We are happy to announce our yearly open call for the Ars Bioarctica residency programme at the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station for 2024–2025.

The emphasis of the Ars Bioarctica residency programme is on the sub-Arctic environment and art & science collaborations. Previous Ars Bioarctica fellows have spent their residencies, for example, researching snow, darkness, bacteria and lichen, working on projects varying from screenwriting to photography and from filmmaking to soundscape and dance. We welcome applications from artists, scientists and interdisciplinary research teams from all over the world, in all stages of their careers. We hope to receive applications from people of all backgrounds. You can find the application form at the bottom of this page.

This opportunity is not financially supported. We do provide support in the form of a local mentor and invitation letter. The Biological Station offers the residents the same possibilities and infrastructure as its scientists and staff: a combined living and working environment, an internet connection, a sauna, access to scientific equipment, laboratory facilities, the library, and a seminar room as well as the usage of field equipment.

The recommended residency period is two weeks or a month, but other periods are also possible. We strongly encourage the chosen applicants to travel to Kilpisjärvi by land (for example, the train) to reduce the environmental impact of the journey.

The room prices at the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station for Bioart Society members

The room prices at the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station for non-members

The deadline for applications is 15th of February 2024. The chosen artists are informed during March 2023. To apply, please fill the form at the end of this page. If you have any inquiries, please send an email to opencall@bioartsociety.fi.

Ars Bioarctica

Ars Bioarctica takes place in the facilities of the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, located in the Sápmi region of Finnish Lapland. Sápmi is the cultural region traditionally inhabited by the nomadic Sámi people, and it covers areas from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The Bioart Society has organized the Ars Bioarctica residency programme since 2009 with the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station of the University of Helsinki. We also offer financially supported residencies whenever possible and organize other programme which falls under the Ars Bioarctica umbrella.

Kilpisjärvi is a village with a little over 100 inhabitants on the border of Sweden and Norway. Kilpisjärvi has a subarctic climate bordering closely on an alpine tundra climate with only one month above the 10° C (50° F) threshold. Summertime is typically cool and rainy with crisp nights. Winter is very long, dark, cold, and snowy, beginning in October and lasting to May most years. Kaamos, a phenomenon known as polar night, typically lasts from late November until mid-January. During this time, there is no sunrise. The opposite phenomenon, the polar day or midnight sun, when the sun never sets, takes place in the summer months. Kilpisjärvi is the best place to see the Northern lights in Finland.

We would like to note that the booking status at the Station differs based on the cycles of the year; sometimes the Station hosts multiple researchers and scientists at the same time, but during some periods there might only be staff members and visitors around.

Those applying should also note that even as the Bioart Society supports the resident artists in different ways, this residency opportunity expects a bit more independence – than some other residencies do – from those applying as our staff is not working on the site. On the other hand, this also allows you room to work in ways and rhythms best suited for you. Other things to note is that there are no hospitals or doctors on-site at Kilpisjärvi; the closest hospital/doctor is located in Rovaniemi, which is over 400 km away. The Kilpisjärvi village does have a small pharmacy (at the gas station) from which you can buy pain killers and other similar recipe-free products.

You can read more about what to pack and take into consideration when traveling to Kilpisjärvi during the colder months in the blog post by a previous Ars Bioarctica fellow and Bioart Society member Jérôme Le Mest.

To learn more about the residency overall, check out the blog entries by our previous residents on our website. You can find more information about the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station on their website.

Photo: Teemu Lehmusruusu