HIAP Helsinki Palestinian Artist Residency Spring 2027: €3,600 Grant and Free Studio, Apply by November 2
HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme and Sumud are inviting professional Palestinian contemporary artists based in Palestine or in the Palestinian diaspora to apply for a residency in Helsinki in spring 2027. The application deadline is November 2, 2026 at 15:00 Finland time (GMT+2). The residency lasts 90 days, from April 12 to July 11, 2027, and is based at the Cable Factory arts complex. The program supports visual, interdisciplinary and media-based practices but is not a general worldwide open call independent of Palestinian background.
A three-month studio and €3,600 total grant
The selected artist receives a combined live/work studio of approximately 63 square meters at Cable Factory, one round trip from the artist's home and a €3,600 working grant for the three-month period. The accommodation provides a kitchenette, private bathroom and sleeping loft; access is also offered to HIAP community spaces and some shared equipment. This is a total working grant, not €3,600 paid every month. There is no requirement to produce a finished new artwork or exhibition, although discussions about future projects are possible.
Who qualifies and what counts as professional practice?
The call is expressly for Palestinian artists currently living in Palestine or in the diaspora, including artists of Palestinian descent. HIAP interprets professional practice as sustained engagement with art, and does not demand a particular degree, commercial gallery representation or established exhibition history. Applicants can come from contemporary visual arts, moving images, sound, interdisciplinary and related practices. Those outside the specified applicant group should seek different international HIAP open calls rather than submit to this restricted residency.
Application format and access support
Use the organizer's online form; applications by email are not accepted. Applicants can respond in English as writing, audio or video. The requirements include a professional background and biography of at most 250 words or two minutes, a similar-length explanation of why this residency is timely, and a portfolio link of at most ten pages or five minutes. The external portfolio must open without access restrictions or an expired password. The form also provides a confidential space to describe accessibility requirements.
Visa assistance is not emergency evacuation
HIAP states that it can assist with a visa process and has a budget for related application and travel-to-embassy costs, but visas cannot be guaranteed. The organizer explicitly cannot provide emergency evacuation support, a critical consideration for artists who cannot currently travel safely. Applicants in Gaza are still welcome, and selected people may discuss deferred or remote arrangements. No applicant should make unsafe travel assumptions or treat a potential residency selection as guaranteed relocation.
About HIAP and its partners
HIAP has operated international art residencies in Helsinki since 1998 and annually welcomes dozens of artists to the Cable Factory and Suomenlinna island facilities. Sumud is the partner for this dedicated Palestinian artist residency; it is supported through the Finnish cultural sector's solidarity residency network. The dated official call publishes exact benefits, eligible practice, submission procedure and institutional contact options. The program provides time and supportive artistic connections, not a salaried permanent appointment.
Deadline: November 2, 2026 at 15:00 GMT+2. Residency: April 12–July 11, 2027. Benefits: one €3,600 working grant, free live/work space and one round trip.
Official organizer and application
Information checked October 24, 2026. Verify the official current rules, exact time zone, conditions and any fees before applying.