Oulainen

Artworks: Residency artists Juha Allan Ekholm & Jussi Valtakari “Köpeli Töpö – Labyrintti” 2022. Photos: Juha Allan Ekholm

RESIDENCY PROGRAM CYCLE

The Residency, initiated by cultural services of the city of Oulainen, offers Finnish and international artists the opportunity to work in Oulainen through the Sykli (Eng. Cycle) residency program. 
 
The aim is to have four residency periods in Oulainen per year in the future, following the annual clock of the city’s cultural activities and the changing seasons. Priorities and themes are defined for each search. Artists are asked for a work plan, which can be worked on together depending on the occasion. Artists or groups of artists are invited to work in Oulainen through an open call. Artists suitable for the program can also be invited to the residency from Finland or abroad. 
 
Annual clock & seasons as starting points for residency activities 
 
The aim of the residency program is, in addition to promoting artists’ work opportunities, to bring art closer to local people and into everyday life in the community – to create interaction between people through art and culture. Artists are expected to support the art and cultural activities of the region, for example through participatory works, artist meetings, workshops or other public-oriented dimensions. 
 
First residency period in Oulainen took place in the summer of 2022. The development of residency action in Northern Ostrobothnia is related to the Oulu2026 Capital of Culture project, in which Oulainen is involved as a partner municipality. The Northern AiR residency network has provided support in starting the residency activities.