OPEN CALL:Scholarships for Nordic-Baltic Textile Artists in Iceland 2021-22

The Textile Center residency in Blönduós, northwest Iceland, seeks to promote an atmosphere of creativity, experimentation and reflection for artists and scholars working inside the textile field. We accept submissions from emerging, mid-career, and senior level artists and scholars all year round (open call).

In 2021/2022, we award two textile artists based in the Nordic-Baltic region with a 2-month scholarship each to develop and present new work in Iceland, lead a community workshop, connect to international networks and gain insight in Icelandic textile tradition and innovation.

This opportunity came via Nordic Culture Point / the Nordic Baltic Mobility Programme.

Duration of residency

There are two different types of residencies to choose from:
– one “regular” residency in 2021 (January – December, with the exception of June – just apply for the two months best suited for you)
– one Tc2 digital loom residency in early 2022 (January-February), offering access to the Textile Center’s digital loom.
Residencies always start on the first and end on the last day of a given month.

Accommodation

Artists in residence stay stay in private bedrooms at the Textile Center and have access to communal living space in Kvennaskólinn. Artists working on the TC2 digital loom stay stay in a private bedroom located in a house right next to Kvennaskólinn, where the loom is located. All artists have access to studio and work facilities in Kvennaskólinn, including the loom and dye studio.

Disciplines, work equipment and assistance

We welcome a variety of techniques and methods within textiles, including weaving, digital weaving, fashion design, surface design, embroidery, knitting and felting.  Artists in residence have access to a loom studio, dye studio, open plan work space, and other tools and equipment.
Artists should bring all materials required for their residency projects. While we do have looms and studio space for dyeing and felting projects, we do not provide wool, yarn, dyes, etc. We do have communal shelving in the studio where the community and previous residents have donated some items such as, but not limited to: fabric, paint, wood, wire, yarn, thread, sewing needles, etc. These communal supplies vary from month to month.
Work space also also includes a small gallery across the street. The Textile Center does not offer classes and does not regularly organise or facilitate exhibitions, but artists in residence are very welcome to initiate skill-shares, an open house or their own exhibitions.

Studio / Workspace

The Textile Center Residency provides artists in residence and visiting scholars with access to shared studio and work space (loom studio, dye studio, open plan work space) and other tools and equipment.
Artists should bring all materials required for their residency projects. While we do have looms and studio space for dyeing and felting projects, we do not provide wool, yarn, dyes, etc. However, we do have communal shelving in the studio where the community and previous residents have donated some items such as, but not limited to: fabric, paint, wood, wire, yarn, thread, sewing needles, etc. These communal supplies vary from month to month.
Work space also also includes a dye studio and small makeshift gallery across the street. The Textile Center does not regularly organise or facilitate exhibitions, but artists in residence are very welcome to initiate an open house or their own exhibitions.

Fees and support

Scholarship packages include:
Travel to and from Iceland (Blönduós), up to 660 € per artistAccommodation in Kvennaskólinn for two months: Each scholarship holder is provided with his/her own bedroom equipped with a small desk and scenic view, access to studio facilities and open plan workspace in the communal studio Production / work stipend, 1500 € per artist per stay. Work stipend for workshop: up to 500 € per artist per stayAccess to gallery space for group / solo exhibitions & the facilities of FabLab in nearby SauðárkrókurTc2 residency: Access to the Textile Center’s Tc2 digital loom (terms and conditions apply)

Expectations towards the artist

Applicants must be working directly with textile/fibre arts, have a professional arts CV, be based in a Nordic country (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Faroe Islands, Greenland) or Baltic state (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and attend with a textile based process or project. Artists may present with a group and / or solo exhibition. Applications concerned with textile innovation, public engagement, and exhibition plans will be highly regarded.

Application deadline: 2020-10-31

Application information

Artists can apply using the application form on our website, www.textilecenter.is. Please make sure to include a CV and reference the scholarship in your project proposal.