The Arctic Culture Lab runs two residency facilities, one on the Northwest coast of Greenland, a second one on the very top of Norway. Both programs strive for the goal to facilitate a knowledge exchange between residency artists and local knowledge bearers. During a two to three month stay we support, inform and motivate artists to reflect on the vulnerability of the Arctic coastal culture as an initial aspect for artistic research.

Residency Arctic Norway:
https://www.arcticculturelab.no/air-program/air-arctic-norway/

Residency Greenland:
https://www.arcticculturelab.no/air-program/air-greenland-2022-23-arctic-realities/ 

https://www.arcticculturelab.no/air-program/air-greenland/

How can performers, visual artists, musicians or interdisciplinary artists reflect on the vulnerable North and bring this message to their homeplaces? How can the observation of a constantly changing culture influence the artistic way of thinking? Local communtities in the high North face major challenges responding to social-ecological changes which result in an instant adaptation to changes in natural condition and governance frameworks. According to the Arctic Human development Report Arctic societies have a well-deserved reputation for resilience in the face of change. However, the reasons for social resilience in these societies and why this strength is more present in some communities than others are still unclear. Here, where researchers and scientists couldn`t define inidicators, artists could open up new viewpoints, which in return help the locals to reflect on the process of change they are -involuntarily- involved. The capacity to change to maintain identity, as E. Carmack (2012) describes the ability to cope with disruptive shocks in Arctic marine systems, makes it literally impossible to define a certain period or even time-frame as traditional or even as heritage. Instead, coastal culture is an instantly changing phenomenon. The impossibility to define a traditional or authentic form of coastal culture based on the knowledge of Sami and Inuit peoples implies a huge potential for artistic reflection since artists are representatives of an ever-changing aesthetical value and show a broader understanding for the benefits of changes.

No application deadline. Please send your CV and a motivation letter which underlines why you want to visit one of our residency programs: let us know how your stay at our place could possibly contribute to your artistic development and how you, as an artist or curator, could give something back to the local community.

Please take note that our residency programs are only partly supported, costs for accommodation and travel arise. We are able to provide you with a letter of intent which might strengthen your application at further funding bodies.

Don`t hesitate to contact us at info(at)arcticculturelab.gl