Artist Residency Reviews

I thrived in the more isolated location of the residency. As well as the more “independent study” nature of the program. Some other artists might find this difficult or frustrating. Met a lot of amazing people, and the owners of the residency are lovely people, helpful and welcoming. Iceland in general has a high standard of living and is expensive; however, it was 100% worth the cost and the owners make everything as affordable as they can.

I enjoyed this residency immensely. It was very hands off letting the artist explore and create in whichever way moved them. I feel very thankful for this experience and would do it again in a heartbeat.

The Fish Factory Art Residency program has been an amazing adventure, nestled in the Icelandic fjords; it creates the perfect environment for creativity and exploration. I enjoyed my time in Stöðvarfjörður and had ample time in nature, exploring the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore. I felt deeply inspired by the surrounding mountains and ocean, conversations with the rest of my cohort, and time in the shared studio. I created a whole new body of work inspired by the Icelandic nature. Something to think about before coming to the residency is your art supplies; make sure you bring what you need, not all the supplies are available in the studio and if you need to order anything it will have to come from Reykjavík (shipping can get expensive). Once a week the owners of the residency will take the cohort to the neighbouring city to get groceries, there’s a small store next to the residency with essentials but it’s a tad more expensive - plan your meals, snacks, and cravings accordingly! If you want to travel to other places on the shore, there’s not a lot of local transportation available but you can rent a car from Egilsstaðir airport. To make the residency rewarding I recommend thinking about what kind of projects you’d like to do, set a few goals for yourself, and don’t forget a rain jacket and a good pair of boots! For this adventure, I did save up the funds for a long time because I knew that Iceland is a bit on the expensive side, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t feel limited while there. And that helped a lot! I got to do a lot more things than I expected!

I had never done an artist residency so my point of view has no comparison to others. I decided on Fish Factory because of it being in a remote part of Iceland and because the program did not ask any specific things from me, nor did it offer any specific things from the staff. It's important to say this because I wasn't looking to make connections in the art world and I wasn't looking for classes or guidance - if these things happened then it would be great but I was just looking for a space far away and different from home where I could spend time doing what I like the most, which is painting. I found there that I could use the ceramics studio and that Una, one of the owners, was willing to give us a fast course on how to start our ceramics journey. She did not have to do that, and still she did, so it was awesome for me. I went for one month but I would recommend going for two - the place is so magical it takes you at least two weeks to settle down and start really focusing on working, so by the time you do it's almost over. Come with a well-mapped plan of how to use your time there and not expecting peer reviews or any type of learning structure. If you are a person who doesn't enjoy sharing a house with people who also work in the same space, don't do Fish Factory or ask if they can find you a space where to rent in the same town. There is almost no way in or out of the small, small town if not by walking, so also think of that. No museums, no restaurants, no cinema, no supermarket. Yes, beautiful fields, waterfalls and if you are lucky, aurora borealis. I think the cost was perfectly fair because they give you a private room to live, trips to the next town to the supermarket, and 24-hour access to the workshops, which had the heating on all the time. All in all, I loved Fish Factory and would do it again for an even longer time if I could, but I do think people have to know what they are signing on for so they have the best experience they can.

Fish Factory is just perfect for artists who love to go at their own pace. The founder really went the extra mile to create this amazing space where creativity thrives, surrounded by the serene beauty of the village. And with artists from all sorts of backgrounds in each edition, it's a fantastic chance to connect and collaborate. Definitely a must-try for anyone craving a peaceful spot to let their creativity flow.

The residency is located in a quiet village in a beautiful fjord. Although there is little to do, there is still a lot to experience. Beautiful nature, and all the peace and space to be able to work focused on your art practice. The wide range of workshops that you can use had a motivating effect on me. I have experimented with all kinds of new mediums that I had not worked with before. I was also very lucky with the other artists with whom we formed a very special and close group. We learned a lot from each other and it was a very valuable and special experience for me. In terms of materials, the Fish Factory has quite a lot in stock, but if you need something specifically, it is wise to have it shipped there in advance or take it with you. It is a very free and self-directed residency, so it is important that you can enjoy yourself and focus on your own work. Very nice environment with very sweet owners.

Iceland is always cold, even at the peak of summer. Other than that, it was a magnificent experience filled with memories and wonder.

You will encounter the kindest and most compassionate team at Art Hub.

This residency gave me the time, solitude, and creative freedom I needed to dive deeper into my practice without the interruptions from outside noise. We were isolated from the rest of the world. One of the benefits was we had our dinner meal cooked every evening; nourishment at the end of a long day was a big deal. It's important to remember you are in the middle of a national park, so you need to prepare in advance what type of work you will be creating or developing upon your stay, including all materials required. It was a small inversion for my career. I also believe it was necessary for me because I left recharged and with new work studies of developing ideas for future projects.

The peaceful, natural environment, and the way you are taken care of, make you let go of everything and just be an artist.

Can't think of anything negative: great place, surroundings and facilities and a fantastic staff!

My time at Joya: AiR has been a unique opportunity to engage in my creative practice in a new environment without the usual distractions and demands of daily life as well as connecting with talented and beautiful humans. Joya’s location in the stunning Andalusian countryside provided me with a breathtaking backdrop for my practice. With its ethos centred on sustainability, it was just the perfect place for me to continue addressing the impact that the art industry has on the environment within my own practice. As an artist that embraces moving away from exploitative and extractive relationships with nature, and prioritises connection, slower living and mindful action, I felt more connected than ever even though we’re completely off-grid. I was also able to see my work with fresh eyes and gained new insights into my creative process which has helped push myself to new levels of creativity and self-discovery. Surrendering to the astonishingly beautiful landscape and letting the sublime simplicity of life being the protagonists, generated a fertile environment for observation and focused work. I spent time soaking up the peace and beauty of this incredible place, allowing myself the time for grounding, exploring, creating. Just observing and simply being in deep communion with Mother Earth.

Beautiful area.

I had a great experience there!

This was a paid opportunity to inspire writing/creativity with a mentor. I found Jan and Karen fabulous as host and mentor, and the time there was exceptional in releasing new creative potential.

Benefits: quiet residency, good for focused work. Challenges: very small program, close quarters—it's a good idea to apply with someone you know and know you will enjoy spending time with, especially if your residency is located in the church, which fits two, as opposed to the house, which fits three to four. The church is cute, but very barebones and a bit mildewy/dusty, and you are basically on your own once you get there (key is in a lockbox and we never saw the staff).

A great and very good challenge was that they make you change your physical location during the residency, so changing spaces really opens up your creativity. At the same time, the people you work with also change, which also helps a lot to get out of your comfort zone. Every day there were activities at different galleries, museums, and exhibition places, both institutional and independent, which greatly enrich your creative process and help you better understand the circuit of a city that is not the one you live in. The curator's follow-up was very good and very attentive to your needs as an artist (the same with the entire management and exhibition setup team). I recommend to the next residents to look carefully at where in the city their workshops are located so that they stay in a place that suits them and do not waste so much time on mobilization. - Un gran desafío y muy bueno fue que te hacen cambiarte de lugar físico durante la residencia, entonces al cambiar de espacio se te abre un monton la creatividad. Al mismo tiempo, tambien cambian las personas con las que trabajas lo que tambien ayuda mucho a salir de tu lugar comodo. Todos los días habían actividades a distintas galerias, museos y lugares de exposición tanto institucionales como independientes que te enriquecen mucho para tu proceso creativo y conocer mejor el circuito de una ciudad que no es en la que tu vives. El seguimiento de la curadora fue muy bueno y muy atento a tus necesidades como artista (lo mismo con todo el equipo directivo y montajista de la exposición) Recomiendo a los proximos residentes que vean bien en que lugares de la ciudad quedan sus talleres para que alojen en un lugar que les convenga y no pierdan tanto tiempo En movilización

The location was awesome for me personally: inspiring old buildings, nature and village centre nearby. I also had a great chance to work with my light art in a basement and got access to selection of tools and materials. The staff and other artists were amazing. Maybe too much because at some point we realized we had been doing things together and with community so much we forgot to focus on our personal projects 😁. But this was easy to fix and take time for ourselves too. I was there in April which was perfect time to see the season changing, spring arriving. The spaces are very flexible and diverse. Not the best for cat/dog allergies or wheelchair. Definitely worth the payment and time to visit Haihatus. Warm memories!

Benefits were beautiful spaces and nice living quarters. Wonderful lunches, amazing library, and friendly staff. They allow collaborations so you can bring other folks out to work on projects. Downsides are studio spaces are not private and there’s lots of sound bleed. There could’ve been more critique/networking opportunities.

There were several guest artists who came and offered workshops and talks; this was great. With this, we could build new connections and there were possibilities for networking. It was a group residency, and we worked closely together for the whole duration of the residency. I expected more independent time and creative exploration during the residency, which was not scheduled, which I would have appreciated. It is not a paid residency, and it is quite a full schedule, so one must take that into account. It took place in the city I live in, which meant I could live at home, so in a sense, I didn't have the full "away from home" residency feeling.