Mustarinda Association trials a thematic residency year to gather likeminded artists, researchers, and other professionals to live and work together in the house for 2-6 weeks. We invite applicants to join a collective research conversation about the preparation of the Vaara-Kainuu Art National Park (ANP)—a nature preservation and regional development initiative—and consider the topic of ecotones (defined in detail below and in this pdf) within the 2026 residency program.

Mustarinda’s goal in the coming years is that the group of professionals visiting and staying in the residency will be even more diverse in future, in terms of intersectionality, as well as skill sets, forms of knowledge, and expertise.

As in past years, successful applicants contribute rent to cover residency costs, however funding is being sought to support future ANP commissions and programming collaborations for 2026 and beyond. Pending funding, a program of ANP Open House events will be organised that residents may wish to participate in, and the fees and support offered will be decided by the ANP Coordinator (Laura Mellanen) and curator (Katie Lenanton). Letters of Confirmation can be provided to successful applicants, e.g. for those seeking funding to support their stay, for slow travel funding, or for visa requirements.

Working periods:

WINTER:

2 week period from January 14.–30.1.2026

SPRING-SUMMER:

1 month periods February–May

AUTUMN:

1 month periods September–October

6 week period from November–mid December 2.11.–13.12.2026

We will contact all applicants during the first weeks of December 2025.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Mustarinda is a community in the making since 2009, and for this multidisciplinary residency we welcome all manner of practices, mediums, practitioners, and projects. Our activities are grounded in the local context, as well as contemporary art, boundary-crossing research, practical experimentation, communication, education, volunteering, collectivity, and events. We are committed to fostering an accessible, diverse, safe, and supportive residency environment.

One family room is available in each residency period. One pet-friendly room is available in each residency period. If you wish to participate with a carer or assistant who requires an additional room, please indicate this in your application, along with the number of rooms needed. If you’re part of a collective, please indicate the number of rooms needed.

Mustarinda house is an old, wooden school house located in an isolated area, and surrounded by uneven ground (alongside a dirt road, and by a large forest area on a hill). There are therefore many limitations on accessibility—the house is not easily accessible for wheelchair users, for example. But we aim to do all we can to accommodate people within the time, resources, and capacities at our disposal. If you wish to confidentially discuss access needs prior to application to better assess if Mustarinda is a good fit for you, please email info@mustarinda.fi with CONFIDENTIAL in the subject. We can continue the conversation via email or a call.