Open Call, May 2026
Ceramics goes Communities on the Finnish west coast! Join CoArt Österbotten Residency.
Are you a professional ceramics artist, keen on working with the communities in Ostrobothnia on the Finnish west coast? If yes, you might be exactly the artist we at CoArt Österbotten are looking for. Residency time period: October–December 2026.
CoArt Österbotten Residency is a brand-new community art initiative run jointly by Malakta Art Factory and KulturÖsterbotten.
Malakta is an artist-run center for creativity, culture, arts, and people located in an old dairy factory converted into a cultural space. We are located by the river in the municipality of Malax in western Finland. The aim of Malakta is to create an oasis for people where creativity, ideas, art, and culture can grow and flourish.
KulturÖsterbotten is a division of the SÖFUK Federation of Swedish Municipalities in Ostrobothnia for Education and Culture, with fourteen member municipalities. The aim of KulturÖsterbotten is to strengthen the cultural identity of the Swedish-speaking population of Ostrobothnia, deepen the cultural co-operation in all fields and on all levels and promote creative activities in the region.
CoArt Österbotten Residency is currently looking for ceramics artist(s) or duos who are eager to share their art with the people in the communities of Ostrobothnia during October–December 2026.
Duration of residency
Three (3) months.
Accommodation
At Malakta, you will live and work in a peaceful countryside setting by the river, surrounded by open landscapes and tranquil nature. The residency offers a fully equipped apartment with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and all essential amenities, providing a comfortable and grounding base during your stay. Malakta’s artist community is warm and welcoming, where sharing, exchange, and collaboration are at the heart of daily life. You’re also welcome to discuss bringing your partner or family along, we’re open to finding a way that works together.
Daytime Malakta is a vibrant creative space for various artists in their studios. When evening falls, the tranquility of a Finnish rural village arrives. You can heat up the traditional wood-heated sauna, recharge your batteries in our mindfulness space called Healinn, take a walk along the forest trail or hop on the bike for some seaside views.
The accommodation offers both privacy and connection. Surrounded by nature yet rooted in a shared artistic environment, Malakta is a place where you can focus on your practice while being part of a supportive, curious, and welcoming community.
At Malakta, we follow Codes of Ethics rooted in the idea of safer spaces, this enables everyone to be themselves, without fear of disdain, discrimination or even violence.
Bicycles can be used to explore the surrounding area and reach nearby services, and carpooling can be arranged when needed.
Disciplines, work equipment and assistance
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed into our community and guided into different working spaces and practical arrangements. Our team will provide you with assistance on-site and as we work with communities in the region.
Studio / Workspace
The studios and other facilities at Malakta are available to you, free of charge. You will have the unique opportunity to help us set up a ceramics studio.
The facilities support a wide range of practices: shared workspaces with large tables, a spacious room for movement or music, a yoga room, and a wood workshop equipped with benches and tools and a darkroom for analogue photography.
There is also a “free wall” for painting, a small cinema suitable for screenings or film editing, and a sauna for rest and reflection. For those with prior experience, a metal workshop and foundry are also available.
Fees and supports
You are expected to cover your travel expenses to and from the residency as well as your daily living expenses (food etc.). Accommodation and studio facilities are provided free of charge.
You will be paid a grant of 11 Euros per residency day. The grant can be used at your own discretion to cover costs during the residency.
Expectations towards the artist
First: A genuine passion for ceramics and community art is essential, even if you’re just starting out.
Second: If you do not master Swedish, you need to be fluent in English.
We expect you to be flexible and open for working with communities around Ostrobothnia.
We aim for one community action per week. Activities may vary from workshops to open studio events, artist talk etc. These activities will be planned together and assisted by our staff.
The region is long and narrow, stretching from Kristinestad (in Finnish: Kristiinankaupunki) in the south to Karleby (in Finnish: Kokkola) in the north, with a distance of 220 km between them. Because public transport is quite limited across the area, having a driver’s license valid in Finland is a significant advantage. We will support you with logistics and getting around.
The people you will be working with will be mainly Swedish-speaking. Most people, however, understand English.
A work plan is required as part of your application. In that plan you need to explain how you intend to share your artistic practices with our communities.
We collaborate with the regional art education programs at YA! Vocational Institute and at Novia University of Applied Sciences. The municipalities offer non-vocational art education for children and adults. There are therefore ample opportunities for collaboration both with teachers and with students.
Last but not least: We expect you to carry health insurance which covers both illness and accidents.
Application information
Please apply by carefully filling out and submitting our application form here.
Application deadline: May 31 st, 2026.
Application deadline
2026-05-31
Residency starts
2026-10-01
Residency ends
2026-12-31
Location
Finland
Link to more information
www.malakta.fi/air
If you have further questions, contact:
air@malakta.fi