Community Art Commission and Residency 2026
Open Call
Are you an artist or artist collective interested in working site-specifically and in dialogue with people and place?
We are looking for an artist to create a public artwork for Kulturhuset DUX or in its immediate surroundings, in interaction with Kristinestad and its residents.
The medium is open: installation, object, sound, textile, light, or digital. What matters most is the relationship between the work, the site, and the people.
The project is rooted in Kristinestad’s identity as a Cittaslow town and values such as sustainability, quality, presence, and local connection. It may also relate to Kristinestad’s role as Baltic Sea Cultural Pearl 2026.
Budget:
Artist fee: €6000
Materials: €5000
Travel and residency accommodation included.
Residency and Working Process
The selected artist will take part in a one-month residency at Kristinestad Artist Residency in August 2026.
During this period, the artist will:
- get to know the place and Kulturhuset Dux
- meet residents and local actors
- facilitate workshops as part of the artistic process
- develop the concept and direction of the work
The residency serves as a concentrated phase for research and artistic development.
Implementation
The project will be carried out in two phases:
Phase 1 – Residency (August 2026)
Research, meetings, workshops, and artistic development at Kristinestad Artist Residency.
Phase 2 – Production and Completion
The artwork will be produced after the residency according to the agreed work plan. Planning may take place remotely or, if needed, be complemented with a working period at Malakta – Community Art Center. The artwork must be completed by summer 2027 and requires the artist to be present on site.
We are looking for an artist who wants to
- strengthen Kulturhuset Dux as a meeting place
- work in dialogue with residents
- explore sustainable materials and methods
- create an artwork with long-term significance
How to Apply
If you are interested, please submit your application by 31 May 2026.
Include:
- a motivation letter explaining why you are the artist we are looking for
- your portfolio
- CV / résumé
- website
Send your application to: communityart@malakta.fi
Interviews will be held before 19 June 2026.
Please submit all materials as a PDF file.
Maximum file size: 5 MB
About the Project
The project is organized by Art in Malakta rf in collaboration with Kulturhuset Dux in Kristinestad and Kristinestad Artist Residency.
- Kulturhuset Dux is a central meeting place in Kristinestad where history, present, and future meet. It values the local, the thoughtful, and the sustainable.
- Kristinestad is a Cittaslow town where quality, presence, and human scale are central.
- Kristinestad has also been selected as Baltic Sea Cultural Pearl 2026.
Kristinestad Artist Residency: kristinestadresidency.org
Kristinestad Artist Residency is a non-profit organization run by artists and volunteers, rooted in the local community on Finland’s west coast. The residency program is offered by the Yelema association in collaboration with the municipality’s cultural department, the Spectra Art Association, and the local handicraft association.
Malakta – Community Art Center: malakta.fi
Run by Art in Malakta r.f., Malakta works with social innovation through creativity, science, and art to promote economic sustainability in art, culture, and society.
Application Deadline
31.05.2026
Residency Period Begins
01.08.2026
Residency Period Ends
31.08.2026
Location
Kristinestad / Malax, Finland