Region Örebro County

AiR in Örebro County - art in the public space

Region Örebro County is a political assembly elected by the citizens. An executive board leads and coordinates Region Örebro Countys activities, first and foremost in the field of the public health care system. Region Örebro County is also responsible for research, education and regional growth. It is also engaged in issues concerning economy, the European market, environmental issues, communications, tourism and culture.

AiR in Örebro County is a new international and interdisciplinary artist-in-residence program with an orientation towards art in the public space. It is a collaboration between municipalities and Region Örebro County. AiR in Örebro County also collaborates with local artists and art associations as well as the OpenART biennale. It is supported by the Swedish Arts Grants Committee's international programme for Visual and Applied Artists, IASPIS.

AiR in Örebro County is a fully funded residence program, inviting 5 contemporary artists, craftsmen and designers, with an interest in working within the framework of art in the public space, to live and work during a period of 7 weeks during 2020 in one of four participating municipalities in Örebro County. The hosting sites have all unique environment and history, spanning from the old mining site in Stripa, the historical Frövifors paper mill museum, the cultural heritage village of Nora and weapon industry centre of Karlskoga, to the university city of Örebro with its well-known and growing contemporary art biennial OpenART.

The objective of the program is to initiate new professional networks through international exchange, developing the regional art scene and to offer the participating artists the possibility of elaborating on and exploring new processes, methods and designs in their work with art in the public space. The program facilitates opportunities for residents to engage with institutions, organizations, local actors and communities as well as the public.

The program is held in English and is open to a multitude of disciplines. Applicants must hold a non-Swedish citizenship. The duration of the program is 7 weeks in total, divided in two periods. The first period consisting of ten days, March 16-25, serving as an introduction, networking and researching phase, where all residents partake. The second period consists of 5 weeks either in spring or summer/fall depending on the hosting site chosen. For the second session, which is the work phase, each resident focus individually on their project. The residents can choose between the following two periods: 20 April - 24 May or 3 August - 6 Sepetember.

Information about the 5 different locations of the program:

• Karlskoga (20 April - 24 May) is the second largest municipality of the region, being the former residence of Alfred Nobel and a centre for the Swedish weapon industry, it has a prosperous trade and industry and approximately 30000 inhabitants. The local culture is characterized by the rich industrial history, but also by a flourishing cultural life and a strong third sector. The residence program in Karlskoga wishes to focus on the public space and encourage applicants with participatory practices. Parts of the program will involve art students at the Karlskoga Folkhögskola collage. Studio and workshop space will be tailored to the invited artists’ needs and wishes. Accommodation is offered at Karlskoga Folkhögskola, a collage specialized in adult education, ceramics, fine arts, martial arts and digital design. The collage hosts a vivid mini community of residents just by the lake Möckeln. Half-board is possible to book.
• Stripa Gruva (20 April - 24 May or 3 August - 6 Sepetember) - The Stripa mines dates back to mediaeval times and is the best preserved historical iron mining sites in Sweden. Today it serves as a museum, as well as a platform for cultural events, concerts, theatre, art shows and it even has its own micro-brewery. Stripa is situated in the municipality of Lindesberg. The local hosts request for applicant’s artistic practice to have some affiliation to mining or minerals. Accommodation and studio space will be offered in the mining area or in close proximity.
• Frövifors Pappersbruksmuseum (20 April - 24 May) - The Frövifors paper mill museum is situated just by the modern and in-use paper mill Billerud Korsnäs. The museum is an exciting mix of contemporary and historical environment, offering cultural events, paper art exhibitions and music concerts, as well as exhibiting the old historical methods and equipment for paper making. Frövifors Pappersbruksmuseum is of the last years establishing as a national platform for contemporary paper art. Frövifors is situated in the municipality of Lindesberg. The local host encourages applicants interested in working with paper as a medium and has a wish for the invited artist to present their work in an exhibition during the summer. Studio space will be offered in the old paper mill. Accommodation is presented in the charming old workers cottage from 1906, now serving as a hostel.
• Nora (3 August - 6 Sepetember) is a small rural municipality with a rich cultural heritage, famous for being one of Sweden’s best preserved and most picturesque wooden towns. The area has a vivid cultural scene, consisting of numerous artists, crafts people, and actors. The residence program in Nora will be held in close co-operation with local artists and the creation of the yearly art festival and art walk named Ljusstråk. The resident will receive an open working space in the former brewery building, which will later transform into a showroom during the Ljusstråk art festival. The invited artist is required to present in a finalizing exhibition during Ljusstråk art festival. Accommodation is offered in close proximity to the studio space and will be announced later.
• Örebro (20 April - 24 May or 3 August - 6 Sepetember) is one of the larger cities of Sweden, inhabiting 150000 citizens; it is the administrative centre of Örebro County. Historically it has been a trading point and best known as “city of shoes and biscuits”. Today Örebro hosts the well-known contemporary art biennial OpenART and in recent years, public art and the OpenART art biennial has given new perspectives on the city. Örebro Municipality want to invite an artist who is interested in developing new methods and processes for working with the intersection between art and the public. The city has a number of studio associations, artist-run galleries and workshop spaces possible to use. The participating artist will be offered studio and accommodation in collaboration with Örebro art school and a newly founded farm co-operative located 15 km from the city centre.

Residents are expected to present their work in a public lecture, and to participate in network meetings. There are possibilities of giving a finalizing show or presentation of outcomes if requested by the artist. In Nora and Frövifors there are requests of a final exhibition.

Accommodation vary between the different locations. Please see the description above.

Studio and workshop spaces vary between the different locations, please see information above. Spaces are tailored as much as possible to the needs of the invited artists.