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The SÍM Residency is an international self-directed artist-in-residence program in Reykjavik, Iceland. The main objective of the residency is to provide a venue for international artists to take part in the Icelandic art scene, thereby creating a broader context within which local and international artists can experience their own work.  

 

The SÍM Residency seeks to promote an environment of reflection, research, study, and play by providing artists with a working environment that supports the artistic process.  

 

Artists can stay for a period of one to three months and are accepted based on their project proposal and work examples. A bachelor's degree in fine arts or similar qualifications is required. The residency program includes two public events: artist talk and open studios. Additional events like solo exhibitions at SÍM Gallery, educational workshops, or collaboration projects with local art schools or kindergartens can also be organized. 

 

SÍM Residency is a sustainable residency without receiving state grants. Visiting artists pay a residency fee between 500,00€ and 850,00 € per month. This meets the minimum cost of running the residency program. The fee includes accommodation, studio space, and, where applicable, access to technical facilities.

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Open calls

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SÍM Residency open call applications are open twice a year:

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From 1st till 31st December for the period July – December  

From 1st till 30th June for the period January – June   

  

*additional announcements for rooms/studios availabilities due to cancellations are available with our newsletters, and applications for short notice availabilities are accepted throughout the year. To receive the latest news please subscribe to our newsletter.  

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Duration of Residency

 

1-3 months

Granted residency is from the second to the last day of the relevant month.

 

Application Requirements 

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The SÍM Residency is a self-directed art project-based residency and requires a project proposal as well as work examples. 

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Disciplines 

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All visual arts mediums (painting, sculpture, engraving, photography, drawing, illustration, mixed techniques, sound art, installations, comic strips, performance, textile arts, or any other form of related expression) are accepted , including cross-disciplinary art project proposals. SÍM Residency also welcomes curators and art writers for research-based projects.   

Qualifying applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in fine arts or similar qualifications.  

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Events/activities  

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SÍM Residency self-directed artist-in-residence program includes an introduction meeting, two public, and two private events. All event dates are announced one month before the residency program begins.   

All events are optional, only the introduction meeting is mandatory.   

  

Introduction meeting  

Type: private meeting  

Participation: mandatory  

Time: beginning of each month 

Location: both residency locations   

  

Artist talk   

Type: public event  

Participation: optional  

Time: beginning of each month  

Location: SÍM meeting and coffee house - Korpúlfsstaðir, Thorsvegur 1 112 Reykjavik

   

Group dinner  

Type: private gathering  

Participation: optional   

Time: after artists’ talk 

Location: SÍM meeting and coffee house - Korpúlfsstaðir, Thorsvegur 1 112 Reykjavik

  

Open Studios  

Type: public event  

Participation: optional  

Time: the end of month  

Location: both SIM Residency locations   

  

*each applicant is welcome to propose ideas for individual lectures, workshops, talks or other artistic activities.  

*SÍM Residency collaborates with local kindergartens and art schools where educational workshops can be organized. 

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Accommodation

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Currently, SÍM is hosting two residency locations in Reykjavik; Seljavegur,  and Korpúlfsstaðir. Each place is unique and can offer different type of experiences. 

 

Seljavegur - is situated in the western part of Reykjavík city center in one of SÍM's most popular local artist`s studio spaces. In 2019 the residency apartment was moved to the second floor of the building for practical reasons, however, the magnificent view over the ocean towards Snæfellsjökull (Snaefellsnes Glacier) is still able to be enjoyed.  

 

Seljavegur 32 is 10-minute walk from the old city center of Reykjavík. Close by are libraries, museums, galleries, bus stops, supermarkets, a hardware store, swimming pools, cinemas, the University of Iceland, restaurants, etc. The Residency apartment consists of 9 private single bedrooms/studios, one private single bedroom with a separated individual studio, and one double bedroom/studio. The central residency location allows artists easy access to libraries, museums, and galleries. It is a perfect residency location for research-based art projects. Every month Seljavegur residency can host up to 11 artists, which makes the shared space active, alive, and vibrant. Perfectly suitable for shorter stay residencies.  

  

Korpúlfsstaðir residency is situated 10km from the city center in the eastern outskirts of Reykjavík with a beautiful view to Mount Esja. It is surrounded by one of Reykjavík's popular golf courses, inspiring hiking trails, and long walks by the seashores.   

 

Close by are city bus stops, supermarkets, a hardware store, swimming pools and a cinema. Korpúlfsstaðir houses 40 studios for SÍM artists, as well as a textile workshop, and ceramic workshop. The workshops are not included in the residency fee, but access can be arranged with their curators.   

 

The residency apartment consists of two private bedrooms with separate studios, and five private bedrooms/studios. On the upper floor, all artists have access to  large, shared project spaces. This is the perfect location for longer residencies, as it is a peaceful and quiet location. Korpúlfsstaðir allows artists to develop their research, focus on art projects, and gain easy access to workshop facilities.   

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Studio / Workspace 

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Seljavegur residency apartment offers artists bedrooms/studios where they work and sleep in the same space. There is also a shared project space in the basement available for bigger projects.    

 

Korpúlfsstaðir's residency apartment offers 5 bedrooms/studios where artists work and sleep in the same space, 2 rooms with separate studio spaces (on the top floor), and a shared project space. Korpúlfstaðir hosts two workshop studios - textiles, and ceramic.  

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Work equipment 

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Artists have to bring or buy their materials. The residency only provides living and working space. SÍM Residency artists can use all the equipment at our partners' workshops. Availability and payment need to be arranged directly with workshop staff.

The residency can provide two projectors, speakers, headphones, screens and all essential equipment to install artworks at the gallery.

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Fees and Support

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Artists pay the monthly residency fee and their personal expenses, including travel, insurance, and living costs.   

SÍM Residency does not have a funding body, and unfortunately, we cannot offer scholarships or stipends. It is advised that artists seek funding in their own countries since most Icelandic funding is especially for Icelandic projects or artists.  

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Benefits

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For their stay in Reykjavik, each artist receives an SÍM Guest artist card, which grants free access to the most prominent art galleries and museums in Iceland, as well as giving discounts at multiple stores and visual arts suppliers.