“Varkaus – a European Heritage Label site: industrial cultural heritage, landscapes, built environment, people and stories of the region”
About the Residency
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.
Duration of residency
A month
Accommodation
- A one-month private residency in April 2027
- Access to a shared studio (including a print press for printmakers)
- A peaceful environment conducive to focused work
- Support from our friendly staff throughout the residency
- A 350-euro artist grant, made possible by the Toini Markkanen Foundation
The residency is self-directed. Artists work independently, but the Taideniitty staff assists with practical matters and warmly welcomes everyone.
Disciplines, work equipment and assistance
We are seeking two professional artists (a painter and a graphic artist) for a one-month residency in April 2027.
Residency Theme: "Varkaus – a European Heritage Label site"
Varkaus is a unique Finnish industrial town where industrial history, nature, and contemporary urban life intertwine. During the residency, artists are encouraged to explore and interpret the region's industrial cultural heritage, landscapes, built environment, people, and stories through their own artistic practice. The theme serves as inspiration, not a limitation.
Studio / Workspace
Our spaces allow you to create a wide range of graphics, alone and together. The Graphic Workshop is available to professional graphic designers. The 50 m2 workspace shares a professional graphics press and basic graphics equipment.
Graphics tools: FUMIGATOR, manual deep-drawing press (Halepress M80) 80X140. Acid sink for ferric chloride. Only non-toxic methods are used. Equipment (included in the price). Maculate paper and tarlatan. Compura + pencil syringe. Materials for hard ground and aquatinting. Chalk powder and tile cleaners. You must have your own drawers and tools, we can buy colours, linocutters, etc.
There are lockers on the premises where you can put your own tools for the duration of the work period. You can also leave your own work to dry.
Fees and support
The Artist's Own Expenses:
The artist is responsible for:
- travel expenses
- living expenses
- materials needed for the work
Expectations towards the artist
The free residency and the €350 grant from the Toini Markkanen Foundation come with the condition that the artist organize a mandatory community event. This could be, for example, a meet-and-greet with the artist, a lecture, a performance, a small exhibition, etc., depending on the artist's own preference.
Application information
The application must include:
- CV
- a portfolio or a link to a website
- a short letter of motivation
- a work plan describing how the applicant intends to address the residency's theme
Please submit applications by email to: taideniitty@gmail.com
Subject line: Toini Markkanen Foundation
Selection results will be announced during the fall of 2026 by the end of November.