form using Google Chrome. The application requires a CV, a self-directed creative project proposal, and exactly three (3) images representing your art form/medium.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: Rolling (Applications are reviewed weekly year-round).
  • Residency Dates: 1 to 3-month blocks available throughout 2026.

Location:

Reykjavík, Iceland.

Contact Information:

Email: residency@sim.is