Saari Residence, Finland 2022

At the Saari Artist Residency (Finland), professional artists of all disciplines and nationalities can focus on their work in a peaceful rural environment and share their thoughts and experiences with colleagues. The two-month artist residency periods run from September to April, with eight Saari Fellows staying at the residency at a time. From May to August, the Saari Residency is reserved for intensive group work. Individuals staying at the artist residency receive a monthly grant, and groups may apply for a group residency grant and support for the travels. In addition, they encourage applicants to apply support slow travel (avoiding flying).

The residency awards working grants for the residency recipients. Also, you can apply for support for slow travel if you are coming to Saari Residence from outside of Finland and travelling out of Finland when leaving. If the journey takes more than a week in total, it is possible to also apply for a work grant for the journey. Slow travel refers to avoiding flying and other ecologically unsustainable means of transport. The Saari Residence offers a grant and also three studios, dance studio, and workspaces for writers. Each individual residency guest has their own apartment with basic amenities and their own, private workspace that they do not have to share. During the summer group residencies, the groups stay in more shared accommodations, but each are provided with their private workspace.

The awarded individual residency place includes a monthly grant. The size of the individual monthly grant varies depending on experience. The grant is intended for living and travel expenses as well as other costs. Working and living at the Residence for 42 days/residency period is a prerequisite for receiving the grant. Individual residency grant classification:

• Grant 1: beginning of career €2,500 /month
• Grant 2: mid-career €3,000 /month (min. 10 years of artistic work)
• Grant 3: experienced artist €3,600 /month (min. 20 years of artistic work)

If the applicant applies for grant 2 or 3, the applicant must provide justification for the experience on the application form. The grant classification cannot be justified e.g. with the need for supplies or travels.

The residence support for groups is granted for the number of persons and the plan stated in the application. Each member of a group working in the residence is granted a residence grant to cover their cost of living, and it is calculated according to the number of weeks they spend at the Residence. Also, groups can apply for support for travels for their members if they are coming to Saari Residence from outside of Finland and travelling out of Finland when leaving. For ecological reasons, they recommend for work groups travelling from outside Finland to apply for support for slow travelling and also to apply for longer group residency period. If the journey takes more than a week in total, it is possible to also apply for a work grant for the journey. Working and living at the Residence for awarded residency period is a prerequisite for receiving the support. No support for supplies, daily allowance or salary is paid for group residencies. Living costs for the workgroups:

• 1 week - €750 € / person
• 2 weeks - €1,500 / person
• 3 weeks - €2,250 / person
• 4 weeks - €3,000 / person

For their application, the group must itemise their residence grant in the slot marked for it in the application.

Submit your proposal through the online grant service, with deadline of 31st March 2021. Applications cannot be sent via email or outside the online service. Please read the guidelines carefully before applying.