
Hermitage Sykaminea
This year, the first Open Call for the residency programme of the Hermitage Sykaminea (HS) is taking
place. The aim of the programme is to provide space for teamwork in the fields of crafts, architecture,
design and arts. Preference will be given to projects with a local and/or ecological content. However, this
is not a prerequisite for application. Scholarships will be awarded to two groups for the year 2024.
The HS is located outside the village of Sykaminea, secluded in a 4000sqm olive grove in the north of the
island of Lesvos. It consists of two wooden houses and a pergola. It was founded in 2016 as a place for
retreat. Between 2020-22 it has been restructured and became a gathering point for creativity.
Two periods of 3 and 2 months are available: First period: 01 April - 30 June 2024 Second period: 01 October - 30 November 2024
A public presentation at the end of the residency, showing the results of the stay.
At the beginning of the residency, an introductory event is held for the scholarship holders. After that, we are available once a week to answer questions. In monthly island excursions, the scholarship holders are informed about the history and the current political situation on the island. We do not offer support for the individual work of the scholarship holders, but are happy to help with contacting the local community and providing information on the procurement of materials. The scholarship holders are responsible for their own meals.
A maximum of 8 people can stay in four bedrooms (two double bedrooms, each with a double bed mattress, one room with two single beds, one house with two single beds and a kitchen). There are two bathrooms. A pergola with a kitchen and living room forms the common area of the HS. In the olive grove, there are covered but open spaces that can be used as workplaces.
The Hermitage is in the north of Lesvos on one of the slopes of Mount Lepetimnos, with a view over the sea to Turkey. It is located in an olive grove, two kilometres away from the village of Sykaminea.
Lesvos is one of the easternmost North-East Aegean Islands and lies very close to the Turkish coast. This volcanic island rises nearly 1000 meters above sea level at some points. Mountains dominate the island. Almost half of the island is hills with olive and fruit trees. Forests, mostly with Mediterranean pines, oaks and walnut trees, cover about 20% of the surface.
In the east of the island, there is a long tradition of growing olives. Along the hills, there are terraces forming the base for olive groves in which you find many sheep. Olives and sheep are what farmers cultivate in the region for thousands of years.