Sigriswil, Switzerland

Why artists go to Sigriswil

Sigriswil sits high above Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland, facing the mountain Niesen. You are not going there for a scene packed with galleries and openings. You go for space, quiet, and a serious reset for your practice.

The draw is simple and strong:

• Landscape as studio: Views across Lake Thun, the Bernese Alps, and the iconic triangular peak of Niesen. It suits painting, photography, film, writing, and any practice that feeds on atmosphere.
• Concentration: Fewer distractions than in Zurich or Basel. You can actually stay with an idea for hours without the noise of a big city pulling you out of it.
• Shared retreat: Residencies in Sigriswil are built around small groups and exchange. You live together, talk process, and work alongside each other in a focused way.
• Art history in the region: The wider Bernese Oberland has attracted artists like Macke, Hodler, Klee, and Friedli. You are working in a landscape that has already passed through many artists’ eyes.

If you want a compact, contemplative working period with a view that almost does the composition for you, Sigriswil is a strong option.

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

P.AiR.S is the key artist residency in Sigriswil and the main reason artists base themselves there. It is run at Gästehaus Paradiesli, a guesthouse positioned above Lake Thun with direct views of Niesen.

Core concept

The program is designed as a winter residency and is built around three main ideas: shared living, sustained work time, and creative exchange.

• Duration: Artists are invited for two blocks of 7 weeks during the winter months.
• Scale: Each period hosts a small group of artists, typically framed as 2 × 3 artists. This keeps the community intimate but varied.
• Setting: You live and work at Gästehaus Paradiesli, a guesthouse adapted to host artists and their projects rather than tourists.
• Exchange: The residency places a clear emphasis on conversation, critique, and informal collaboration. You are encouraged to bring your process into the shared space, not only your finished work.
• “Trace” at the end: Each artist is asked to leave an artistic trace at the end of their stay. That might be a work, a text, a performance, documentation, or another form you define.

The concept was developed by the Paradiesli Cultural Promotion Association, founded in 2021, and is linked in its materials with Galerie Eulenspiegel in Basel. That gives the residency a bridge toward a more established urban art context.

Who it is for

The program is open to artists of all nationalities and supports several disciplines, as long as your work fits the house and its facilities.

• Disciplines welcomed: literature, drawing, photography, film and video, and related practices. The activity needs to match the premises; large-scale fabrication or heavy workshop-based work will be harder to realize.
• Career stage: Works well for emerging and mid-career artists who already know how to self-direct and benefit from critical discussions with peers.
• Working style: Ideal if you function well in a small, communal setup, and your practice does not require industrial-scale facilities.

Think of it as a hybrid between a retreat and a small working group. You get the quiet of the mountains, but you are not alone in your head all day.

Selection and application

P.AiR.S uses a jury-based selection process.

• Jury: Applications are evaluated by a four-person jury.
• International scope: The residency explicitly invites artists from all national origins.
• Applications: Information is available through the official site at pairs.ch, as well as listings like Artinfoland and Reviewed by Artists.

Before applying, check the current call on the P.AiR.S website to confirm:

• whether accommodation is fully covered
• if there is a stipend or per diem
• whether there are any program fees
• what kind of public presentation (if any) is planned at the end

Selection is competitive mainly because the group is so small. Your project proposal should make clear how you use the quiet time and how you might interact with the group, not just what you want to produce.

Daily life at the residency

Expect something closer to a small, thoughtful household than to a large campus-style residency.

• Live/work setup: You live in the guesthouse and either work in your room, shared spaces, or dedicated studio areas depending on the layout for your session.
• Schedule: There is usually freedom to structure your own days. Artists often find a rhythm of solo work in the daytime, conversation and screenings or readings in the evenings.
• Community: With only a handful of artists on site, you will get to know everyone quite well. The upside: deep conversation and feedback. The challenge: you contribute to the atmosphere; your presence matters.
• Public engagement: The residency may host a concluding event or exhibition, and you are expected to leave that “trace” of your stay. Plan for some time in your schedule to prepare it.

The winter context shapes the mood. Shorter days and snow can channel your energy inward, which is excellent for focused writing, editing, planning future projects, or making work that needs immersion rather than constant movement.

How Sigriswil actually feels to work in

Because Sigriswil is small, your working environment extends beyond the walls of the residency. The village and the surrounding landscape become part of the studio.

Art scene on the ground

Sigriswil itself is not an art market city. You will not be surrounded by commercial galleries. Instead, you get:

• A residency-centered micro-scene: The main concentration of artists in Sigriswil is whoever is currently in residence.
• Local curiosity: Villagers may be interested in your presence and work, especially if there are public events. Expect informal encounters more than structured networking.
• Regional links: For exhibitions, institutional connections, or a more extensive scene, you will look outward to Thun, Bern, and Basel.

If you need constant external validation or a calendar full of openings, you might feel restless. If you are happy to embed in a small group and deepen your work, this environment can be very supportive.

Nearby cities and art infrastructure

Knowing where to go when you need supplies, inspiration, or art conversations beyond the house helps.

• Thun: The closest town with a railway station, shops, and a modest cultural scene. This is your practical base for errands, supplies, and occasional exhibitions.
• Bern: The Swiss capital has museums, galleries, and a more active artist community. It is reachable by train from Thun and offers a good balance of scale and accessibility.
• Basel: Known internationally for its art ecosystem, and specifically relevant here because of the residency’s connection with Galerie Eulenspiegel. Trips to Basel are longer but can be valuable if you want to visit institutions or meet curators.

If you are planning to maximize your time in Switzerland, it can be useful to schedule meetings, studio visits, or research days in these cities before or after your Sigriswil residency.

Studios and making work beyond the residency

If you want to extend your stay in the region outside the official residency period, consider:

• Independent rentals in Sigriswil: Possible but limited, often more like holiday flats than studios. Good if you work small-scale or digitally.
• Studios in Thun: More realistic for medium-term setups. Look into shared spaces or short-term sublets.
• Bern as a base: If you need a proper studio community, Bern may be the best compromise between access to Sigriswil and urban infrastructure.

In practice, most artists use the P.AiR.S period as a self-contained project window and then move on rather than setting up a permanent base in Sigriswil itself.

Money, logistics, and practicalities

Switzerland is expensive. Sigriswil is no exception. Even with housing covered by a residency, you need to think through your budget and logistics carefully.

Cost of living basics

Key expense lines to plan for:

• Groceries: Supermarkets and local shops will feel costly if you are used to lower-price countries. Cooking for yourself is still cheaper than eating out.
• Eating out: Restaurant visits add up fast. Many artists keep this for occasional treats or meetings.
• Transport: Swiss public transport is excellent and reliable but not cheap. If you plan multiple trips to Thun, Bern, or Basel, look into regional or national travel passes.
• Materials: Specialist art supplies may require trips to larger towns or online orders. Factor shipping costs and delivery time into your schedule.

The residency’s own financial support structure can change, so always check the current conditions. Some periods might offer more support than others.

Getting there and getting around

Reaching Sigriswil usually means layering train and bus routes.

• By train: Travel to Thun, which functions as your gateway city.
• By bus: From Thun, a bus or road transfer takes you up to Sigriswil. Services are regular but less frequent than in a city, especially later in the evening.
• By car: A car gives more freedom if you work on location, shoot in remote spots, or move materials. In winter, you need to be confident driving in snow and ice.

Because the residency runs in winter, think about:

• winter clothing and footwear for snow and cold
• how early darkness affects your filming or drawing outdoors
• what gear really needs to come with you, and what you can source locally

Visas and paperwork

Visa requirements depend on your nationality, length of stay, and whether you receive a stipend or fee.

• EU/EFTA artists: Typically have easier entry and residence conditions, especially for short stays.
• Non-EU/EFTA artists: Often need a Schengen visa for short stays. Longer stays or paid work may need additional permits.

For your application and travel planning, ask the residency to provide:

• an official invitation letter with exact dates
• a statement about accommodation being provided
• clarification on stipends or payments
• any previous experiences they have with artists from your country

Then check with the Swiss embassy or consulate in your country and verify requirements around insurance, financial proof, and Schengen stay limits.

When to go and who this suits

Residencies in Sigriswil focus on the winter period, but the region has something useful for your practice year-round if you plan your stay strategically.

Seasonal feel

• Winter: The main residency season. Snow, quiet streets, and a strong sense of being cocooned in the mountains. Perfect for deep work, editing, and focused project development.
• Spring and summer: More daylight and easier hiking. If you extend your stay independently, this is ideal for plein-air work, expansive photography, and walking-based research.
• Autumn: Strong color, sharp light, and shifting weather. Great for photographers, writers, and anyone who works with mood and transition.

For residency applications, think back six to twelve months from your ideal working period. Calls often open well in advance, and the cohort is small.

Which artists get the most out of Sigriswil

You are likely to thrive in Sigriswil if you:

• value quiet, structured time away from a dense scene
• are inspired by mountain and lake landscapes
• work well in a small, communal group and enjoy studio conversations
• can adapt your practice to a live/work house rather than an industrial studio
• are excited by the idea of leaving a focused “trace” of your time there

You might struggle with Sigriswil if you absolutely need:

• large-scale fabrication facilities, heavy equipment, or big workshops
• a dense calendar of openings, talks, and public events
• constant face-to-face access to curators, collectors, and institutions

For many artists, a stay at P.AiR.S works best as part of a larger arc: a period of intense, quiet production in Sigriswil, paired with time in cities like Bern or Basel for meetings, exhibitions, and visibility.

How to use this information

To turn Sigriswil from a vague idea into a concrete plan:

• Read through the current call and details at pairs.ch.
• Map out how a 2 × 7-week winter stay fits into your year of projects and commitments.
• Draft a project proposal that shows both your independent focus and how you see yourself contributing to a small group.
• Budget realistically for food, travel, and any time you might stay in Switzerland before or after the residency.
• Keep regional cities like Thun, Bern, and Basel in mind for research, networking, or follow-up presentations of work started in Sigriswil.

If you are after a residency that feels like a quiet yet connected working retreat in the mountains, Sigriswil is worth putting on your list.