Verpėjos (The Spinners) is inviting interdisciplinary artists to a two-month artistic residency in the Kabeliai village in Lithuania, from 1 June to 31 July or from 1 August to 30 September 2026.
Verpėjos ‘Creative Pastures’ residency programme will invite interdisciplinary artists to work on their own proposed art research project in our given frame, conditions and aims: to explore and rethink the themes of traditional rural lifestyle and nature conservation, to empower discourse on processes and changes both locally and globally. Three selected artists will stay and work in a homestead with traditional log house, a courtyard, garden, and various outbuildings, living for two months together and sharing the responsibility of shepherding the herd of 40 sheep.
The sheep need to be let out to graze twice everyday, kept from wandering into other people’s territories, and given water.The sheep get up early, go out to graze when it is not hot, and come home at noon. The second time they need to be taken out in the evening. The three artists in residence at the time will share the responsibility of shepherding the sheep, each having to spend 2 to 4 hours a day in the company of sheep.
The residency offers an authentic rural experience and the opportunity to work closely with the local people and neighbours – small farmers, naturalists and craftspeople – who will be happy to share their skills and knowledge.
All interdisciplinary artists of every race, gender identity, age or cultural background who are legally residing in the Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Åland) or the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) are welcomed to apply. Two artists from Lithuania and four from the Nordic Region and Estonia and Latvia will be invited.
Each participant will receive:
- A grant of 1,400 EUR
- Travel grant 400 EUR (except artists from Lithuania)
- 200 EUR for materials
- Living and working spaces
