Skagaströnd, Iceland
The NES Artist Residency in Skagaströnd, Iceland, offers a flexible and supportive environment for artists from around the world. The residency hosts 9-12 artists monthly, encouraging stays of two months or more for an immersive experience. NES provides individual workspaces in shared studios, with specific facilities for writers, dancers, performers, and musicians. The residency features two monthly events: free format artist presentations and public open studio events, with support for pop-up exhibitions. While the residency does not include structured programming, the NES team assists with logistical and artistic support as needed. The family-friendly residency offers various accommodation options, including single and double rooms, a private dance studio, and a three-bedroom apartment for families. NES operates year-round, welcoming artists of all disciplines to engage in a creative community surrounded by Iceland’s stunning natural landscape.
The way to find the place that where I can be myself with huge nature space. Share studio space; community, great home condition, well English communication with Art Residency Manager. Hard to go outside of the town. Good and Simple environment; one gym, one supermarket, one restaurant, one bus stop.
An amazing opportunity to immerse myself in a new landscape to inspire a creation of new artworks. The studio and resources was good for what I needed for creating paintings. For me personally I find to make a residency rewarding is to create an action plan of what you would like to achieve. The rewards of doing this residency was developing a new body of work, meeting like minded people and teaching students new skills by working with a local school.
You can read about my experience on my website nicolealinelegault.com/iceland
Remote location but car rental and nice grocery were available. Pool and indoor badminton and exercise building was lovely.
Excellent location for doing work. The scenery in the village and in Iceland is incredible and provides sources of inspiration. Enough space for solitude as well as opportunities for exchanges if needed.
Skagastrond is a beautiful location of solitude and I did get a lot of work done. However a few things were troubling, the workspace is shared but the kiln is not ventilated so when a glaze fire is happening (which takes a whole day) one can’t rightly ask others to leave. Also, being northern Iceland, you are very stuck with the other artists in the house and there’s not so much time for meeting with the community. The food there because of its location is very expensive and the lack of funding makes this a difficult hurdle to overcome. But I do really love the staff that I worked with and I believe the director did everything to make us feel safe and supported.