The Culture for All Service has launched the project ‘Making space for artistry - equality for disabled artists and artists who are Sign Language users’. The two-year project is funded by the Kone Foundation. In cooperation with the Aine Art Museum, it will organise artist residencies from July to December 2022 and produce exhibitions in Tornio and Haparanda. The organisers are now looking for artists – from anywhere in the world – to work in the residency and participate in exhibitions with their works. The aim is to make working in a residency possible especially for disabled artists and artists who are Sign Language users.
The intent is to have the residencies be as accessible and flexible as possible, respecting individual needs, so that artists can focus on what is essential – that is, artistic work. A maximum of four artists will be selected for the residencies, and it is also possible to apply as a working pair.
The content of the work is the artist’s own choice and no form of art is excluded. The work and exhibition spaces are suitable for example for works of visual art, sound art, media art, photography, and comics as well as for three-dimensional works within the constraints of the space. Instead of an exhibition, the artistic result can also be realised in another form, for example as an event, a work presented outside the museum space or a performance. The Viippola residence in Tornio is reserved for residency accommodation and work. Accessible accommodation and work facilities are also available at the Swedish-Finnish Folk High School in Haparanda. There are also work spaces at the Haparanda Library, Haparanda Railway Station and at the exhibition space Jala in Haparanda.
At the end of the residency period, each artist will be offered the opportunity to hold an exhibition in different premises in Tornio and Haparanda (Galleria Tila in Tornio, Rajala Shopping Center, Haparanda Library, Haparanda Railway Station, exhibition space Jala in Haparanda). In 2023, a group exhibition of all those who worked in the residency will be held at the Aine Art Museum. The exhibition can feature both works made during the residency and earlier works. The exhibition is co-curated by the Aine Art Museum and the Culture for All Service.
The duration of the residency is two months. Working at the residency can take place between July and December 2022. It is not necessary to stay in the residency for the full two months. The artists will receive Kone Foundation’s artist grant that will be paid for a total of four months (2500 euros / month or 3000 euros / month for a more experienced artist) for the duration of the residency and the production of the exhibitions. The artist pays 15-20% of the artist grant as statutory insurance premiums. Kuvasto remunerations are paid for the exhibitions if the artist is Kuvasto’s member. An exhibition fee will be paid to the artists for the exhibition at the Aine Art Museum. In addition, travel and material expenses will be reimbursed with a separately agreed amount.
