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About
The SÍM Residency, an initiative of SÍM - The Association of Icelandic Visual Artists, stands as a beacon of artistic growth and cultural immersion in Reykjavik, Iceland. Founded by SÍM, Iceland's largest organization for professional artists, the residency upholds the association’s commitment to enhancing artists' livelihoods and rights. Evolving from a modest apartment to a hub hosting international artists, it has become Reykjavik's most established and inspirational artist residency. With locations at Seljavegur in the bustling city center and Korpúlfsstaðir on the serene outskirts, the residency offers diverse environments for artistic work, housing around 70 studios including specialized facilities for Textiles, Ceramics, and Printmaking. This setup fosters a dynamic and collaborative community, enabling artists to engage deeply with their practice. SÍM Residency’s commitment to international exchange is evident in its numerous partnerships across Europe, promoting a global artistic dialogue and collaboration. Participating artists benefit from a range of programs, including public events and solo exhibitions, while also enjoying privileged access to Reykjavik’s prominent cultural institutions through the SÍM Guest Artist card.
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Reviews(8)
This residency was meaningful for my practice primarily because of the discussion opportunities, and also the private time for exploration. The environment itself was very conducive to focused thinking and I have memorable experiences not just of the new work that I made but also what I learned from the role of art in the places around me, and the perspectives of the international artists I got to learn from. This residency requires grant funding to support it unless you will be self-funding.
SIM is one of the best places to be creative and feel free. The way SIM operates and builds community is another level, which I really appreciate. I hope many artists can experience this.
I speak from the point of view of a dancer. I loved my experience there. It might be tricky for a dancer, since the space itself doesn't have a dance space itself, but they have a good relation with a dance studio 15 min walk away. That should be taken into account when applying for grants, to include the fees of the dance space as well. Everything went very smoothly for me though, and what I created there, I still hold dear in my artistic practice. The rooms where you sleep have a beautiful desk, and space to think with a calm environment. I would advise to go there and I would go back there myself again, as soon as I get the chance.
SÍM residency is run by a group of extremely dedicated and supportive individuals. I was sharing living spaces with a group of about 10 artists from all around the world. As part of the residency program we frequently engaged in pre-programmed (as well as spontaneous) excursions, presentations and artist talks. For the period of a month I felt like I was taken in by a new, small artist family, in which everyone supported and collaborated with each other. I made new friends, I had incredible experiences. SÍM gave advice, support and guidelines on networking, finding the appropriate art materials, traveling in Iceland, and helped in every possible way to keep us comfortable, creative and happy. Would recommend this residency program 100% and would love to go back in the future.
The costs are high, because the island is expensive. You need grants from your country.
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