Saari Residence 2026

The Saari Residence invites applications for its 2026 Residency Program, open to professional artists from all art fields. Residencies last two months and include accommodation and a work grant. 

In summer 2026, renovations will begin on the stone barn, affecting workspace availability. No group residencies will be offered during this period. In spring, artists can apply for workspaces outside their apartments, but in autumn, work will be confined to apartments, suitable for desk-based activities. Renovations may cause weekday noise. 

Saari Residence, an International Artist in Residence 

Operated by Kone Foundation in Mynämäki, Finland, the Saari Residence provides an inspiring environment for artistic development. The residency emphasizes ecological, social, and psychological sustainability, focusing on slowness, insight, and change. No exhibitions or performances are required. 

Individual artists receive a working grant, accommodation, and workspace. Four two-month periods occur in spring and autumn, hosting eight artists and one Saari Invited Artist. Half the spots are for Finnish artists, the rest for international artists, covering various art fields. 

International artists are encouraged to apply for ecological travel support. Artists from the Global South can apply for flight and visa fee support. Travel support applications must accompany residency grant applications. 

Annually, Saari Residence hosts around 50 artists, having welcomed about 800 artists from over 50 countries. Last year, 1,200 applications were received from 91 countries, with a 3.2% acceptance rate for 2025 residencies. 

Application period 

The annual application period for residencies taking place in 2026 opens on 1 March and ends on Monday, 31 March 2023 at 4 p.m. Finnish time (Eastern European time, UTC +3). Only applications submitted via the online grant service during the application period will be considered.

Applying

Open call for residencies is always for the residency spots for the following year.  

The two-month individual residency periods are January to February 2026, March to April 2026, September to October 2026 and November to December 2026.  

There are no group residencies available in 2026. 

Submit your proposal through the online grant service. Applications cannot be sent via email or outside the online service.  

There is no application fee.

Who can apply?

The residencies are intended for individual professional artists and artist duos, fiction writers, poets, novelists, translators, curators and critics of all disciplines and all nationalities for the purpose of carrying out a project proposal presented in advance. We welcome artists at all stages of their professional life from emerging to well-established. 

Work partners can apply for residency in a joint application. 

The Saari Residence considers diversity, inclusion, and equality in residency selections. We continuously improve accessibility in our operations and strive to implement positive measures in the application process to promote diversity. 

Artists with families and partners are also welcome at the residence. One of the apartments at the Saari Residence is also suitable for dog owners. 

The residencies are designed for artistic work. Priority is given to multidisciplinary, new, or non-mainstream themes and fields of art.  

Researchers, non-fiction writers or students cannot apply for residency through the open call. 

The language used in Saari is English. 

The Saari Residence offers: 

Funding  

The two-month residencies include accommodation, a workspace and a monthly grant, the sum of which is determined by the applicant’s professional experience (€2,700 / €3,200 / €3,800 per month). The purpose of the grant is to cover the cost of living, travel costs and other expenses.  

Support for ecological travel  

Ecological travel refers to avoiding flying and other ecologically unsustainable means of transport. You can apply for support for ecological travel if you are coming to Saari Residence from outside of Finland and travelling out of Finland when leaving. If the journey takes more than a week in total, it is possible to also apply for a work grant for the travels. The application must include a travel plan.

Support for travels from Global South 

As part of the Saari Residence’s social sustainability, accessibility and diversity, artists arriving from Global South can apply for support for the flights and the fees for visas (processing and possible travel). The application must include a travel plan.

Accommodation  

The apartments at Saari Residence have a kitchen or kitchenette with basic amenities, and one of the buildings has a shared kitchen. Each resident has an apartment to themselves, including an en suite shower and toilet. One of the apartments is wheelchair accessible.  

Additional information related to accessibility can be requested by e-mail at saari@koneensaatio.fi. 

Working space  

During spring 2026, the workspaces at the Barn at the Saari Residence are available for use. They include a dance studio, four studios for visual artists, and a woodworking shop. The rooms for literary work are located in the apartments.  

In autumn 2026, all residents will be working in their apartments, and this should be considered in the work plan. The residency will not be able to offer alternative working spaces during the renovation. 

The residence does not have a darkroom, media room or equipment for printing, pottery, graphics or textile work.  

You also can apply for residency for the planning stage of your work.  

Residents will not have to share workspaces with others.  

A peaceful working environment  

The Saari Residence is located in a tranquil and unique rural setting surrounded by nature, situated on the shore of Mynälahti, 30 km north of Turku in Southwest Finland. The diverse workspaces and peaceful countryside surroundings provide an ideal setting for focusing on one’s work. 

Mentoring programme 

Artists receive two remote mentoring sessions during the residency from September to April.

Read more and apply here.