--- title: SÍM Residency Reykjavík – Open Call for 2026 description: >- Self-funded 1–3 month artist residency at Seljavegur 32 in downtown Reykjavík, with private or shared studio, accommodation, artist talks and group exhibitions. url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/5ba06c2b-c211-4718-89d5-b899900072b7' type: program status: open createdAt: '2026-09-04' updatedAt: '2026-09-30' programType: Residency organization: SÍM Residency organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/sim-residency' deadline: '2026-11-30' location: 'Seljavegur 32, Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland' isOnline: false compensationRange: >- No stipend or scholarship: artists pay a 50,000 ISK residency programme fee plus accommodation from 140,000 ISK per month, and cover their own travel, insurance, living expenses, materials and equipment. disciplines: - visual arts - design - architecture - music - dance - performance art - creative writing - curation - cultural work - scientific research --- # SÍM Residency Reykjavík – Open Call for 2026 **Hosted by:** SÍM Residency **Type:** Residency | **Location:** Seljavegur 32, Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland | **Deadline:** November 30, 2026 ## About This Program > "Sustainability, ecology, geology, environment, Icelandic culture, Nordic languages, global warming, nature and postmodern society" The SÍM Residency invites artists and cultural practitioners to apply for its self-funded Artist-in-Residence Programme 2026 in downtown Reykjavík. Rooted in the Icelandic art scene and open to the world, SÍM Residency offers time, space, and context for artistic research, reflection, and exchange. The programme supports practices that engage with place, material, ecology, language, and contemporary cultural conditions – encouraging slow processes, experimentation, and dialogue. Residents live and work at Seljavegur 32 in downtown Reykjavík, within a shared yet independent environment, with access to private and communal studios, public moments of exchange, and presentation formats that foreground research as much as outcome. The residency unfolds through: Orientation and collective introduction; Public Artist Talks; Group exhibitions and shared presentations; Ongoing engagement with Reykjavík's artistic community; A digital exhibition archive extending beyond the physical stay. Artists may join the programme for one to three months. The open call runs year-round, with applications reviewed weekly. We welcome proposals that respond to questions of sustainability, ecology, geology, environment, Icelandic culture, Nordic languages, and postmodern society – while remaining open to diverse disciplines, methodologies, and forms of inquiry. SÍM Residency is a sustainable residency without receiving state grants. Visiting artists pay a residency programme fee of 50.000 ISK (single fixed fee for duration of the programme) and monthly accommodation fee from 140.000 ISK per month. This meets the minimum cost of running the residency program. The fee includes administration, a residency program, accommodation, and studio space. ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Geographic Eligibility:** International - **Disciplines:** visual arts, design, architecture, music, dance, performance art, creative writing, curation, cultural work, scientific research - **Note:** Applicants must hold a BA degree as the lowest level of education to be eligible; exceptions may be made for self-taught artists who demonstrate high professionalism in their artistic practices, supported by a compelling CV and project proposal. English is the primary language of communication, so applicants must be able to understand, speak and write English. Artists with children cannot be accommodated due to safety regulations and staircase-only access to the second-floor apartments. Facilities are not accessible to individuals with disabilities. The minimum stay at the residency is three months; artists seeking stays shorter than one month are not eligible to apply. Individuals highly sensitive to social engagement or navigating challenging periods are encouraged to consider their application carefully, as the residency is a shared, socially dynamic living environment. Applicants must demonstrate respect towards SÍM staff and fellow artists; abusive or harassing behaviour results in disciplinary measures including immediate eviction. ### Additional Requirements Complete the online application form (Google Chrome recommended); applications by email are not accepted. Provide a CV with education, latest activities and, if applicable, residency programmes and a list of grants. Provide a self-directed creative project proposal for an art project or research, explaining how you plan to use the granted residency period, your research fields, possible outcomes, and why you in particular need to join the residency programme. Attach three images representing your art form and the medium closely connected to the proposed project. Duos or groups should name one leading member as the primary contact and list all other co-artists' names and websites in the Notes. ## Compensation & Benefits No stipend or scholarship: artists pay a 50,000 ISK residency programme fee plus accommodation from 140,000 ISK per month, and cover their own travel, insurance, living expenses, materials and equipment. Artists are required to pay the residency programme fee (50.000 ISK, single fixed fee for the duration) and accommodation fees (from 140.000 ISK per month). In addition, artists are responsible for their own travel, insurance, and living expenses. SÍM Residency does not have a dedicated funding body and cannot offer scholarships or stipends; artists are strongly recommended to seek funding in their home countries. All selected artists receive an official letter confirming their participation, which may support applications for external funding. ## What's Provided - **Housing:** Provided - Residency apartment and studios at Seljavegur 32 in the western part of Reykjavík city center. The apartment includes 18 private bedrooms, a mix of private and shared workshop spaces, and a large open project area used for events and group exhibitions. All residents share common facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms and showers. Accommodation is paid by the artist from 140,000 ISK per month. Apartments are on the second floor with staircase-only access. - **Studio Access:** Provided - Each artist is provided with a private or shared working space, depending on availability and the artist's preference. Additional external public workshops or professional artist-run studio workshops are also available; extra fees may apply and are paid directly to the workshop hosts. SÍM Residency can help artists connect with external professional workshops and facilities such as sculpture studios, Fab Lab, ceramics workshops, dance studios and sound recording facilities. ## Timeline - **Opens:** September 4, 2026 - **Deadline:** November 30, 2026 - **Program Start:** March 3, 2026 - **Program End:** December 31, 2026 ## How to Apply Apply at: https://www.sim-residency.info/apply