Open call to Fair Sculpture residency programme
The residency programme offers two Academy of Fine Arts alumni opportunities for artistic work in a school setting.
There are two residencies open: 2.5 months both at the Matinkylä and the Viherlaakso upper secondary schools. The residencies will start in September 2024 and end in November 2024. The residencies are funded.
Deadline for applications is 5 June 2024 at 23:59.
Who can apply?
The residency is open for Academy of Fine Arts alumni currently based in Finland. To be eligible to apply, the applicant needs to be an alum when the residency starts in autumn 2024, meaning that students graduating during the spring semester 2024 are also able to apply.
What is included in the residency?
In addition to being provided a free working space, each artist is paid a monthly salary (EUR 2,200/month) and a material grant (EUR 500). The contract is made with Uniarts Helsinki.
How to apply?
Application
Please complete a free-form application and send it via email to Frank Brümmel at frank.brummel@uniarts.fi. The application can be written in English or in Finnish. Deadline for applications is 5 June 2024 at 23:59.
The application must include:
- First and last name
- Contact information
- Answers to the following questions:
- What are you examining in your artwork? What would you like to focus on during your Fair Sculpture residency?
- What excites you about holding an art residency at a school?
- In which languages do you feel comfortable expressing yourself?
As the residency will take place at a school with children under the age of 18, after being selected, the applicants are required to present a criminal records extract to the rectors of the schools. The extract is required for all persons working with children. Read more about obtaining a criminal records extract.
Process timeline
- Application period begins on Wednesday 22 May 2024 and ends on Wednesday 5 June 2024 at 23:59.
- Shortly after the deadline, there will be interviews with the top candidates.
- The final selection will be made the week following the interviews.
- Residencies start in September 2024 and end in November 2024.
The jury consists of Andy Best, Aura Kotkavirta and Frank Brümmel.
What is the Fair Sculpture residency programme?
Fair Sculpture is an intergenerational and multidisciplinary artistic community project. As a part of the project, artists are selected to a residency programme, where they will carry out their professional practice within a school environment.
The project aims to empower children and young people. The focus is on young people who do not normally have the opportunity to meet professional artists and participate in different kinds of cultural events. Furthermore, the project aims to give the participating artists an opportunity to create and work in a vivid learning environment.
Willingness to share one’s artistic practices and experiences as a professional artist with students in this school setting – directly and indirectly – is appreciated. The selected artists should furthermore be aware of the experimental format of this project.
In autumn 2024, the project features the Matinkylä and Viherlaakso upper secondary schools. Selected artists will be provided with their own private work studios at the schools.
The spacious studios can be accessed during and outside of school hours, but not around the clock. In return for the use of the studio, the artists will hold an open studio one afternoon a week. Other types of exchange can be agreed upon between the artist and the school at the start of the residency. Use of other technical facilities such as workshops, computer class, and video studio is possible upon agreement.
During the residency, the artist is expected to use the studio provided as their principle working space and be present regularly at the school. The idea is for the artist to be present in the school environment in the role of a professional artist. The artist is encouraged to organise workshops, artist talks, or other kinds of events as well. The exact nature of the collaboration will depend on the artist and their practice.
At the end of the residency, the artists will be asked to write a report and provide documentation on the work resulted from and during the school residency. They will also be invited to give feedback on the residency format and suggestions for its future development.
Learn more about the Fair Sculpture project
The core goal of Fair Sculpture is to provide young people with low-threshold opportunities to interact with a professional artist, to see how they work, and experience the art they create. In turn, Academy of Fine Arts graduates have the opportunity to share their professional art practice with a new audience.
The Fair Sculpture residency programme at the Matinkylä and Viherlaakso upper secondary schools is funded by Talent Boost and supported by Espoo City Cultural Office. Outcomes will be studied in Frank Brümmel’s doctoral artistic research project, as well as discussed in academic papers by Fair Sculpture project group members.