International artists working with time-based media and emerging technologies can apply for a funded residency in Reykjavík focused on preservation research, public engagement, and collaboration with museum specialists.
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The Funded Artist Residency Iceland 2027 is now accepting applications through the National Gallery of Iceland. Hosted in Reykjavík as part of the European project CUSP: Creative Understanding, Saving and Preserving Time-Based Media Art, the residency supports artists whose practices engage with time-based media, emerging technologies, and digital artistic processes. The selected artist will spend up to four weeks working alongside museum professionals and preservation specialists while developing a public workshop or masterclass for local audiences. Applications close on 3 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
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Funded Artist Residency Iceland Snapshot
What: International artist residency focused on time-based media art, preservation research, and public engagement.
Who: International artists based outside Iceland who reside in eligible Creative Europe participating countries and whose practices involve complex media, emerging technologies, or related interdisciplinary approaches.
Where: National Gallery of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Award / Support: Accommodation; Working space; Travel and subsistence stipend; Artist fee; Possible access to hardware and software according to project needs and institutional resources.
Application Fee: FREE
Residency Duration: Up to four weeks in early 2027.
Deadline: 3 September 2026, 23:59 GMT.
Official Link: https://www.listasafn.is/en/art/news-vasulka-stofa/
Get The Strategy Coach Notes: https://www.patreon.com/pformart/posts/strategy-coach-163432701
Get the Application Strategy
This residency asks applicants to connect their artistic practice with questions surrounding the preservation of contemporary media art. Applicants must submit an artistic statement, a motivation letter, a proposal for a public Open Lab workshop or masterclass, a portfolio, and a CV. Together, these materials should demonstrate artistic direction, technical understanding, and the ability to communicate methods to a broad audience. Contemporary Performance members receive Strategy Coach Notes that examine reviewer priorities, application structure, and practical approaches to preparing a stronger submission.
About the Funded Artist Residency Iceland
The National Gallery of Iceland developed this residency through CUSP: Creative Understanding, Saving and Preserving Time-Based Media Art, a Creative Europe cooperation project dedicated to advancing the preservation of time-based media artworks. The initiative brings together museums and cultural organizations from Iceland, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Norway, and the Netherlands to examine how contemporary artworks dependent on changing technologies can be documented, maintained, and preserved for the future.
Rather than emphasizing production alone, the residency places preservation research at the center of the experience. During the residency, the selected artist will work with museum staff and a specialist in time-based media conservation to discuss the conceptual, technical, and practical requirements of preserving their work. These conversations contribute to the broader objectives of the CUSP project while helping artists reflect on the long-term life of their practice. The residency concludes with a public Open Lab workshop or masterclass developed in collaboration with the National Gallery, creating an opportunity to share artistic methods and research with local audiences.
What Is Offered
The residency combines research, professional exchange, and public programming rather than focusing solely on studio production. The selected artist will spend up to four weeks in Reykjavík working with specialists whose expertise centers on the preservation of time-based media art. The program provides practical support for the residency while creating opportunities to discuss artistic processes, technical requirements, and long-term conservation strategies.
The National Gallery of Iceland lists the following support:
- Accommodation for the duration of the residency
- Working space throughout the residency
- Travel and subsistence stipend
- Artist fee for participation in the Open Lab
- Meetings with a preservation specialist or conservator specializing in time-based media art
- Public Open Lab workshop or masterclass developed with the museum
- Possible access to hardware and software depending on project requirements and institutional resources
Who Should Apply to The Funded Artist Residency Iceland
This residency is intended for artists whose work raises questions about the preservation of contemporary media practices. The call specifically welcomes artists working with generative artificial intelligence, custom sensors, blockchain technologies, software-based artworks, physical computing, sound, video, and hybrid physical and digital practices. Artists whose work combines performance, installation, computation, or interactive technologies may also be strong candidates if preservation is an important consideration within their practice.
Applicants should also be comfortable discussing their work publicly. Every resident is expected to contribute an Open Lab workshop or masterclass that introduces audiences to their artistic methods and research. The strongest applications will demonstrate a thoughtful relationship between artistic practice, technological process, and public engagement.
Funded Artist Residency Iceland Timeline
Application Deadline: 3 September 2026, 23:59 GMT
Residency: Up to four weeks during early 2027. Final dates will be arranged with the selected artist.
Why The Funded Artist Residency Iceland Matters
Many artist residencies provide time and space to develop new work. This residency offers something less common by placing artists in direct conversation with professionals responsible for preserving contemporary media art. As digital technologies continue to evolve, artists increasingly face questions about software obsolescence, changing hardware, documentation, and the long-term accessibility of their work. The residency creates an opportunity to examine these issues alongside museum specialists while contributing to an international research initiative supported through Creative Europe.
For artists whose practice depends on technology, these conversations can influence future production methods, documentation strategies, and exhibition planning. The residency also provides a public platform through the Open Lab while connecting participants to an international network of institutions working with time-based media art.
Apply
Applications must be submitted through the official National Gallery of Iceland application portal before 3 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Official Information and Application: https://www.listasafn.is/en/art/news-vasulka-stofa/
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