Applying for a Research Pavilion residency

Published 26.9.2022 | Updated 28.3.2023

What is Research Pavilion?

The Research Pavilion is an international and cross-institutional platform for processes, discussions, and collaborations in the field of artistic research, coordinated by Uniarts Helsinki.  

The Uniarts Research Pavilion (RP#5) will host a series of artist and artist-researcher residencies during spring 2023 and will culminate in an on-location event in June 2023 in Helsinki. In all, RP#5 will consist of several different modules and activities. This call concerns specifically the RP#5 residency program. 

The tagline for the Research Pavilion #5 is “Puzzled Together” framed by our current global challenges: the ecological sustainability crisis, post-pandemic reconstruction and geopolitical tensions. The pavilion aims to emphasize the continuum between experimental artistic practice and artistic research, as well as create spaces and opportunities for pluralistic research-oriented work within the arts. 

Read more about Research Pavilion

Residency options

Three distinct residency possibilities are offered within the Research Pavilion #5 residency program. One person or group can apply for only one residency within the RP#5 program: 

• 3-month production-oriented residencies at Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP) on Suomenlinna island, Helsinki 
• A 2-week co-reflective space for artists and artist-researchers at Kone Foundation’s Saari Residence in Mynämäki, a setting emphasizing ecology 
• Group residencies of 2-9 persons, up to 1 week in duration at the Uniarts Helsinki’s Kallio-Kuninkala Järvenpää unit

The residencies are intended for artists and artist-researchers, regardless of the institutional or freelance status, mode of practice or medium.  

HIAP Suomenlinna residency

The residency takes place on 17 April-17 July 2023.

Apply for three-month residency periods, with the following specifications: 

The Research Pavilion 2023 residencies at HIAP Suomenlinna offer a possibility for artists and artist-researchers to develop work over a three-month period in Suomenlinna, Helsinki. Two  three-month residencies at HIAP Suomenlinna are available through this Research Pavilion open call. The work-in-progress can be presented for audience and art professionals at the HIAP Open Studios event as well as the Research Pavilion events in June 2023. 

The residency at HIAP Suomenlinna includes accommodation and working space free of charge, a working grant of 40€ per day (approximately 1200€ per month), a production budget of 1000€ and travel costs. The residents will have access to HIAP facilities: HIAP Community Space, Project Space, library, workshop and equipment room. Residents can borrow HIAP’s equipment (video projectors, sound systems, etc) based on availability. HIAP arranges weekly residency community meetings, visits to local art institutions and meetings with local art professionals. Residents can book the Community Space for their self-organised events or gatherings. 

The residencies will take place at HIAP Suomenlinna atelier apartments which are 80 sqm each, furnished, and divided into a working space downstairs and a separate living space with bathroom and kitchenette upstairs. The atelier apartments can accommodate 1-4 persons. Family members are welcome in all our locations. Please note that pets are not allowed in the apartments. View images of HIAP Suomenlinna

The residencies will be granted through this open call. Applications involving 1 to 2 persons are eligible for the Research Pavilion 2023 residencies at HIAP. In case an artist duo is selected for the residency, the duo will have to share the budget (working grant + travel cost + production budget) which has been reserved for a single person. 

 More information about HIAP

Application for HIAP Suomenlinna

The application consists of a web form and one (1) attached pdf document. The application and pdf file must be submitted no later than 31.10.2022 at 23:59 (Finnish time). 

Please include these documents in one (1) pdf file: 

1. A short description of why and how you wish to take part in the Research Pavilion #5 residency program (max 1 page) 
2. A project plan (max 5 pages). The project plan must include a budget specifying production costs (up to 1000 €) and travel costs 
3. An artistic research portfolio (with links to max 15min of video/audio material, and/or max 5 pages of text/images) 

Information for the web form: 

1. How does your project relate to the Research Pavilion #5 theme: Puzzled together (300 words max). Read more about the Research Pavilion #5 theme
2. Title of and an abstract of the project plan (300 words max). Please note that the abstract may be used in the public communication of the Research Pavilion  
3. A short biography of the applicant (300 words max) 

Saari Residence, the Saari Well

Apply for a two-week residency for individual artists and artist-researchers coming together at the Saari Well. The residency takes place on 16.-28.5.2023.

Maintained by Kone Foundation, the Saari Residence is located in Mynämäki, Southwest Finland and serves artists of all disciplines and nationalities. At the Saari Residence, artists and researchers can focus on their work in a peaceful rural environment and share their thoughts and experiences with colleagues.  

At the heart of the Saari Residence is the Saari Well and an ecologically sustainable residency. The Saari Well offers an opportunity for the artists and researchers at the Saari Residence to meet, share ideas and develop potential new directions side by side with the other residents.  

The two-week residency at the Saari Residence includes accommodation with food expenses covered as well as shared workspaces. The Saari Residence organizes four discussions with dinner. Resident accommodation takes place in apartments for 1 to 3 persons with cooking facilities, shower and toilet.  The workspaces for artists at the residence are situated in an old stone barn, the Barn, which also houses a dance studio, three different-sized studios intended mainly for visual artists, a sewing machine and a woodwork shop. Some of the manor’s outbuildings can also be used as workspaces during the summer. The workspaces in the Barn are equipped with tables, and additional tables may be set up on trestles. The workspaces do not include tools or equipment. The residents have access to multifunction printer.  

1–3 of the residence participants’ projects may be displayed during Saari Open House Day at the end of May. The selected artists of the works will be paid an artist’s fee and material costs. In addition, the work-in-progress can be presented at the Research Pavilion events in June 2023. 

The Saari Residence is located in beautiful, historic surroundings and the rural milieu of the Saari Manor. Situated close to Saari Manor, the Mietoistenlahti bay is one of the most valued waterways for birdwatching and an important resting place for migrating birds. 

A limited budget is available for supporting travel and production costs related to the residencies. Applicants are requested to detail production and travel costs in their application. 

More information about the Saari Residence

Application for the Saari Residence

The application consists of a web form and one (1) attached pdf document. The application and pdf file must be submitted no later than 31.10.2022 at 23:59 (Finnish time). 

Please include these documents in one (1) pdf file: 

1. A short description of why and how you wish to take part in the Research Pavilion #5 residency program (max 1 page) 
2. A project plan (max 5 pages). The project plan must include a budget specifying the funding sought from the Research Pavilion #5. Please note that the available funding is limited and will cover only production and travel – related costs (up to 500 € in total) 
3. An artistic research portfolio (with links to max 15min of video/audio material, and/or max 5 pages of text/images) 

Information for the web form:

1. The title and an abstract of the project plan (300 words max). Please note that the abstract may be used in the public communication of the Research Pavilion 
2. How does your project relate to the Research Pavilion #5 theme: Puzzled together (300 words max). Read more about the Research Pavilion #5 theme
3. A short biography of the applicant, (300 words max) 

Kallio-Kuninkala residency

Apply for group residencies of 2-9 persons up to 1 week in duration at the Kallio-Kuninkala estate. The residency takes place on 8.-14.5. and 15.-21.5.2023.

The Research Pavilion #5 residency program for artists and artist-researchers involves Kallio-Kuninkala’s “Metsä-Kuninkala” house with full accommodation in individual rooms as well as two separate work spaces. The work spaces “Stable” and “Barn” are especially well suited for music and embodied practices, with precise acoustics and wooden floors. Metsä-Kuninkala also has large and comfortable spaces for group discussions indoors and outdoors. However, the site does not have workshop spaces for materially-intensive practices. 

The Kallio-Kuninkala Research Pavilion #5 residency call is especially intended for group work. Groups between 2 and 9 people are eligible, and up to two groups can be hosted on the site at the same time. The length of a group residency at Kallio-Kuninkala may be up to one week. 

It is possible to apply with an already constituted group or propose a concept that will lead to the formation of a group for the residency.  

Kallio-Kuninkala is a cultural estate with a distinguished and warm atmosphere in the unique cultural landscape of Lake Tuusula. As the Uniarts Helsinki Järvenpää unit, the site develops activities and spaces for students, teachers, and researchers, where they can feed their creativity and focus within a peaceful environment. 

The residents’ work-in-progress can also be presented at the Research Pavilion events in June 2023. A limited budget is available for supporting travel and production costs related to the residencies. Applicants are requested to detail production and travel costs in their application. 

More information about the Kallio-Kuninkala residency

Application for the Kallio-Kuninkala residency

The application consists of a web form and one (1) attached pdf document. The application and pdf file must be submitted no later than 31.10.2022 at 23:59 (Finnish time). 

The application is sent in by a contact person named by the group.  

 Please include these documents in one (1) pdf file: 

1. A short description of why and how the group wishes to take part in the Research Pavilion #5 residency program (max 1 page) 
2. A project plan (max 5 pages). The project plan must include a budget specifying the funding sought from the Research Pavilion #5. Please note that the available funding is limited and will cover only production and travel – related costs (up to 500 € in total) 
3. An artistic research portfolio (with links to max 15min of video/audio material, and/or max 5 pages of text/images per group) 
4. A short biography of the group participants (300 words max per person)  

Information for the web form: 

1. The title and an abstract of the project plan (300 words max). Please note that the abstract may be used in the public communication of the Research Pavilion 
2. How does your project relate to the Research Pavilion #5 theme: Puzzled together (300 words max). Read more about the Research Pavilion #5 theme

Selection process and criteria

The residencies will be granted on the basis of this open call. The selection criteria are detailed below. The notification of selection for the residencies will be announced in December 2022. The selection committee for this call will consist of representatives of Uniarts Helsinki (Mika Elo, Leena Rouhiainen, Otso Lähdeoja, Salli Berghäll), HIAP (Juha Huuskonen), and the Saari Residence (Leena Kela). 

The selection criteria are: 

• The quality and originality of the proposal in terms of artistic research 
• The feasibility of the proposed project, in regard to the given residency environment 
• The project’s link to the RP#5 theme “Puzzled together” 
• The quality of the artist or artistic research portfolio 

Insurance disclaimer

For all the residencies of this open call, insurance and medical coverage for the duration of the residency are the responsibility of the individual participating residents. 

Contact information about the residencies

For any inquiries, please contact: researchpavilion@uniarts.fi