IN-SITU
2-MONTH SITE-SPECIFIC RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN LAHTI, FINLAND
BY UTOPIAS LAHTI FESTIVAL, ISSP AND NŌUA
OPEN CALL 18.8.–21.9.2025 RESIDENCY 16.3.–10.5.2026
Utopias Lahti, ISSP and NŌUA invite applications for an artist residency in Lahti, Finland as part of the IN-SITU project. The project explores site-specific working practices and sustainable exhibition design in photographic and lens-based art. Two artists will be selected for a two months long IN-SITU residency, resulting in an exhibition at the next Utopias Lahti Festival in May 2026. The call is open for artists based in Denmark, Latvia, Norway and Sweden who are working with lens-based mediums.
BY UTOPIAS LAHTI FESTIVAL, ISSP AND NŌUA
OPEN CALL 18.8.–21.9.2025 RESIDENCY 16.3.–10.5.2026
Utopias Lahti, ISSP and NŌUA invite applications for an artist residency in Lahti, Finland as part of the IN-SITU project. The project explores site-specific working practices and sustainable exhibition design in photographic and lens-based art. Two artists will be selected for a two months long IN-SITU residency, resulting in an exhibition at the next Utopias Lahti Festival in May 2026. The call is open for artists based in Denmark, Latvia, Norway and Sweden who are working with lens-based mediums.
* * *
Utopias Lahti is an artist-run festival which takes a critical look at the material consumption of exhibiting and producing a festival (and exhibitions) for lens-based art. The festival team looks for unused spaces throughout the city to build exhibitions and designs the program taking into consideration the characteristics and limitations of these spaces. All the material needs of the program are first and foremost covered through a circular economy network in collaboration with local businesses and the public sector.
Utopias Lahti 2026 will explore site-specific practices in photographic and lens-based art. Produced in collaboration with ISSP and NŌUA, the IN-SITU project will explore this theme through a residency and an exhibition featuring two artists. The residency program offers the possibility for artists using lens-based mediums to realise a project of their interest in dialogue with an unconventional, non ”white box” space, using it as a studio that transforms into an exhibition.
We are looking for project ideas that will explore, take over or intervene into an underutilised or abandoned space in the city; or that create a material or social intervention into a given setting. We also welcome elements of interaction or collaboration with the local community.
Utopias Lahti will secure a space for the artist according to their idea and support them in realising the project. At the end of the residency, the space will be opened up to the public in the form of an exhibition as part of Utopias Lahti 2026. We encourage artists with an interest in the built environment and space to interpret the theme broadly and use it as a platform to explore their own interests, themes and ways of working.
To apply for the residency, artists must submit an APPLICATION FORM including a CV, portfolio and the concept plan of a tentative project idea. This concept plan must include a theme/conceptual focus, a description of a type of space the artist would be interested to work in, a short description of the project, envisaged working methods and a rough work schedule. The recommended size of the project idea is 1–2 A4 pages.
Deadline for applications is Sunday 21.9.2025 (23:59 EEST)
The jury will select one artist who is from (or based in) Norway, Sweden or Denmark and one artist who is from (or based in) Latvia. In early 2026, Utopias Lahti will finalise the residency plan together with the selected artists and find and secure a space based on the hopes of the artist as far as possible.
* * *
The two selected artists will be invited for a 2-month site-specific residency in Lahti from 16.3.–10.5.2026, including:
• Monthly artist’ fee of 2 200 € (total 4 400 € for 2 months)
• A private room in a shared apartment for the duration of their stay
• Flight-free travel costs to and from Lahti
• A site-specific exhibition as part of the Utopias Lahti 2026 Festival
• Support by the Utopias Lahti team
• Project and exhibition production covered by Utopias Lahti in accordance with the festival's circular economy model
Who should apply?
• Artists with a permanent residency or citizenship in one of the following countries: Denmark, Latvia, Norway or Sweden
• Artists at any stage of their careers
• Eager to develop a site-specific project together with the Utopias Lahti festival team
• Can commit to being present in Lahti for the entire period of the residency (16.3.–10.5.2026)
• Capable of working on their project independently with production and material support from Utopias Lahti
Jury
• Kamilla Kūna, Co-Curator, ISSP
• Dan Mariner, Co-Founder, NŌUA
• Henri Airo, Artistic Director, Utopias Lahti
• Toivo Heinimäki, Program Head for IN-SITU, Utopias Lahti
Questions
For any questions regarding the project or open call, do not hesitate to message us at: henri@utopiaslahti.com
Utopias Lahti 2026 will explore site-specific practices in photographic and lens-based art. Produced in collaboration with ISSP and NŌUA, the IN-SITU project will explore this theme through a residency and an exhibition featuring two artists. The residency program offers the possibility for artists using lens-based mediums to realise a project of their interest in dialogue with an unconventional, non ”white box” space, using it as a studio that transforms into an exhibition.
We are looking for project ideas that will explore, take over or intervene into an underutilised or abandoned space in the city; or that create a material or social intervention into a given setting. We also welcome elements of interaction or collaboration with the local community.
Utopias Lahti will secure a space for the artist according to their idea and support them in realising the project. At the end of the residency, the space will be opened up to the public in the form of an exhibition as part of Utopias Lahti 2026. We encourage artists with an interest in the built environment and space to interpret the theme broadly and use it as a platform to explore their own interests, themes and ways of working.
To apply for the residency, artists must submit an APPLICATION FORM including a CV, portfolio and the concept plan of a tentative project idea. This concept plan must include a theme/conceptual focus, a description of a type of space the artist would be interested to work in, a short description of the project, envisaged working methods and a rough work schedule. The recommended size of the project idea is 1–2 A4 pages.
Deadline for applications is Sunday 21.9.2025 (23:59 EEST)
The jury will select one artist who is from (or based in) Norway, Sweden or Denmark and one artist who is from (or based in) Latvia. In early 2026, Utopias Lahti will finalise the residency plan together with the selected artists and find and secure a space based on the hopes of the artist as far as possible.
* * *
The two selected artists will be invited for a 2-month site-specific residency in Lahti from 16.3.–10.5.2026, including:
• Monthly artist’ fee of 2 200 € (total 4 400 € for 2 months)
• A private room in a shared apartment for the duration of their stay
• Flight-free travel costs to and from Lahti
• A site-specific exhibition as part of the Utopias Lahti 2026 Festival
• Support by the Utopias Lahti team
• Project and exhibition production covered by Utopias Lahti in accordance with the festival's circular economy model
Who should apply?
• Artists with a permanent residency or citizenship in one of the following countries: Denmark, Latvia, Norway or Sweden
• Artists at any stage of their careers
• Eager to develop a site-specific project together with the Utopias Lahti festival team
• Can commit to being present in Lahti for the entire period of the residency (16.3.–10.5.2026)
• Capable of working on their project independently with production and material support from Utopias Lahti
Jury
• Kamilla Kūna, Co-Curator, ISSP
• Dan Mariner, Co-Founder, NŌUA
• Henri Airo, Artistic Director, Utopias Lahti
• Toivo Heinimäki, Program Head for IN-SITU, Utopias Lahti
Questions
For any questions regarding the project or open call, do not hesitate to message us at: henri@utopiaslahti.com