Deadline: Monday 14 September 2026, 13:00pm (GMT+3)

For Finland-based artists to undertake a residency in HIAP Cable Factory for 3 months.

Residency Periods:

WINTER 7 January – 4 April 2027

AUTUMN 16 August – 14 November 2027

About HIAP Residencies

HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme invites Finland based artists and arts practitioners of all disciplines to apply for 3 month residencies in Winter or Autumn 2027 at our studios in Cable Factory, Helsinki.

HIAP residencies offer time and support for artists to develop new work as part of an international community of artists. We encourage experimental, cross-disciplinary practices across all art forms.

Residencies are self-directed and process-oriented, allowing for open-ended research and experimentation. There is no obligation to produce finalised work.

These residencies are aimed at artists currently based in Finland who would benefit from temporary access to a live / work studio in Helsinki. You may be without a studio currently, in need of a larger space or looking to relocate for a temporary period to the city.

All residents are welcome to join the HIAP Artist in Residence programme during their residency at Cable Factory, including attending afternoon coffees and other programmed activities during the residency period. This includes the opportunity to participate in HIAP Open Studios.

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Residency Conditions

• The residency is free of charge — HIAP does not charge a fee to the residents.
• HIAP does not provide working grants / stipend, production budgets, or travel funding.
• If Residents need to seek external funding for the residency, HIAP can supply letters of support for applications.

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Cable Factory

HIAP offers live/work studios at Cable Factory, Helsinki’s largest cultural complex, housing numerous creative professionals and organisations:

• Studios (~63 sqm): include combined living and working areas, kitchenette, sleeping loft, and private bathroom. Suitable for two adults or small families.
• Family members are welcome in all HIAP residences.
• There is one pet friendly studio in Cable Factory.

All residents have 24/7 access to HIAP community facilities on Suomenlinna such as the Community Room, Project Space, Equipment Room, and Wood Workshop. Some Equipment (e.g., projectors, sound systems) is available to borrow.

More information about the residency programme and the facilities is available here: https://www.hiap.fi/residency/

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Residency Activities

Residents can choose to take part in activities organised by HIAP during their residency period. These activities include:

• Welcome lunch with all newly arrived residents and local guests, with an opportunity to present your practice.
• Weekly afternoon coffees in HIAP’s Community Room to check in with fellow residents and hear from visitors to HIAP’s premises.
• Trips and visits to openings and events taking place in Helsinki: the HIAP Residency Team will gather and share weekly roundups of events happening in the city.
• Open Studios with an opportunity to share works in progress: this is one of HIAP’s most popular events that takes place towards the end of the residency season and provides an opportunity to celebrate.

HIAP also hosts and organises events and exhibitions in its own premises, and in collaboration with local partners which Residents are warmly welcome to.

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Inclusion and Diversity

HIAP is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment.

• HIAP’s Safer Spaces Policy is available here.
• HIAP Staff and Residents agree to abide by a Code of Conduct, which is available here.
• People from the global majority*, who are LGBTQIA+, disabled** and/or from working class or low socioeconomic backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

*Global majority is a collective term for people of Indigenous, African, Asian or Latin American descent.

**This includes but is not limited to those who define as disabled people, as people with long term health conditions, as deaf, Deaf, neurodivergent or in relation to their health-related access requirements.

Accessibility

Accessibility information for the residency site is available here.

If you would like any further information about accessibility, or would like to discuss your access requirements in advance of making an application, please contact office@hiap.fi. Please note HIAP is not able to offer an access budget.

Within the form there is a dedicated section where you can include information about your access requirements. You can also choose to upload an Access Rider separately. This will not be included in the jury process and will be treated with strict confidence. You do not have to declare your access requirements in advance of making the application and there will be further opportunity to share this following selection.

Unfortunately information about this Open Call is not currently available in other formats such as large print, International Sign Language or audio formats. We hope this will change in the future. If this is a barrier for you, please contact us on office@hiap.fi and we will do our best to support you.

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Who Can Apply

This call is for artists living and working in Finland. Calls for international artists will be released soon. Artists and arts practitioners from all disciplines are welcome to apply.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the online application form. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Required materials:

• Brief outline of your professional background and biography (up to 250 words)
• Motivation statement including why a residency at this point in time would be valuable for you (up to 250 words)
• Which residency season you would prefer (you can select both options)
• Website or Portfolio / examples of previous work as an external link (no upload option available).

Applications and supporting documents should be written in English.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2026, 13:00PM (GMT +3)

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Selection Criteria

The jury will evaluate the applications based on the following criteria:

• Motivation: does the applicant make a strong argument as to why they want to undertake the residency?
• Relevance: would the applicant make a meaningful contribution to the residency community?
• Topicality: does the focus of the proposal resonate well with topical issues?
• Diversity: does the applicant consider diversity within their practice and / or how would they contribute to the diversity of the HIAP residency programme in terms of practice and lived experience?

Quality of applications will be assessed across multiple areas including relevancy, originality and distinctiveness, rigour, presentation, vision and impactfulness.

The final selection will be made based on the highest scoring applicants against the above criteria, and balance across the HIAP programme.

Due to the volume of applications, individual feedback cannot be provided. However we will endeavour to summarise the key jury discussion points and share with all who applied.

A note on the use of AI in the applications:

As a principle, the use of AI in development of applications is not an issue and we recognise how important AI is as an access and inclusion tool. Unfortunately, we have found in recent open calls that AI is being used to generate the content of applications (as opposed to supporting the writing and editing process), and this has often resulted in proposals which lack voice and authenticity. 

We reference this not to demonise the use of AI in application processes, but to encourage applicants who are using AI to consider how they can maintain their own unique voice within their proposals and avoid weakening their individuality.