Nallenpolku 1 B
FIN-02110 Espoo
Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation initiated an international artist exchange programme in 1997. Since then, one of the ten studio apartments of the Tapiola Studio Building has been in use of resident artists. The Tapiola Guest Studio, designed for visual artists by Professor Aulis Blomstedt, provides a peaceful working environment for artists to develop their practice and an opportunity to get acquainted with Finnish artists and art scene.
The residencies are mainly self-directed. The Foundation offers practical assistance, contacts and guidance on the local art scene depending on the needs of the artist. The resident artist can also be offered a (virtual) mentor / peer meeting with an artist based in Finland. The Guest Studio can also be used for Open Studio events etc.
Terms of the residency, funding available (if appropriate) and application process varies depending on the specific residency programme.
In general, applicants are evaluated by peer review and selected on the basis of their submitted material. In addition to artistic merit, the jury also considers the work plan and the need of the residency / workspace and how the artist would benefit from the residency in Tapiola.
In Finland, the Tapiola Guest Studio and its residency programs are supported by funding from The Arts Promotion Centre of Finland and The City of Espoo.
The Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation is a member of the worldwide network of artist residencies Res Artis: resartis.org
Building, workspace and accommodation
Located in Tapiola, Espoo, eight kilometres from Helsinki, the Tapiola Studio Building is a semi-detached building with ten residential studios. The wooden building, designed by architect Aulis Blomstedt, was built in 1955. The units measure 83-100 m2.
The Tapiola Studio Building is situated in a park-like setting just beside Otsonlahti bay. Tapiola district is also known as a ”garden city” (for background reading, see ”Housing policy architecture and the everyday” . One can get from Espoo to Helsinki with metro.
The Tapiola Guest Studio has 83 m2 in total. The workspace is bright and 6 meters high; windows face north to provide even lighting. There is a wooden floor in the studio and walls have been painted white. The workspace is equipped with tables and an easel, and some other simple basic tools. There is also a printer-scanner and a designer monitor. Besides, there are 1-2 camera stands in the studio. However, there is no specific production facilities. If needed, through partnerships, the Foundation can connect the artist to some other local organisations providing access to diverse workshops etc. The studio has an Internet connection, Wi-Fi network. The Guest Studio includes also a kitchen, a bathroom and a sleeping loft (15 m2). The live/work studio is in private use of the resident artist. It is suitable also for an artist couple or artist duo. Sometimes also small artist families have been hosted in the studio; however, the staircases of the studio are not very safe for children. Due to the staircases, the physical environment of the studio cannot be considered barrier-free / accessible. There is also a sauna in the building.
Programs
Current artist exchanges
In relation to the Tapiola Guest Studio, the Foundation runs different type of residency programs. The residencies are arranged either with partner organisations or by open calls.
Espoo – Quebec Exchange
The programme offers residencies for Finnish visual artists in Quebec and for Canadian artists in Tapiola Guest Studio in Espoo. The exchange programme is co-organised by the Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation and Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec since 1998. The residencies are organised annually, the working period is in general for four months. In 2024, the host organisations in Québec is Méduse (In 2020 and 2022, the host organisation in Quebec was AXENÉO7).
Other cooperation
East Street Arts
In 2024, in partnership with East Street Arts, Foundation will offer an artist residency grant for one Finnish visual artist to work in East Street Arts in Leeds UK.
Ukraine Solidarity Residencies
In 2022-2024, Foundation has participated in the collaboration Ukraine Solidarity Residencies offering artist residencies for Ukrainian artists.
Artists at Risk
In 2024, Foundation has participated in Artists at Risk programme.
SIM Seljavegur
In 2022, in collaboration with SIM, Samband íslenskra myndlistarmanna / The Association of Icelandic Visual Artists, Foundation offered an artist residency grant for one Finnish visual artist to work in SÍM Residency Seljavegur
Espoo – Tokyo Exchange
In 2017, Foundation started a cooperation with Youkobo Art Space in Japan. The residency exchange offered annually two-month residency placements for Finnish visual artists in Youkobo Art space and for Japanese Tokyo-based artists in Tapiola Guest Studio in Espoo.
Open Residency Program
At Tapiola Guest Studio, the Foundation provides also an open residency program. Certain residency months or slots are reserved for artists selected through open calls. The available residency months can vary every year.
Applying
The resident artists are selected in two ways:
– Through artist exchange programs or by partner organisations
– Open calls for applications
Upcoming calls for applications and instructions will be published in the ‘Haettavana section’ of our website and on our social media channels. The application forms are made available online when the open call is active. We normally spread the word on the open calls also through international residency networks and through FAIRE Finnish Artist Residency Network.
The processing of the applications is based on the peer review; the reviewers are professional visual artists.
For the TAPIOLA GUEST STUDIO, an OPEN CALL for working periods May-August 2024 has been published on 14 April 2024. For summer residency season 2024, the residents are selected as soon as suitable residents are found. The residency places are intended for all nationalities, both artists living in Finland and abroad are welcome to apply for the guest studio. Read more about the open call
Read more about our resident artists