Open Call 2026

Muhu Art Residency program is open for individual professional artists at any stage of their career, working in visual arts, music, literature and other creative areas.

Residency is most appropriate for artists who seek time out for the critical thinking, individual research and experiments; especially for those who need open spaces in nature.

Our main interests are interdisciplinary, as they lie in integration of art with the environment, in more or less poetical interaction between art and society.

If you are a creative professional interested in summer residency opportunities at Muhu Art Residency outside the announced programs, please contact: rebane.maal@gmail.com

FOR ​SELF FINANCED RESIDENCY PERIODS IN SUMMER 2026

There are two time periods in summer 2026 for self-financed residency projects:

14.06.-12.07.2026

and

20.07.-26.07.2026

Residency fee per day:

– 1 living room + 1 barn workroom = 35 EUR for one person; 65 EUR for two

– 1 living room = 30 EUR for one person; 50 EUR for two

Residency fee per 2 weeks:

– 1 living room + 1 barn workroom = 450 EUR for one

person; 850 EUR for two

– 1 living room = 400 EUR for one person; 650 EUR for

two

How to apply:

To apply, please compile the following materials into PDF files:

• A short artist`CV including a summary of personalinformation and contact details

• Portfolio

Deadline: April 20, 2026

rebane.maal@gmail.com

Accommodation

Residency is located in Nõmmküla – a small and quiet seaside village on the north coast of Muhu island, on the edge of the world - as far as 10 km from nearest shop and 150 km from Tallinn.

From Tallinn Central Bus Station, you can take a Lux Express bus to Muhu (Liiva stop). A car from the residency will meet you there and take you to the residency.

Artists stay in simple, shared accommodation within the historic farm buildings. Living conditions are modest and reflect the character of the rural environment. Rooms are typically furnished with basic necessities such as beds, desks, and storage space.

The accommodation rooms in ancient and rustic barns are 8 – 20 m2 in size. Please note and be prepared  - the simple  ascetic living environment of Muhu Residency will take you back to the year 1900 !

Studios and Workspaces

Residents have access to working spaces within the farm complex. 2 studios are adaptable for a wide range of artistic practices, including visual arts, research-based projects, writing, and interdisciplinary work.

Facilities

The residency provides essential facilities to support everyday living and work:

• shared kitchen and dining areas

• basic workshop and storage spaces

• internet access (availability may vary depending on location within the complex)

• outdoor working areas and natural surroundings

Environment

Life at the residency follows the rhythm of the countryside. The setting encourages concentration, experimentation, and reflection away from urban distractions. Artists are invited to engage with the natural environment, the cultural landscape of Muhu, and the local community.

Community and Exchange

While residents have time and space for independent work, the residency also supports dialogue and collaboration. Artists may share meals, discuss their projects, or participate in informal presentations, workshops, and open studio events.

Overall, the living conditions at Muhu Art Residency are intentionally simple and focused, offering artists time, space, and a historically layered environment in which to develop their work.

---

History of Muhu Art Residency

Muhu Art Residency is an international cross-disciplinary creative centre located in the historic Uuetalu farm complex in Nõmmküla village on Muhu Island, Estonia. The site, surrounded by coastal landscape and protected natural heritage, has a long history that connects rural Estonian culture with contemporary artistic practice.

The farmstead is believed to be one of the oldest in the area. Historical maps indicate that buildings already existed on the site in the mid-19th century, and several of the remaining structures—including storehouses, a stone kitchen-smithy and a Dutch-style windmill—date from the 19th century. In the early 20th century the farm also housed an Orthodox special school, reflecting the diverse social history of the region.

In 1969 the farm was abandoned by its inhabitants and sold to the ARS Art Factory in 1971. During the following decades the site was used as a holiday retreat for artists connected with the ARS creative community. After the reorganisation of the factory in the 1990s, the property came into the ownership of the Estonian Artists’ Association.

The current concept of Muhu Art Residency began to take shape in 2014, when a development plan was initiated to revive the historic site as a centre for artistic research and international cultural exchange. Since 2015 the residency has operated as an international programme welcoming artists, researchers, writers and other creative practitioners from Estonia and abroad.

Today the residency functions as a seasonal creative environment where artists can work in close contact with nature and the layered cultural landscape of Muhu Island. Alongside residency programmes, the site hosts workshops, symposia and artistic events that connect contemporary art with local history, landscape and community.

Muhu Art Residency represents a meeting point between past and present: a place where historic rural architecture, the natural environment and contemporary artistic thinking come together to create a platform for experimentation, dialogue and new ideas.

Tiiu Rebane

Project manager

2014-...