The Carmen residency programme

The OSKAR Centre for Intercultural Interaction headed by Cultural Counsellor Veijo Baltzar was opened in Kuopio, Northern Savo in November 2018. The region represents traditional Finnish countryside with beautiful landscapes, forests and hundreds of lakes. At the same, OSKAR center is situated 19 km from the vital City of Kuopio. The Centre invites artists, scientists, cultural figures, politicians and young people to share wide-ranging dialogue and debate with the goal of tackling the common European challenges of multiculturalism. The key objective of the OSKAR centre is to promote intercultural debate, interaction and learning through arts and culture, to expand knowledge of related innovation, development strategies, actions and measures, and of different ways to pose constructive challenges for society.

Oskar centre is located in a beautiful forested rural setting, the real appeal. The building boldly blends traditional log architecture and a modern contemporary touch with a robust choice of material providing guests and visitors a moment of rest, a break from daily routines, and a path to creativity and inspiration.

Since beginning of 2019, there are three artistic residency programmes in action in the OSKAR Centre. The Carmen programme supports non-Finnish artists and scientists from any parts of the world who discuss and promote intercultural interaction within their work. The definition of “intercultural interaction” is up to the applicant to define. The call is open for all disciplines. The duration of the residency is between 2 weeks – 2 months. The OSKAR centre offers artists:

• accommodation
• working space
• mentoring and training
• residency support staff

The selected artists are required to:

• make a contribution to the activities of the centre (artists may suggest the form that best suits them in the application, it can be a workshop, lecture, masterclass or something else)
• partial participation to the residency rental costs (100 €/wk)

Oskar centre currently welcomes applications from artists interested in becoming residents for Spring 2019. Also applicants interested in other seasons (Summer/Autumn 2019), pls follow the same deadline. Send a free-form application to [email protected] on 15 March 2019 at the latest including:

• artistic portfolio or other presentation
• ideal length and timing of the residency
• working plan for residency programme activity (including goals)
• CV