Open call: Grant-funded studio apartment in Tapiola Studio Building
In cooperation with the City of Espoo and Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA), the Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation launches grant-funded studio apartment activities in the Tapiola Studio Building located in Espoo. Through the grant-funded studio apartment activity, the Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation and the City of Espoo's Cultural Unit want to support visual artists in the early stages of their careers while also making the work of the visual artists in the Tapiola Studio Building visible to audiences.
An artist will be selected to live and work in the grant-funded studio for a fixed period of three years. The Tapiola Studio Building is a unique terraced-house type building comprising 10 residential studios designed by architect Aulis Blomstedt in 1955. The building is located at Nallenpolku 1, Espoo.
The grant-funded studio apartment is aimed at professional visual artists who are in the early stages of their careers. The grant-funded studio apartment can be applied for by visual artists currently living and working in Finland who have graduated / begun to work in the profession no more than approximately five years ago or who are approaching the end of their studies preparing for the profession of visual artist.
Through the grant-funded studio apartment activity, the Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation and the City of Espoo's Cultural Unit want to support visual artists in the early stages of their careers while also making the work of the visual artists in the Tapiola Studio Building visible to audiences.
The selected grant recipient will be required to commit to annual audience outreach work (e.g., meetings with the artist, open doors, and other public events), 1–3 events per year. The audience outreach related to the grant-funded studio apartment activities will be carried out in cooperation with the partner of the activities, Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA). The artist will be paid a remuneration for the events related to audience outreach in accordance with the recommended remunerations in the art sector.
The grant recipient will also commit to serve as an artist and art specialist of the City of Espoo if necessary. These development tasks will be agreed on with the grant recipient, and a separate remuneration will be paid for them.
Details of the grant-funded studio apartment
The size of the apartment is 78m2 + a sleeping loft.
The size of the studio space included in the apartment is approximately 60m2.
There are a small kitchen and a bathroom on the first floor of the apartment. On the second floor, there is a large high studio space with a loft suitable for sleeping in the other end. The apartment is not accessible. The size of the apartment is best suited for one person or a family of two or a couple.
The rent of the grant-funded studio apartment is EUR 500 per month for the grant recipient. The apartment will be rented out to be used as an apartment and a visual artist’s studio.
Because of the funding awarded to the grant-funded studio apartment concept by the City of Espoo, the rent is lower than the general rental level of the Foundation’s studio apartments.
The grant recipient’s working and residence period may begin on 1 December 2025 at the earliest and on 15 January 2026 at the latest. The working and residence period will end on 31 January 2028.
Applying and selection of the grant recipient
Two viewings with the same content will be organised in the grant-funded studio apartment:
- 16.30–17.30 on Monday 22 September 2025,
- 13.30–14.30 on Thursday 9 October 2025
Please pre-register for the viewing by email: alina.manttari@ateljeesaatio.fi
The grant-funded studio apartment can be applied for by filling in the application form(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish).
A curriculum vitae, an application letter and photographs of works or a portfolio shall be submitted with the application form. Application period is 12 September 2025–12 October 2025. The deadline for applications is at 23.59 on Sunday 12 October 2025.
Artistic merits will be emphasised in the selection. In addition, the selection criteria include the artist’s interest and readiness to explain their work to audiences and to work in co-operation.
In their application letter attached to the application form, applicants are requested to describe their artistic work, life situation and thoughts regarding audience outreach and their relationship with encounters with audiences.
The grant recipient will be selected by a jury consisting of representatives chosen by the Finnish Artists’ Studio Foundation, the City of Espoo and Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA). The jury may invite between 1 and 3 artists to an interview before making its decision. The applicants who will be invited to an interview will be contacted on Monday 27 October 2025. The interviews will take place remotely before 12.00 noon on Wednesday 29 October 2025.
Applicants will be notified of the decision by the end of October 2025.
A rental agreement, a separate cooperation agreement on audience outreach and a separate cooperation agreement with the City of Espoo will be concluded with the artist selected.
Further information:
Alina Mänttäri, Director alina.manttari@ateljeesaatio.fi
If you contact us by telephone, we request that you call us during the following times, where possible:
Friday 19 September, 12.00–13.00
Friday 26 September, 14.00–16.00
Wednesday 9 October, 17.00 –18.00