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Taideniitty Residency Program
The Taideniitty Artist Residency offers a peaceful working environment for professional artists seeking time and space for creative work. Located in the historic industrial town of Varkaus, in the heart of Lake Saimaa’s natural landscape, the residency provides an inspiring environment where nature, cultural heritage, and contemporary art converge.
Varkaus is a European Cultural Heritage Site.
Artists from various fields—such as visual artists, photographers, graphic artists, writers, musicians, performing artists, and practitioners of interdisciplinary approaches—are welcome to apply for the residency. Although the residency is open to artists from all fields, its particular focus is on graphic arts and visual arts. Artists-in-residence at Taideniitty have the opportunity to focus on their own research, experimental work, or ongoing projects.
Sense of Community
Artists-in-residence are encouraged to participate in local cultural life through, for example, artist meetups, workshops, or open studios. Any public events are planned in collaboration with the residency staff, based on the artist’s interests and the starting points of their work.
The Taideniitty Residency emphasizes artistic freedom, intercultural exchange, and meaningful encounters between international artists and the local community. The residency is particularly well-suited for artists who value a peaceful, focused work environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The residence includes
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Accommodation + free WI - FI
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At the beginning of the residency, basic kitchen equipment (coffee, tea, salt, sugar, oil, basic spices)
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Parking (electric car charging and heating socket to be agreed separately)
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Use of the collective studio "Collective", with a graphics press and basic supplies, etc.
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Private, one-hour sauna shift per week in our courtyard sauna
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Possibility to wash, dry and iron your own clothes
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Possibility to change linen and towels once a week / on your own if necessary.
The artist is responsible for their own travel, living, and material expenses.
Equality and equity
Equality and equity at Taideniitty means that all people visiting and working at Taideniitty are equal to each other. It means non-discrimination, but it also means that Taideniitty's activities, services and environment are developed in a way that takes account of people's diversity. There is zero tolerance for racism of any kind at Taideniity.
Useful Links
What the residents say
Gary DeMichele, Chigago USA
The necessary pieces required to host a proper residency were all there, support, environment, attentiveness and positivity. An added bonus for me was also, the positivity of the other residents, whose own endeavors I found to be interesting, motivating and all at an accomplished level.
I would definitely recommend this residency and have every intention of returning to it.
Suva, Helsinki / Intia
I really enjoyed working in the residency here where the space for thinking and action merge with ease. A great place to explore one's own creativity into forms. The people here are kind and wonderful. The place and space has lots of potentiality to create interesting art projects and pieces.
Timo Tolonen, Runni, Iisalmi
I am extremely pleased with my residency period at Taideniitty. Perfect concentration and warm-hearted people in a good relationship. The place itself is also fascinating.