Artica Svalbard

Are you interested in a residency at Artica Svalbard?

OCA is a key partner of Artica Svalbard, one of Norway’s leading not-for-profit residency foundations. Based in Longyearbyen, Svalbard is a place for thinking slowly in a fast changing world.

As key partner we are responsible for nominating artists for their residency programme and supporting them curatorially, as well as playing an active role in other projects as part of Artica Svalbard’s vision. In 2019, OCA co-curated Artica Listens.

Artica Svalbard’s values are to think, challenge and inspire:
Working with Svalbard’s natural cycle from the midnight sun to the polar night, we place great emphasis on deep thinking around some of the most pressing issues of our time. Challenging the perspectives of the polar regions and welcoming knowledge we don’t have, in order to inspire change.

Artica Svalbard provides accommodation, travel and a per diem plus access to a studio space, print workshop and introductions to the local community. Residents are nominated based on invitation by OCA with a minimum stay of six-weeks. Annual selections are made in August for residencies the following year.

Fewer residents, longer stays, deeper thinking.

Challenging the idea of residencies as temporary, Artica will work closely with the key partners to support the artists, writers and researchers that come to Svalbard. Their physical stay is temporary, but the experience, friendship and knowledge (shared and gained) grows.

If you have an interest in the polar regions and/or the global perspectives, conversations and issues emanating from the high north, then we would love to hear from you.

Expressions of interest are open for a minimum stay of six-weeks at Artica Svalbard in 2025. If this is of interest to you and you would like to participate or learn more, please contact OCA team member, Itzel Esquivel.

How to apply:

For residencies in 2025, OCA is open to receive expressions of interest from visual and performance artists around the world from now and until August 9th 2024.

In addition to your portfolio or website, it would be great to receive a short description on why Svalbard is, as a location, an important element for your residency and/or project (beyond the inspiration this place can offer).

If you already have a project proposal, that would be even better. You can look at previous residents nominated by OCA, such as: Jessica MacMillan, Susan Schuppli, or Nikhil Vettukattil, you can find that the location was an essential part for their practices.
This should be emailed as a PDF.

After the deadline, OCA will select 3 artists to be Artica residents in 2025.
The duration of the residency is minimum 6 weeks, and the dates are located according to your schedule and Artica’s accommodation schedule.

Artica Svalbard cover flight tickets, accommodation, and basic expenses through a per diem.