Leveld Kunstnartun — residency in Norway with grant, accommodation and studios for artists
Three months in the Norwegian mountains with your own studio, accommodation, a lithography workshop and a monthly stipend — Leveld Kunstnartun remains one of the most peaceful yet professional residencies for artists, writers, composers and practitioners of interdisciplinary work. There is no overloaded public programme or constant pressure to network here — the emphasis is on time, concentration and sustained work on one’s own practice.
The residency is located in Ål, in the Hallingdal region, and has been operating since 2014. Since then, more than 300 artists from different countries have taken part in the programme.
Participants can apply for a stay of between 1 and 3 months, and selected residents receive a working grant and a travel grant.
Two well-lit studios, a workshop for engraving and lithography, a separate room for writing, and fully equipped living spaces are available for work. The residency also provides a car and fibre-optic internet — this is particularly convenient for artists combining studio practice with digital, research or sound projects.
Who is the residency suitable for
The programme is open to professional artists working in various fields:
— visual artists;
— photographers;
— curators;
— writers;
— composers;
— sound art and new media artists;
— interdisciplinary practitioners.
The residency may be especially interesting for those who want to step away from an intensive urban rhythm and focus on research, writing, a body of work or a new artistic idea.
How the selection process and application work
Participants are selected by independent juries appointed by the Norwegian Association of Young Artists, the Norwegian Writers’ Union and the Norwegian Society of Composers. The selection is based on the quality of the artistic practice, and the residency administration does not participate in the decision-making process.
You can apply directly via the online form on the residency’s website. Applicants may apply for residencies lasting 1, 2 or 3 months, while the organisers particularly welcome longer stays.
The programme is open to international participants; however, students are not eligible to apply — the residency is specifically geared towards professional artistic practice.
For video and sound projects, links to your work must be included in a PDF portfolio. If you are based outside Europe, the residency can assist with preparing a letter of recommendation for a visa.
Scholarship, accommodation and participation conditions
Accommodation and a studio are provided free of charge; however, participants are responsible for covering their own living expenses, materials and personal costs. The programme pays a stipend of 6,000 Norwegian kroner per month (approximately €510) and additionally reimburses travel expenses of 4,000 Norwegian kroner (approximately €340).
To receive the full monthly payment, participants must be present at the residence for at least 20 days per month.
If a participant stays in the Astridstugu residence, they may bring a partner or children for a longer period. Residents may also host guests, and if accommodation is shared, it is recommended to discuss this in advance with the other residents.
Why this is a good opportunity
Leveld Kunstnartun is a residency that focuses not on an intensive public programme, but on quiet, sustained work and the opportunity to concentrate on one’s own practice. Several artists stay at the residency at the same time, creating a calm and professional environment without a sense of isolation.
For artists working with printmaking and print techniques, having their own workshop for lithography and engraving with professional equipment can be particularly important. And for artists who find it difficult to afford a long-term stay in Scandinavia, the provision of a grant, accommodation and a studio makes the programme significantly more accessible.
The deadline for applications is 20 May 2026.
