Deadline: Monday, August 31, 2026
Location: Kucku Residence, Loviisa, Finland
Residence Open Call
We are excited to announce an open call for one residency artist to collaborate with one local artist on a project on the theme of Activism. The open call is open to international artists of any nationality as well as local and Finnish artists for residencies of 1-3 months in March-December 2027.
Residence theme
The theme of the residence is Activism and the project can deal with activism in general, different methods used in activist work or specific issues adressed in activism around different aspects of human rights, minorities, democracy, peace or environmental issues.
Local artist
The local artist is mainly working in the fields of socially consciuos art, community art, photography, installation, and interventions in public space – but is open to collaborating in a project in other fields of art or in projects that combine different fields of art.
The local artist has previously worked with projects related to LGBT+ rights, environmental issues as well as general issues around democracy and the use of public space. They currently work on the theme of activism.
Read more about the local artist here or download their portfolio.
The joint project
Is planned collaboratively by the local artist and the selected artist.
Can involve any artform.
Applicants to the residency may outline the subjects and methods that they would like to develop for the joint project or propose one or several project ideas to discuss for the collaboration. The final project will be decided by the residence artist and the local artist together.
The project needs to include some workshops and presentations. It may, but does not have to be based on community processes.
The result of the work is to be shown to the local audience during or at the end of the residence.
Who can apply?
Contemporary artists of all fields of art as well as professionals of other fields interested in collaborating with an artist on an artistic project.
Artists of all nationalities and based anywhere in the world (including Finnish artists).
Residency Period
The artist will be selected for a residency period of 1-3 months between March 1st and December 31st 2027. The total length of the project will be 1-3 months. The minimum time for one residence artist is 1 month. Time in residence can be split into shorter periods, in this case additional travel costs will be at the artist’s own cost or
paid with external funding achieved by the residence artist.
Funded Residency Benefits:
Free Accommodation: A shared apartment with private rooms for up to 3 artists, along with a shared studio.
Travel Expenses: Less fossil fuel consuming travel (not flying) covered up to 400€. Flying covered only in exeptions (disabilities or extremly challenging route) please specify need in application.
Project Fee: 800€/month/person for residency artists and the local artist. The project fee is connected to work produced and shown during the residence; the fee may be paid by external parners and tied to specific workshops or other agreed activities.
Material Expenses: max 400€ for the joint project.
Comlimentary funding: Artists are welcome to apply for comlimentary funding from other funders on top of the provided funds.
About Kucku Residence (previously known as Art in Lov Residence)
Our major focuses at Kucku Residence is collaboration between local and residency artists and anchoring our projects in a local context including collaboration with local community and organisations. Our projects are based in Loviisa and presented to the local audience. We aim to broaden our horizons by supporting initiatives that leave a lasting impact. Residency artists will work locally and reside in Loviisa during their stay.
The residence provides free accommodation in a shared apartment with single rooms for each artist and access to a shared studio space. Please note that the residence space is not wheelchair accessible and is on the second floor with a narrow staircase. We will do our best to accommodate applicants with mobility restrictions (finding alternative spaces if needed), please specify accessibility needs in the application.
Artists are expected to actively participate in the production process, which includes practical tasks related to project arrangements, online activity, and the dissemination of information. Art in Lov Residence is an artist-run space with limited resources; while we offer support and guidance artists are responsible for their project’s
execution.
About Loviisa:
Loviisa is a small town on the coast of Finland, 100km east of Helsinki. The town has a bilingual community (finnish and swedish) and a dynamic art scene but no major art institution or higher education institution. The town center is small and surrounded by rural areas, the residence is in the town center.
How to Apply:
Fill in the application form: http://tiny.cc/kucku-opencall
In the application you descibe yourself as an artist including your interests and working methods. If you already have a idea for a project this can be included, but we do also accept applications without a specific project plan. Include your CV and portfolio and/or links to previous work.
You need to mention the duration of time you would prefer to spend in the residency/working with the project as well as possible times of residency, please note that minimum time is one month, maximum time 3 months.
It is possible to split the residency period in to smaller blocks, travel back and forth at own cost. It may be possible to bring family and pets, please enquire about this in application.
Selection Process:
One artist will be selected, aritst may be invited for a interview before final decision is made.
Artists will be selected by the curatorial board of Kucku Residence in collaboration with the local artist that will be working on the project. Invited guest curators may also be included in the process. The selection will be based on relevance to the theme, potential for collaboration and the suitability of the ideas methods and themes in a local context, originality and artistic merit.
Artists will be notified of the first round of selection by 30.9 2026, artists may be invited to a interview before final decision.
Info: kucku.fi / art@kucku.fi
