IASPIS — international residency in Sweden for artists on curatorial recommendation

Financial support under the programme amounts to SEK 20,000 per month, which is equivalent to approximately €1,700–1,800. With a standard residency duration of approximately three months, the total amount of support reaches SEK 60,000 (≈ €5,200–5,400). Housing and studio space are provided separately, and the grant is intended for daily expenses and focused work on artistic practice.
It is this combination — conditions, time and financial stability — that makes the programme stand out among Northern European residencies, where artists can work without the pressure of deadlines and the need to simultaneously deal with basic survival issues.

About the programme
This is an international programme run by the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, designed to provide a calm and professional introduction to the international art scene. It does not use a competition format or mass open calls, and selection is not based on urgency or comparison of applications.
For international artists, including those from Eastern Europe, the programme is interesting as a long-term residency focused on the development of practice, research and professional dialogue, rather than on formal results.

Residency format
Residencies for international artists last an average of three months. Participants are provided with accommodation, individual workspace and a monthly grant. The programme does not require mandatory public presentations and does not impose a rigid work structure.
The focus here is on the process. The residency allows you to neatly integrate your stay in Sweden into your own professional trajectory without interrupting the rhythm of your practice.

How the application process works for international artists
It is important to note a key point. International artists do not apply independently. The programme does not have an open application form on behalf of the artist, nor does it have a traditional open call.
The only way to participate is through a professional recommendation from a third party. Artists must be proposed by curators, institutions, independent art spaces, critics or other professionals in the field of visual and applied arts who are familiar with their practice and are willing to present it to the programme.
This is not an additional condition, but a fundamental structural rule. The programme does not work with a stream of applications, but with existing professional connections and recommendations. That is why there are no fixed deadlines or competitive rounds in the usual sense.

What this means in practice
First, there’s real professional contact — a chat, a joint project, curatorial interest, or research overlap. Then, the curator or institution submits a proposal through an official form on their behalf.
Proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis, stored in the system for up to a year, and reviewed by the programme on a set cycle. If the decision is positive, the artist may be offered participation in a residency in one of the following periods.
This format requires time and preparation, but it has an important advantage: entry is possible at any time, without the need to adjust to a competition calendar and urgent deadlines.

What is particularly important when considering
applications is the professional CV, portfolio and logic of artistic practice. Consistency, clarity of thought, and an understanding of why the artist needs this particular experience are important. Formal status or fame are secondary here compared to the quality of the materials and the persuasiveness of the professional request.
Clearly compiled materials help not only the programme but also the recommending party to clearly explain why this particular artist should be proposed for participation.

Who is this programme suitable for
The format is suitable for artists who:
work or are starting to work with curators and institutions;
view residency as part of their long-term professional development;
are interested in international exchange rather than a short trip;
are ready for a format that values process, context and time to work.
It is not the fastest route, but it is one of the few sustainable ways to enter the Northern European art scene without competitive pressure and haste.

Proposals from foreign artists are submitted by a third party — a curator, institution or professional partner — via a separate online form.