Free Land Art Residencies

TUO TUO

Joutsa, Finland

TUO TUO is an artist-led residency situated in the former schoolhouse of Pynnölä village, Joutsa, established in January 2020. This residency is dedicated to exploring the intersections of sound, visual arts, performance, and environmental sciences within an ecological arts framework. It serves as a collaborative, ever-evolving ecosystem that supports experimentation and future-oriented community projects centered around ecological thinking. The residency is set in a rural, serene environment that stimulates transdisciplinary dialogue and pancultural pluralism, integrating deeply with both the local and international cultural landscapes. TUO TUO fosters a supportive atmosphere for residents to engage in radical rethinking across disciplines, welcoming proposals related to ecological art and research, ecopsychology, healing, poetry, and permaculture among others. Residents at TUO TUO are provided with a private bedroom, workspace access, and communal facilities including a kitchen, library, and laundry, all conducive to both solitary reflection and collective experimentation. The residency promotes sustainable living practices and provides a wood-burning sauna and spaces for social interaction and public engagement such as workshops and exhibitions.

Ateljé A-M

Örträsk, Sweden

Ateljé A-M is an artist residency in Västra Örträsk, Swedish Lapland, housed in a former 1958 free church with studio, apartment, and facilities for visual arts, literary arts, research, sculpture, design, environmental art, and music.

Bernheim Artist in Residence

Clermont, United States

The Bernheim Artist in Residence Program, established in 1980 at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, Kentucky, annually selects up to four visual and mixed media artists to live and create site-specific works inspired by the natural environment. Artists receive a $2,500 stipend, housing in a furnished one-room cabin, and access to a lakeside studio, with one slot dedicated to regional artists from Kentucky or nearby Indiana counties and another to those addressing environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss. Residents must produce at least one artwork for Bernheim and participate in a public engagement program.

Bodhi Khaya Residency

Stanford, South Africa

Bodhi Khaya Artist Residency is an annual two-week, funded residency created by and for artists, founded in to provide emerging and mid-career South African artists with opportunities to explore their relationship with the environment through creative practice. Artists immerse themselves across three neighboring nature reserves surrounded by Afro-montane forests and fynbos, with the land itself serving as a collaborator in their artistic exploration.

Cheng Long Wetlands

Kouhu Township, Taiwan

The Cheng Long Wetlands International Environmental Art Project is an annual artist residency in a rural village on Taiwan's southwestern coast where international artists create site-specific environmental sculpture installations focused on ecological and food production issues, working collaboratively with local elementary school children and community residents. Artists use recycled and natural materials to produce large-scale artworks displayed in village public spaces, abandoned buildings, and the wetlands nature preserve.

Context AiR Plovdiv

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Context AiR Plovdiv is an artists-in-residence program initiated and funded by the Culture Department of the Municipality of Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city. It focuses on producing new artistic works in public space inspired by interactions with the city's distinctive history, heritage, and communities. The program provides full scholarships covering living expenses, production costs, and shared living/working spaces at Nishaniyan House, while requiring artists to organize public presentations and community engagement events.

Enclave Land Art

L'Alcudia de Crespins, Spain

Non-profit association created in November building international projects linked to contemporary art. Land art creative residency focusing on dialogue between human beings and nature.

Franconia Sculpture Park

Franconia, United States

Franconia Sculpture Park offers various artist residencies on its 50-acre outdoor sculpture park in Minnesota, primarily focused on sculpture, installation, land art, ceramics, contemporary craft, experimental sound/music, performance art, and writing. Programs include fellowships for mid-career and emerging artists with stipends ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, self-directed stays of 2-10 weeks, on-site housing in a communal farmhouse, and facilities like studios and work pads for creating works exhibited publicly. Additional opportunities support writers (2-3 weeks with stipend and room/board), artist families (1-2 weeks), and interns (2-3 months with room/board in exchange for support roles).

IOU Creation Centre

Halifax, United Kingdom

The IOU Creation Centre in Halifax, UK, offers artist residencies including a rolling 6-month live-in program at the IOU Hostel in Hebden Bridge, providing rent-free accommodation, access to studios, workshops, and creative mentorship for interdisciplinary artists responding to IOU's archive and approach. Specific opportunities include a fully funded 6-month residency from April to September with a £3,000 production budget and a one-week residency in June for body-based performance and land art artists, featuring stipends, travel, and materials support. Artists can lead workshops, hold exhibitions, and receive professional development as part of IOU's year-round support for experimental art, engineering, and technology practices.

Kinono Tinos Art Gathering

Tinos, Greece

Kinono Tinos Art Gathering is a multidimensional cultural organization in Tinos, Greece, since , running the 'Four-plus one- Elements' residency program that integrates the landscape, seasons, and elements (earth, water, air, fire, plus time) into artistic creations. It hosts interdisciplinary artists for site-specific works including visual arts, performing arts, sound, film, workshops, and research projects in non-urban island locations, fostering collaboration with locals and producing content for a digital artistic map of Tinos. The program emphasizes reflection on nature, tradition, history, and metaphysics, with past editions like the residency involving around 45 participants across five landmarks.

Kjerringøy Land Art Biennale /24

Kjerrengøy, Norway

The Kjerringøy Land Art Biennale /24, organized by K-Lab, is an artist residency program inviting professional international artists to create site-specific land art projects in Kjerringøy, Northern Norway, emphasizing ecology, mindful interaction with nature, and use of natural, biodegradable materials. Selected artists (6-8) participate in a two-year process with two onsite residencies: approximately 8 weeks in May-June for planning and workshops, and 5 weeks in June-July for production and presentation during Bodø's European Capital of Culture. K-Lab provides travel, accommodation, artist fees, and additional income opportunities like workshops.

Krowji

Redruth (near Tehidy Country Park), United Kingdom

The Tehidy Creative Residency Programme is an initiative managed by Krowji, in partnership with Cornwall Council, designed to foster creative engagement with the natural environment of Tehidy Country Park in Cornwall, UK. This program offers up to four funded residencies for creative practitioners from various disciplines who are passionate about exploring the natural world and engaging diverse audiences. The residencies, which can last up to three months, provide free accommodation in a renovated estate worker’s cottage, complete with studio space and access to the surrounding woodland. While the residency does not provide a stipend or materials budget, it offers a unique setting to inspire creative outputs and the opportunity to contribute to the cultural and creative growth of Cornwall.

Project COAL

Belval-Bois-des-Dames, France

Project COAL offers an artist residency at Domaine de Belval in Belval-Bois-des-Dames, France, as part of the COAL Art and Environment Prize awarded by the COAL association in partnership with the François Sommer Foundation. The residency supports artists exploring the relationship between humans and nature, providing accommodation on the estate—an observatory of rural life and wildlife—but no dedicated workshop or production tools, making it suitable for short stays of a few days to weeks.

Rejmyre Art Lab Center for Peripheral Studies

Rejmyre, Sweden

Rejmyre Art Lab Center for Peripheral Studies is an artist-run organization in Rejmyre, Sweden, founded in by artists Daniel Peltz and Sissi Westerberg, focusing on long-term, place-based artistic research exploring rural, industrial, ecological, and social contexts through ensemble residencies and embedded practices. It offers funded international residency programs like Tropism and Refuging, providing stipends, housing, production support, and access to spaces such as the Refuging Pavilion, with emphasis on collective reflection, community engagement, and site-specific installations. Activities include post-MFA fellowships, experimental glass projects, seminars, exhibitions, and pedagogical programs in the village.

Tagete

Messina, Italy

The Tagete Artistic Residency is held in the San Jachiddu Ecological Park in Messina, Italy. This program offers a unique opportunity for artists to explore the intersection between urban and natural environments through Environmental and Site-Specific Art. Selected artists will stay for 21 days, creating works inspired by the park’s rich history and biodiversity. The residency aims to foster connections, encourage creativity, and contribute to the cultural heritage of Messina. Participants will receive accommodation, meals, materials, and travel expenses. The call is open to artists from Creative Europe countries, excluding Italy, and emphasizes critical engagement with nature and sustainability.

Terrain Exhibitions

​Springfield, United States

The Terrain Residency, hosted by the Springfield Art Association (SAA) Enos Park Residency for Visual Artists, is located in Springfield, Illinois, and invites artists to live and work in a duplex for four to six weeks every summer to develop public projects such as art installations, architectural interventions, performances, social practice, and community programs. Residents have access to specialized Visual Arts studio facilities at the University of Illinois Springfield, receive a $600 stipend, though a $50/week fee applies, and can utilize the historic neighborhood for site-based works.

The Farm

Margaret River, Australia

The Farm Margaret River, situated in the scenic South West region of Western Australia, is a multifaceted rural property that marries agricultural operations with artistic creativity. Founded in 2017 by Helen and Darryl Mack, it serves as both a sanctuary and a workspace for artists looking to engage deeply with the natural landscape. The Farm is nestled among ancient karri forests and rugged coastlines, offering artists a unique opportunity to explore and create site-specific works. It supports a diverse range of visual arts, including painting, sculpture, photography, and land art, providing residents with studios, workshops, and accommodation facilities. Residencies are funded and focus on ecological and cultural engagement, encouraging artists to produce works that reflect their interaction with the local environment. The Farm emphasizes community involvement through open studios, workshops, and exhibitions, making art accessible and fostering connections between artists and the local community.