OPEN CALL
Queer Residency Seyðisfjörður — KIN MAKING
a residency and cultural exchange for LGBTQIA+ artists and activists in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland We are excited to invite practitioners who are thinking/ dreaming/ making/ planning/ exploring/ playing at the intersection of LGBTQIA+ experience and kinship to join us for a 6 week residency in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland. The residency is open to artists, activists, researchers, careworkers, scientists, teachers, dancers, writers, parents, nannies, filmmakers… to develop their praxis and explore the co-creation of a temporal family in the East fjords of Iceland. Family can mean so many different things, and as LGBTQIA+ people, we can often have more complex and non linear journeys toward kinship - choosing the ways we relate to one another, what it means to nurture and care for one another, what kind of relationship we can have with the more than human world, how does inviting family feeling into the broader scope of relationship change the meaning of kinship? The invitation is broad and the scope is endless! We look forward to hearing from you
timeline
Application deadline: 11.55pm 15th March 2026
Interviews: end of March — beginning of April
Successful Applicants notified: mid-April
Residency period: 19 September — 31 October 2026
who
- Applications are welcomed by all artists and activists from the LGBTQIA+ community that wish to deepen their practice within a collective living environment
- In each programme we have 6-7 artists
- The programme is hosted by Ra Tack (they/them), Ju Canon (they/he) and Bella Podpadec (they/them)
what
- A flexible, largely self-guided residency programme, that emerges from the collective input of participants, with emphasis on care and world-building
- An opportunity to live and work alongside other LGBTQIA+ artists and activists in a beautiful, remote town in Iceland
- We have weekly check-ins, can support exhibitions, film screenings, parties, performances, crits (etc.) and together with you, will run workshops for local Queer youth
where
- Seyðisfjörður, is a small town in the east of Iceland, known for its vibrant artistic community, mountains and enduring spirit
- The residency is held in Heima - a collectively owned and artist-run, house and studios in the centre of town
when
- Applications open: 6th February 2026
- Application deadline: 11.55pm 15th March 2026
- Interviews: end of March — beginning of April
- Successful Applicants notified: mid-April
- Residency period: 19 September — 31 October 2026
why
- To give LGBTQIA+ artists and activists the opportunity to live and work alongside each other - to work on their art, projects or research and practice world-building, in community, in a place known for being relatively accepting for LGBTQIA+ folk
- To generate dialogue and cultural exchange between international and local members of the LGBTQIA+ community, understanding that our struggles are connected and our liberation bound together
- To foster positive representation for LGBTQIA+ people in the East of Iceland, particularly for Queer youth
- To build bridges, explore solidarity, allyship and connection: to each other, to our bodies, to the wider world, both within the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond
The residency supports participants in to sharing work via exhibitions, screenings, performances, lectures, workshops, parties and collaboration with a local and global audience - enriching culture not only for LGBTQIA+ people but for everyone, not just here, but everywhere
costs
- A fee of 120.000 ISK/person (Icelandic Krona, roughly 820EUR) - for housing and studios space for the full 6 weeks and flyers/ posters for events - a 50% non refundable deposit is required to secure your place and costs must be paid in full to Heima Collective before the start of the residency
- Participants are responsible for their own travel, food, materials and miscellaneous expenses
- The residency is run by volunteers and your fee goes solely towards the house
- We receive a small amount of funding which goes towards our monthly Queer Club, posters for any events you put on, airport pickups during the residency and some house maintenance
- Unfortunately this year we did not receive enough funding to be able to offer a financially supported space
accessibility
- The hosts can speak English, Flemish, French and basic Icelandic
- Unfortunately the house is not wheelchair accessible - bedrooms are located up one flight of steep stairs, studios are mostly on the ground floor, with a low and narrow door to enter
- The town can get get very icy / snowy
- Unfortunately this year we did not receive funding to be able to offer a financially supported space - if you would be open to paying more to help support an artist who might not otherwise be able to join please indicate
- Families and people in need of support workers are welcome to apply - please indicate in your application if you would require more than one room / bed. Dependants under 18 y/ and support workers would not have to pay.
- The hosts are neurodivergent and aim to make the residency accessible in this respect
- Please let us know any further access needs and how we might better support you in joining us!
the town
- Seyðisfjörður is a vibrant, port town and community of about 600 people in the East Fjords
- Historically known as a fishing town, the main industry is now tourism but also famed for the number of artists passing through, living and making work
- The town has a large number of amenities for a place this size, including: a pool, gym, cinema, school, general store, community centre, pharmacy, art centre, art school, print workshop, wellness centre, wood and metal workshops, town hall, bank, sports hall, library and ski slope
- There is a bus that runs regularly over the mountain to the larger town of Egilsstaðir
- You can fly from Reykjavik to Egilsstaðir, there is also a ferry from Denmark that docks in town
- Occasionally the mountain pass - Fjarðarheiði - is closed due to exceptionally bad weather, cutting Seyðisfjörður off from the rest of the country
- Some parts of town can be evacuated after heavy weather due to avalanche or mudslide risk (the residency is in one of the safest zones so this is unlikely to impact the programme)
the house
- Heima is an independent, non-profit, artist-run, collective house founded in 2013
- The space is a 350m2 - living and studios
- The living space: downstairs there is a living room, dining room, shower room and fully equipped kitchen. On the floors above there is another shower room and 6 bedrooms - single and double occupancy (all linens and towels provided)
- Soundproofing is minimal - you can hear a lot!!
- In the past participants have created cooking and cleaning rotas, sharing most meals and household chores
- On the east side of the house is the studio space: three small private studios, two bigger communal studios, a cozy hang out space with a fireplace, a work-and tool space, a laundry room and a small storage cave
- We have a small garden with a big tree and a rose bush and a big terrace on the south side of the house
how to apply
Please submit one PDF document titled LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_QRS_Application If you would rather submit in audio or video format you are more than welcome! In this document include the following
- letter of motivation: Why do you want to take part? What do you want to make/ do/ research here? How does it relate to our theme KIN MAKING? What is your experience of collectivity? — Suggested 750 words MAX
- Personal statement: Your praxis? Your life experience/ education? Your philosophy? Your Queerness? A short biography including any information you find relevant for us to get a sense of who you are! — Suggested 500 words MAX
- Documentation of your work (images / links / websites etc.)
- Extra information: An emergency contact, pronouns if you like and access needs. If you would rather submit in audio or video format you are more than welcome!
Please send applications to queer@h-e-i-m-a.com Any questions please feel free to reach out to us at the same address We are so excited to hear from you!
credits
Design by Dæja Arndis Ýr and webdesign by Ju Canon
fonts from bye bye binary
This residency is supported by Múlaþing