DEADLINE: 1 JANUARY 2026, 15:00 (GMT +2)

This residency is for artists working in contemporary visual and interdisciplinary practices, who are currently based in Palestine or are of Palestinian descent.

The residency is supported by the Ukraine Solidarity Residency Programme, and the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.

The residency is realised as part of an exchange with Ramallah Municipality, HIAP Helsinki International Artist Programme and Sumud. For Finland based artists to undertake a residency in Ramallah, please refer to this call out.

Residency Period and Locations:

13 April – 6 July 2026 Residency at HIAP, Helsinki. Two locations are available:

Suomenlinna Island
Cable Factory

See further details on both below.

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY

HIAP (Finland), Sumud (Finland) and Ramallah Municipality (Palestine) invite emerging and established Palestinian artists to apply for a three month residency in Helsinki, during Spring 2026. The residency does not require the production of new works, or an exhibition output. There is the option to develop an exhibition proposal as a result of the residency, which could be presented at HIAP from 2027 onwards. The focus of the residency is to provide time and space to temporarily lean away from the intensities of daily routines, to focus on artistic research and to begin a collaborative dialogue with the local art scene.

The residency is supported by the Ukraine Solidarity Residency Programme (USRP) and the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. USRP has supported Ukrainian and Ukraine-based artists and art professionals who have been affected by the war in Ukraine. In 2026, the USRP network wishes to show solidarity by expanding this offer to artists based in Palestine or of Palestinian descent.

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

HIAP has been delivering residencies for international artists in Helsinki since 1998. We work across two locations in Helsinki – Cable Factory, a multi arts centre on Helsinki mainland, and Suomenlinna, a UNESCO world heritage site island located approximately 15 minutes by boat from Helsinki mainland. Annually we welcome up to 50 artists to undertake residencies in Helsinki. HIAP also programmes Gallery Augusta, located on Suomenlinna, which is a platform for international and Finland based artists.

Sumud – The Finnish Palestine Network is an intersectional organisation that works in Finland for ending Israeli apartheid, occupation, colonialism and genocide and for the realisation of Palestinian human and political rights. As part of the global movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people, its goal is to end Finnish support for Israeli colonialism and apartheid and turn it into support for democracy, decolonisation and human rights. Sumud’s work has received awards from the Gender Studies discipline at the University of Helsinki, the Finnish Women’s Association Union and the Research Workers’ Association. The awards statements highlighted Sumud’s determined and tangible efforts to promote intersectionality and decoloniality, as well as its recognition of the feminist dimensions of the question of Palestine.

Ukraine Solidarity Residencies Programme (USRP) was started in March 2022 by a group of independent art organisations who joined together to pool resources, share information and offer residencies and accommodation for Ukrainian and Ukraine-based artists and art professionals that have been affected by the war in Ukraine. The aspirations of the collaboration are to promote solidarity by establishing sustainable support networks and finding the means for Ukrainian artists to continue their practices. USRP is coordinated by HIAP.

Mammarat (“Paths” in English) is an international residency program administered by the Ramallah Municipality and established in 2016. The residency has been suspended for the past two years due to the genocidal war on Gaza and on Palestine as a whole. The program aims to develop strategic partnerships with residencies that share its social, political, and human values. Finland-based artists wishing to undertake a residency in Ramallah are invited to consult this call.

Traveling to a city under occupation is never a matter of ordinary routes or familiar procedures, as “ordinary” and “normal” do not reflect the lived realities in Palestine under Israeli occupation. Mammarat provides international artists with the opportunity to explore, experience, and reflect upon the conditions of a resilient city living under occupation.

For Finland based artists wishing to undertake a residency in Ramallah, please refer to this call.

RESIDENCY CONDITIONS

• Travel to and from the artists home (1 trip)
• Working grant of €3000

ABOUT THE RESIDENCIES

Selected artists have the option of either staying at Cable Factory, or on Suomenlinna island.

Suomenlinna

Located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Suomenlinna is a 15 minute ferry ride from Helsinki city centre.

The artist will be provided with a Residency Apartment and separate shared working space in HIAP’s main building.

The Residency Apartment (30 sqm) are furnished living spaces with kitchenette, desk space and private bathroom, accommodating up to 2 adults.

Cable Factory

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

The artist will be provided with a combined living and working studio (63 sqm) which includes kitchenette, sleeping loft, and private bathroom. The studios are suitable for two adults or small families.

Accessibility for the residency sites is available here.

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

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 (eg projectors, sound systems) is available to borrow.

ACCESSIBILITY

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

A separate access budget is not available for the residency.

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.

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 who are LGBTQIA+, disabled* and/or from working class or low socioeconomic backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

*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.

WHO CAN APPLY

This call is for professional Palestinian contemporary artists who are residing in Palestine or the diaspora.

HIAP will provide support with the visa application process but, in the current geopolitical circumstances, success of individual visa applications cannot be guaranteed.

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 (up to 250 words)
• Work Plan (up to 250 words)
• Portfolio / examples of previous work (max 10 images or 3 video / audio files) provided as an external link (no upload optional available).

Application Language is English

Application Deadline: 1 January 2025, 15:00 (GMT +2)

DECISION MAKING AND TIMELINE

A panel which includes representatives from each partner organisation and independent artists / cultural workers will make the selections. The Jury will meet between 13 – 16th January after which you will hear from us on the next steps.

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 a residency?
• Relevance: would the residency have a potentially meaningful impact on the local art scene?
• Topicality: does the focus of the proposal resonate well with topical issues?

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

The final selection will be made based on the highest scoring applicants against the above criteria.

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 application:

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 with a lack of 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.