Sigriswil, Switzerland

Why artists choose Sigriswil

Sigriswil sits above Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland, directly facing Mount Niesen. You are not going there for galleries on every corner. You go for the clear air, the steep slopes, and the feeling that you are tucked into a landscape that has already passed through many artists’ eyes.

The residency scene here is built for concentrated work and long conversations rather than networking events. You live with a small cohort, share meals and process, and look out at a view that has inspired artists like August Macke, Ferdinand Hodler, Paul Klee, and Friedrich “Fritz” Friedli.

If you want an urban art market, Sigriswil will feel quiet. If you want to actually finish a manuscript, edit a film, or push a drawing practice in a focused way, the setup makes a lot of sense.

Paradiesli Artists in Residence Sigriswil (P.AiR.S)

P.AiR.S is the reason artists come to Sigriswil. It is an international artist-in-residence program located at Gästehaus Paradiesli, a guesthouse above Lake Thun adapted for artists instead of tourists.

Program concept

The core idea of P.AiR.S is simple: bring a small group of artists together in winter, remove most distractions, and make exchange a built-in part of daily life.

• Format: Two blocks of around seven weeks each during the winter season.
• Cohort size: Typically framed as 2 × 3 artists per full cycle, so you share the house with just a handful of people.
• Disciplines: Literature, drawing, photography, film and video, and related practices that fit within a guesthouse setting.
• Setting: You live and work at Gästehaus Paradiesli, high above Lake Thun, opposite Mount Niesen.
• Emphasis: Creative exchange, conversation, and informal collaboration.
• Outcome: Each artist is invited to leave a “trace” at the end: a work, text, performance, screening, or other form you define. Often this relates to a public presentation or small exhibition.

The concept was developed by the Paradiesli Cultural Promotion Association in collaboration with partners including Galerie Eulenspiegel in Basel. The residency is meant as a counterbalance to isolation: you still have plenty of solo time, but you are not working alone in a vacuum.

Who the residency suits (and who it doesn’t)

P.AiR.S is ideal if you:

• Are comfortable with a self-directed practice and do not need a tightly structured program.
• Work in writing, drawing, photography, or film/video, or a related medium that fits into shared indoor spaces.
• Appreciate slow, ongoing conversation with a small peer group.
• Enjoy winter atmospheres and are fine with shorter days and more indoor work time.
• Are interested in leaving a clear mark or “trace” at the end, not just quietly producing work.

It may be less suitable if you:

• Need heavy workshop facilities, large fabrication space, or industrial tools.
• Rely on daily access to big-city galleries, printers, or labs.
• Prefer either complete solitude or, on the other end, large social scenes.

The residency makes it clear that activities must match the premises. You can write, draw, edit, shoot small-scale work, and experiment within rooms and shared spaces. Large sculpture, messy toxic processes, or anything requiring major machinery will be harder to realize here.

Daily life and working conditions

The guesthouse is both your home and your studio. Expect a mix of private and shared work zones rather than a big industrial hall.

• Live/work setup: You sleep and work in the same building, sometimes in the same room. Shared spaces or small studios may be available depending on the session layout.
• Schedule: You set your own rhythm. Many artists use the daytime for concentrated solo work and the evenings for shared dinners, screenings, or readings.
• Community: With 2–6 people on site, you will get to know everyone. Your openness, energy, and listening skills shape the atmosphere as much as your work.
• Public engagement: Plan time for your final “trace” or any group event. This can be modest, but it still needs attention in your schedule and budget.

The residency uses a jury-based selection process with a four-person panel and welcomes artists from all national origins. For full details, check the official website at pairs.ch or the Paradiesli site at paradiesli-sigriswil.ch. Open-call listings sometimes appear on platforms like Artinfoland or artinfoland-style aggregators as well.

The local art “scene”: what you actually get on the ground

Sigriswil is a village, not an art capital. That is part of its appeal. The local art life is compact, and you will not spend days hopping between galleries and openings.

Residency-centered micro-scene

The main concentration of artists in Sigriswil is literally whoever is in residence at P.AiR.S. That micro-community becomes your scene for the duration of your stay.

• Peer exchange: Most of your critical feedback and studio visits will come from fellow residents and program organisers.
• Local curiosity: Villagers may show interest when there is a public event or if your work spills into shared outdoor spaces.
• Regional networks: For more structured art infrastructure, you look outward: Thun and Bern for museums and galleries, and Basel for more extended contacts.

Because the local art activity leans heavily on the residency, it is a strong place to test ideas with peers and focus on development, less a place to court collectors or curators in large numbers.

Connections beyond Sigriswil

If you want to build in some art-city time, factor in visits to:

• Thun: A nearby town with regional cultural venues, exhibitions, and more services than the village.
• Bern: The Swiss capital, with larger museums, galleries, and contemporary art spaces.
• Basel: A major node for contemporary art, and also home to partners such as Galerie Eulenspiegel mentioned in the residency concept.

Think of Sigriswil as your studio base and these cities as occasional extension spaces. You can schedule day trips or short overnights if your budget allows.

Practical living: costs, logistics, and what to pack

Cost of living and budgeting

Switzerland is expensive compared to many countries, and Sigriswil follows that pattern. A residency can buffer costs by covering accommodation, but you still need to budget carefully.

Plan for:

• Food: Groceries are high by international standards. Cooking for yourself at the guesthouse is usually cheaper than eating out.
• Transport: Trains, buses, and occasional taxis between Sigriswil, Thun, and other cities.
• Materials: Paper, ink, photo supplies, hard drives, or other essentials. Some items may cost more than you expect in Switzerland.
• Production costs: Printing, framing, or additional gear for your final “trace” or exhibition.
• Insurance: Health and travel insurance, plus coverage for equipment if you bring cameras, laptops, or other valuables.

Many artists use the residency to work with materials that pack light: text, digital files, small works on paper, or photography and video. If your project depends on specialized materials, confirm availability and prices ahead of time.

Transport: getting there and moving around

The usual route is fairly straightforward:

• Arrive by air or long-distance train in Zurich, Geneva, or another major Swiss city.
• Take a train to Thun.
• Continue by bus or car up to Sigriswil, then walk a short distance to the guesthouse or arrange pickup.

Swiss public transport is reliable, but rural and uphill routes have fewer departures. In winter, daylight is shorter and weather can slow things down. Build a little slack into travel days, especially when arriving with luggage and equipment.

During the residency, you may not need to move around much. Some artists barely leave the immediate area for weeks, using the isolation as creative fuel. Others plan one or two trips to Bern or Basel for exhibitions and a different pace.

Visa and stay considerations

Switzerland is not part of the European Union, so visa rules can be different from neighboring countries.

• EU/EFTA citizens: Generally have simpler entry and residence arrangements, though local registration rules can still apply for longer stays.
• Non-EU artists: Need to check which visa category applies: short-stay, cultural exchange, or another type. The residency may provide an invitation letter, but you are responsible for meeting entry and residence requirements.

Before committing to a project proposal, confirm with P.AiR.S what documentation they offer and double-check with your local Swiss consulate what you will personally need.

Working with the environment: making the most of winter

P.AiR.S is explicitly a winter-oriented program. That shapes both the mood and the practical reality of your stay.

Why winter works for this residency

Shorter days and cold weather can be a gift for certain practices:

• Fewer distractions: You are less tempted to treat the residency as a vacation.
• Indoor focus: Perfect for writing phases, editing, animation, drawing, video post-production, or concept-heavy work.
• Atmospheric landscape: Lake Thun, Niesen, and the surrounding slopes can feel dramatic and stripped back in winter, a strong backdrop for photography, film, or reflective projects.

At the same time, winter means you need to plan for comfort and energy management. Good layers, indoor shoes, and light that supports long working hours after dark can make a big difference.

What to pack and prepare

For a winter stay in Sigriswil, think about:

• Clothing: Warm layers, waterproof shoes, something you can walk hills in, and indoor clothes you are happy to work in all day.
• Work gear: Laptop, external drives, sketchbooks, pens, camera gear, and any small tools that are hard to replace locally.
• Digital resources: Reference texts, films, or research materials downloaded in advance so you are not dependent on streaming for everything.
• Presentation materials: If you know you want to present text, video, or small works on paper, bring what you need to show it properly or confirm what the residency can lend.

Preparing a clear project framework before you arrive helps you settle in quickly. Include space in that plan for whatever impulses come from the group dynamic and the landscape itself.

Applying strategically to P.AiR.S

The selection process is jury-based, so clarity and fit matter more than volume. You are speaking to people who care about both your work and how you will contribute to the shared environment.

What to highlight in your application

• Project clarity: Describe a focused project that can realistically be developed within two seven-week blocks, using the facilities available.
• Fit with the premises: Explicitly show that your process works within a guesthouse setting and does not require heavy infrastructure.
• Exchange and “trace”: Explain how you plan to engage with peers and what kind of trace or public outcome you can imagine leaving.
• Past self-direction: Point to experiences where you have organized your own time effectively, especially in residency or retreat contexts.

Before submitting, read through the concept notes and FAQs on the official site carefully. Align your language with the program’s own priorities: creative exchange, counteracting isolation, and working in an inspiring but relatively minimal environment.

Is Sigriswil right for your practice?

Sigriswil’s residency offer is quite specific. You get:

• Landscape-driven focus: Lake, mountains, and quiet pathways instead of city noise.
• Small cohorts: 2 × 3 artists instead of dozens of residents.
• Winter concentration: Sessions built for deep indoor work with occasional forays outside.
• Emphasis on dialogue: Conversations, shared evenings, and a final trace that acknowledges your time there.

This combination works especially well for writers, photographers, filmmakers, and visual artists whose work can compress into a guesthouse and expand mentally. If you are looking to reset your rhythm, build a new body of work, or test ideas with a tight group rather than a big institution, Sigriswil is a strong option to keep on your list.