Open Call

Artist in Residence
Geiranger – Møllstunet

Geiranger Light Art Festival and the Geirangerfjord World Heritage Foundation invite artists to apply for an Artist in Residence stay in Geiranger. 

Through AIR Geiranger, we aim to facilitate artistic residencies in one of the most distinctive fjord landscapes in the world. The Geirangerfjord is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site West Norwegian Fjords, and has inspired artists from Norway and abroad throughout history. We now invite artists to work site-specifically with light, landscape, darkness, cultural heritage and local community in the lead-up to Geiranger Light Art Festival. 

The residency takes place at Møllstunet in Geiranger, a protected farmstead with strong local cultural and historical value. The artist will be provided with free accommodation during the residency and access to a workshop/office space at the Norwegian Fjord Centre. The aim is to offer time, space and proximity to the place, enabling the artist to develop a work that will be presented during Geiranger Light Art Festival 2027. 

About the residency 

We are announcing Artist in Residence stays of 2–6 weeks during the period October–February. 

The residency includes: 

  • free accommodation at Møllstunet in Geiranger 
  • access to a workshop/office space at the Norwegian Fjord Centre 
  • the opportunity to work closely with the World Heritage landscape, the village and local professional communities 
  • the opportunity to include a workshop or activity for children and young people as part of the project 

Applicants must cover their own food expenses. Other practical and financial conditions will be clarified as part of the agreement. 

Artistic outcome 

The artist will develop a work to be presented during Geiranger Light Art Festival. The work will be remunerated. Fee, scope and production conditions must be agreed in advance. 

All other conditions relating to the work follow the same terms as in the open call for Geiranger Light Art Festival. This includes, among other things, clarifications related to production, technical implementation, exhibition period, documentation, rights, safety, installation and dismantling. 

Who can apply? 

The open call is open to professional artists and artist groups working with light art, site-specific art, installation, sound, video, scenography, digital art, interdisciplinary expressions or other relevant art forms. 

We are particularly interested in projects that engage with one or more of the following themes: 

  • the fjord landscape as an artistic space 
  • cultural heritage, protected buildings and preservation through use 
  • nature, climate and sustainability 
  • local communities, sense of place and winter life 
  • children and young people as participants or co-creators 
  • encounters between art, technology and nature 

Geiranger Light Art Festival has previously worked with site-specific artworks where mountainsides, waterfalls, water, trees and village spaces have been important elements in the art. The festival is developed as a social, inclusive and outdoor experience of art, light and nature during the winter season. 

Application content 

The application must clearly state that you are applying for Artist in Residence Geiranger – Møllstunet. 

The application must include: 

  • name, contact information and a short artist biography 
  • CV and link to portfolio/website 
  • short project description 
  • sketch or preliminary idea for the work 
  • preferred period of residency, within the period October–February 
  • preferred length of residency, 2–6 weeks 
  • technical requirements and preliminary production plan 
  • a preliminary budget and financing plan for the project, including the proposed fee for the work, production costs and any other confirmed or planned sources of funding 
  • whether the project can include a workshop, artist talk or activity for children and young people 
  • any relevant experience from site-specific projects, public spaces or light art 

Workshops for children and young people 

It may be relevant to connect workshops or participatory activities for children and young people to the AiR project. This could, for example, be a practical workshop, an artist talk, an educational programme for schools or a process in which children and young people gain insight into how an artwork is developed. 

If this is relevant to your project, please describe it in the application. Smart Fjord Culture emphasises that children and young people should be able to gain insight into artistic processes and act as co-creators in public, physical and digital spaces. 

Assessment 

Applications will be assessed according to: 

  • artistic quality 
  • relevance to Geiranger Light Art Festival 
  • site-specific connection to Geiranger, the World Heritage area or Møllstunet 
  • feasibility within the given timeframe, budget and technical framework 
  • potential as a public experience 
  • potential value for children, young people and the local community 
  • how the project can contribute to the further development of AIR Geiranger 

About AIR Geiranger 

AIR Geiranger is part of the Geirangerfjord World Heritage Foundation’s commitment to art, culture and creative industries in the World Heritage area. The aim is to develop a programme where artists can come to Geiranger, find inspiration, work and give something back to the local community. 


Application deadline 

Application deadline: July 30th 2026 

Send your application to: gunnaringe@verdsarvfjord.no 

Please mark the email with: Artist Residency Geiranger Light Art Festival