Details
EISA (European Initiative for Submerging Artists) is hosting its first-ever laboratory for submerging artist based in Northern Europe. The initiative seeks to create a supportive environment for those bravely embracing decline, stagnation, or disappointment in their artistic trajectory.

To be eligible, the applicant artist — or at least half of the members in an applicant group — must be based in one of the following host countries: Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland or Denmark.

Applicants from Germany are also accepted, as EISA believes inclusivity must extend to Germany too.

We are also accepting one application from France. (First come first served -principle)

Residency
The selected submerging artist or group will spend two contemplative weeks in the Kouvola city of Finland at some point from January – April 2026, hosted at Mikael’s mökki, a rustic cottage next to a road offering ideal conditions for introspection.

All travel expenses and food / drink costs will be covered entirely by the artists themselves. EISA will provide a bed in the cottage and a certificate of submergence upon completion.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted via the EISA online platform by Nov 20th 2025 at 23:59 EET (20.11.2025). Please note that applications submitted too early will not be considered, while those submitted after the deadline will receive full consideration.

Submissions must include the following materials:

• Current State of Submersion
  A concise statement outlining your present condition within the artistic field — whether you find yourself drifting, sinking, pausing, or otherwise adjusting to reduced visibility.
• Previous Failed Works and Funding Attempts
  A transparent overview of previous projects and funding applications that did not reach completion or success. Please include the actual sums of missed funding, converted into EUR, as part of your reflective assessment.
• Project Description
  A clear yet tentative description (max. 1,000 words) of your intended project for the Kouvola residency. You may include concepts, unrealised ideas, or ongoing uncertainties that define your practice at this stage.
• Anticipated Failure
  A short written reflection on how you foresee your project not succeeding. Consider both practical and conceptual factors that may contribute to its eventual dissolution.
• Key Areas of Submergence
  Identify the main domains in which you currently experience decline — for example, aesthetic, professional or geographical.
• Curriculum Vitae (Attachment, CV)
  A single document (PDF preferred, max. 10 MB) detailing your relevant experience and prior artistic activity.
• Project Plan (Attachment, Optional)
  A supporting document outlining your approach to the residency.
  Please note that an overly convincing or complete plan may be grounds for rejection, as EISA values processes that remain open, uncertain, and unresolved.

Selected participants must confirm their willingness and ability to cover all personal travel, food, and drink expenses.

Before the residency period begins, all selected applicants will take part in 10 short online meetings via Zoom and 5 individual phone calls with the EISA coordination team. These sessions are designed to clarify expectations, ensure shared understanding, and gradually align participants with the program’s decelerated tempo.

All applicants will be notified by email once decisions have been made. Unfortunately, feedback for unsuccessful candidates will not be provided.