There are several long-term artist residencies in the area, but an uncertain future is more the rule than the exception. Projects change, funding fluctuates, and operations rely too heavily on individuals. At the same time, visiting artists may remain guests of the inviting organization, rather than engaging with the city's cultural actors, the public, and other partners who could benefit from the artists' presence in their own activities (e.g., workshops in educational institutions). In other words, artists' visits are not always fully utilized. So something needs to be done.
The need for joint residency activities did not arise in a vacuum: it had already been identified in various projects, such as the KRIPA project. These projects raised the question of whether it would be possible to establish a joint artist residency in Oulu. This would provide the city's residency operators with shared accommodation and possible workspace infrastructure, as well as coordination, which would reduce the need for temporary rentals on the open market and make the activities less dependent on individuals. In an ideal situation, shared spaces would create a permanent framework for joint funding and joint artist searches, making everyday life easier and allowing residency operators to focus more on building and implementing content.
A shared, multidisciplinary residency hub in Oulu could bring together different residency programs, reduce overlap, and strengthen continuity. When accommodation and coordination resources are shared, administrative friction is reduced and even small operators can test new models without unreasonable risk. It would also be possible to carry out joint productions between artist residencies.
The next step is to organize a meeting for Oulu's residency operators to map out the desired state of a joint residency center to be established in the city. If there is interest and momentum to move forward after the meeting, the matter could be advanced in a full-day workshop to map out different options and outline a path forward from financing and administration to the concept of the premises and partnerships. Other residences outside Oulu would also be welcome to participate in this workshop. It would be fruitful to discuss preliminary principles and form a core working group to take the preparation of joint residence activities forward. The question is whether there is the will, time, enthusiasm, and need for this.
The goal is clear: by 2030, the region's residences will form a sustainable, internationally recognized ecosystem where art, science, and communities come together on the basis of long-term structures – and where Oulu serves as a visible hub. A shared residency space would be the cornerstone of this whole. It would enable everyday life to run smoothly and Oulu to play a pioneering role in artist residency activities.
You can read Creative Triangle projects residency report here (in Finnish).
The lead partner of the Creative Triangle project is the Kerttu Saalasti Institute at the University of Oulu, and the partners are Kattilakoski Cultural Cooperative, Oulu Cultural Foundation, and Nivala-Haapajärvi Region NIHAK Association. Project duration: January 1, 2024 – February 28, 2026.
Author: Markus Rytinki, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Oulu, Kerttu Saalasti Institute
Contact details: markus.rytinki@oulu.fi | +358 50 466 3952
Image: Pixabay
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