We are happy to announce our yearly open call for the Ars Bioarctica residency programme at the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station for 2025–2026.

Ars Bioarctica fosters projects focused on the subarctic environment that participate and contribute to discussions about the relations of humankind, more-than-humans and the natural world. 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 researchers 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.

Ars Bioarctica is a self funded residency and is best suited for independent working and projects. Bioart Society can not provide financial support but hosts an info session and offers a manual, a local mentor and an invitation letter for the selected applicants.
Kilpisjärvi Biological Station offers the resident fellows the same possibilities and infrastructure as its scientists and staff. This includes access to scientific equipment, laboratory facilities, the library and seminar room, and the usage of field equipment. The resident fellows are also welcome to the combined living and working environments, and can use internet connection and sauna.

The recommended residency period is two weeks or a month, but other periods are also possible. The residency needs to be commenced earliest in September 2025 and latest in December 2026 – please only apply if this timeframe works for you. We strongly encourage the chosen applicants to travel to Kilpisjärvi by land (for example, the train) to reduce the environmental impact of the journey.

Please note the room prices stated below are prices for 2024. There will most likely be a slight increase in the prices in 2025. In previous years, the annual raise of prices has been approx. 30-50 euros.

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 19 January 2025. All applicants are informed of the selections by March 2025. 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 Sápmi, a cultural region traditionally inhabited by Sámi people, stretching across the national borders of 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 connected to projects funding whenever possible and organise other activities at the Station which fall 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, scientists and visitors at the same time, but during some periods there might only be staff members around.

Those applying should also note that even though Bioart Society supports the resident artists in different ways, this residency requires a bit more independence than some other residency programmes as our staff are 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. We will also provide selected candidates a suggestive packing list, but expect those chosen to also do their own research regarding the (weather) conditions at Kilpisjärvi.

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. The Station does have a canteen which offers warm meals three times a day and the shop in Kilpisjärvi village has a great selection of food items, suitable also for vegan and gluten-free diets.

Photo: Donna Franklin, Muunnos, 2024, Lake Kilpisjärvi, Photographer Tracy Hill.