The Ung Nordisk Musik 2025 PREPARTY kicks off a little earlier with our open call to the Artist-in-Residence program at Villa Vikan
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
As part of our PREPARTY 2025 festival year, Ung Nordisk Musik (UNM) Finland announces an Artist-in-Residence program for spring 2025 in collaboration with Villa Vikan on Raasepori’s idyllic lakeside—an hour and half east of Helsinki. Chosen projects will be showcased as part of our festival program in August 2025.
Note that while it is possible to apply to both of our open calls, you can apply with up to a maximum of two proposals in total between both open calls (general open Call for Works and Artist-in-Residence program). If you are not applying for the residency, you may apply with up to two works for our general open Call for Works.
This application is open until June 30th 2024 and is done by filling in the Google form below and sharing a Google Drive folder containing your work samples. Please carefully review the terms and conditions before submitting your application.
Application: https://forms.gle/3E6zgVePq6rktxUU7
RESIDENCY
One project from each Nordic country and one from the Baltics will be selected. An application may be submitted by either an individual or an artist collective. For those applying as a group, please be mindful that due to the limited capacity of Villa Vikan, logistical preference is given to smaller working groups.
The residency will be carried out during the week 19—25.5.2025. During this time, the residency participants will work to develop their intended project plan with the aid of visiting mentors from Finland representing different fields of art. Projects do not necessarily need to be completed during the working period, but a show-and-tell will be organized on the final day for participants to present what they have been working on.
The festival takes place between 25.-31.8.2025 throughout Uusimaa, Finland and the completed residency works will be presented throughout the UNM festival week. Members of the Finnish production team will be present throughout the residency week to answer questions about logistics and limitations regarding your project for the festival.
The description of the project should pull inspiration from the 2025 festival theme PREPARTY. Information about this can be found under the item Theme.
VILLA VIKAN
The charming Villa Vikan on Raasepori’s idyllic lakeside was built as a family home by the Finnish composer Martin Wegelius in 1897–98 and has long been a meeting place for composers, musicians, and friends of music. Since 2014, the property has been managed as a residency by the Finnish Music Promotion Foundation which works in collaboration with the Finnish Composers Society, The Finnish Musicians Union, and Finnish Music Creators Association.
PREPARTY THEME
Our PREPARTY theme is all about anticipation, excitement, and setting the stage for the biggest party yet. It’s a reminder to celebrate and savor all those special moments, times, and histories that have come before. We're looking for music and projects that are as bold and colorful as our theme—whatever that special thing is that makes you unique.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Travel
Each UNM-board is responsible for the travel costs of their selected participants to the Artist-in-Residence program.
When
The residency period is between 19-25 May 2025. As a participant in the residency, you should be committed to staying for the entire residency period. It is important that you are present for the first full day of the residency.
Accommodation
Accommodation is onsite at Villa Vikan. UNM Finland covers the cost of accommodation. The accommodation consists of a central home and two separate cabins across the property. Villa Vikan can host max 13 participants, with the possibility of private or shared accommodation, shared kitchen, and bathroom.
Food
You will be responsible for buying and cooking your own food. A kitchen is available on the premises. Please note: the closest grocery store is about a 30 minute bike ride from Villa Vikan. There are four bicycles that you are able to borrow during the residency.
Tech
UNM and Villa Vikan have a generous supply of technical equipment at your disposal. The main building provides a Steinway grand piano, an electric keyboard, recording cables with wall sockets, a monitoring system and AV equipment. The log cabins provide work spaces equipped for electronic music making, keyboards and monitors. Any additional equipment needed should be provided by you. If you have specific questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Important to know
The cabin has an electrically heated sauna, which is available for guests. The use of the sauna is available twice per week. Villa Vikan is in a relatively isolated area making it the perfect place for intensive and reflective artistic work! The residency provides the opportunity to build strong connections with other artists.
NOTE ON APPLICATIONS
mp3 for audio and mp4 for video are accepted. No other audio and video formats are accepted. pdf/txt/odt all work for other documentation/material. We are unable to accept e.g. Max/MSP or SuperCollider patches - but an audio file, video or image showing how your patch works are allowed.
The application is judged by a multidisciplinary jury who evaluates all projects relative to their feasibility for the festival and artistic inventiveness. The selection is carried out anonymously by the jury. The board processes your personal data only for administrative purposes.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Applicants must be born on or after January 1st 1994. You can also apply if you are a full-time student in the fields of arts or music on or before June 30th 2024, and you do not hold a previous master’s degree in music or the arts. In group applications, all group members must meet the requirements in order for the group to apply.
2. Applicants must live in, study in or come from one of the Nordic or Baltic countries (Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia).
3. All work samples must be anonymous. Ensure that names, dedications and names of musicians/performers (ie personal information) are removed from all scores, videos/media, etc. Don't forget copyright text and metadata. Various solutions to "hide" names in PDFs usually work poorly. As it is important that the name does not accidentally appear, we recommend editing the score, removing the name, and saving again as a PDF.
4. For all questions related to the call, please contact unmfinland@gmail.com or by phone +358407682070 (Chair, Suomen UNM ry). We will confirm by email that we have received each application to the email address provided on the application form by July 12th 2024
5. Deadline is June 30th 2024 23:59 EEST (Eastern European Summer Time)