Graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts? Apply for a studio grant in Suomenlinna

Each year, the University of the Arts Helsinki Foundation awards a studio grant for a young, talented artist who is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts. Priority will be given to students who graduate during the 2025–2026 academic year. The grant will cover the rent, electricity and water expenses of a studio (35 m2) and the residency services provided by the residency organisation HIAP for one year. The studio is located in Suomenlinna at HIAP’s studio complex. The studio can only be used for working, not living. The grant will be awarded from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027, and the grant period cannot be extended.

The University of the Arts Helsinki Foundation has an established cooperation with HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme, which aims at supporting the work of young, talented artist graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts and their networking in the international arts world. The cooperation gives a recently graduated artist the opportunity to work in the HIAP residency programme in Suomenlinna for a one-year term.

As well as access to the studio, the artist will receive year-round access to HIAP’s wider residency facilities including:

• Taking part in Welcome Lunches, Afternoon Coffees and Trips and Visits to openings in Helsinki with fellow artists in residence.
• 24/7 access to HIAP community facilities such as the Community Room, Project Space, Equipment Room and Wood Workshop.
• Access to some equipment (eg projectors, sound systems).
• Participating in HIAP Open Studios 3 times per year to share works in progress.

HIAP also hosts and organises events, exhibitions and talks in its own premises in collaboration with local partners. Each year HIAP supports approximately 50 international and Finland-based artists to undertake residencies in Helsinki – the selected artist for this studio grant will gain access to this unique international community.

You can read more about HIAP’s residency programme and the facilities available from the organisation’s website.

Read the interview of visual artist Verneri Salonen on his experience in Suomenlinna and HIAP in 2024.

Previous grant recipients include Joonas Siren (2014), Eveliina Hämäläinen (2015), artist collective Harrie Liveart (2016), Raimo Saarinen (2017), Karoliina Hellberg (2018), Anikó Kuikka (2019), Timo Viialainen (2021), Anna Broms (2022), Verneri Salonen (2023), Sirkku Rosi (2024) and Onni Alanko (2025).

How to apply

To apply, write an application cover letter where you explain why you need the studio. Please also describe how you would take advantage of the environment of Suomenlinna and HIAP’s international networks to develop your practice.

Please enclose the following in your application:

• work plan for the duration of the residency
• CV
• portfolio of your work (a single PDF file with a maximum size of 500 MB).

The application and appendices must be sent by March 13, 2026 at 16:00 to marja-leena.petas-arjava@uniarts.fi.

The decision of the recipient of the grant will be made in March and the selected candidate will be notified personally.

About the Foundation

The University of the Arts Helsinki Foundation was established in 2018, and its goal is to support Uniarts Helsinki and its academies, their operating conditions, and students.

About HIAP

HIAP is one of the most extensive international residency programmes in the Nordic countries and the Baltic Sea area. The core activities of HIAP include offering professional artists the time and space for creative work in interaction with the local and international arts sector. www.hiap.fi.