Artica Svalbard is one of Norway's leading non-profit arts and culture organisations. We facilitate artistic and cultural activities on Svalbard and support the development of Norwegian and international art and culture.
Based in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, we seek to raise awareness of the region and the wider Arctic through our various initiatives, including our Svalbard residency program for artists and writers.
OUR RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Through our residency programs, we offer a unique opportunity for artists, writers, and researchers to immerse themselves in the stunning and inspiring environment of Svalbard. Available through partnerships and independent funding, these residencies provide the time, space, and resources needed to focus on research and creative work.
LATEST NEWS
Artica Svalbard is pleased to announce that French artist Cléa Darnaud has arrived in Longyearbyen as our first resident of 2025. Nominated by OCA (Office for Contemporary Art Norway) she will be staying until April.
The first essay in Artica Svalbard’s Artica Writings series, written by journalist Elida Høeg, is now live. Titled I want to be somewhere I can feel at home, the piece shares the experiences of Valeriya Burlachenko Mikhalskaya, a former Ukrainian resident of Svalbard, as she navigates life in the Arctic amidst shifting circumstances and global events.
Artica Svalbard’s Artica Writings series launches with a new focus on the personal stories of international residents in Svalbard, and the first installment, written by journalist Elida Høeg, is now live. The series offers an intimate exploration of life on the Arctic archipelago, delving into the experiences of those who have chosen to call Svalbard home amidst its unique challenges and evolving socio-political landscape.
We are very pleased to share new tips and inspiration from Nastassja Simensky in our ‘Residents Recommends’ series. Nastassja joined us as artist-in-residence from August to October 2024, nominated by OCA, Office for Contemporary Art Norway.
2024 has been a year of remarkable achievements, creative exploration, and meaningful collaboration at Artica Svalbard. From welcoming a diverse group of new residents and hosting engaging community events to strengthening partnerships, this year has reinforced our role as a hub for cultural dialogue and artistic innovation in the Arctic.
We are proud to reflect on the highlights of a year that brought together artists, writers, and the local community to explore vital themes and share new perspectives.
We are delighted to announce the nominees for Artica Svalbard residencies in 2025, selected by The Queen Sonja Print Award (QSPA). The nominees are Sami artist Tomas Colbengtson and Puerto Rican duo Nicole Cecilia Delgado and Amanda Hernández, who collaborate as LA IMPRESORA. This year’s nominees explore themes of identity, place, and environmental relationships in their practices.
We are pleased to announce that the Norwegian Association of Nonfiction Writers and Translators (NFFO) has nominated Siri Helle and Ragnhild Bjørnsen for residencies at Artica Svalbard in 2025. Their projects will examine topics including place and belonging, as well as the social experiences of young people in Svalbard, from different perspectives.
Artica Svalbard welcomes artist and researcher Sébastien Robert, who has arrived in Longyearbyen for a residency this dark season. Sébastien is joined by radio astronomer Rob Stammes, with whom he will collaborate on the project ‘The Lights Which Can Be Heard’.
Thank you to everyone that joined us for the introduction to paper marbling workshop. It was very inspiring to see all the colourful patterns and prints being made.
Artica Svalbard is pleased to announce that Liryc Dela Cruz, an acclaimed artist and filmmaker from Tupi, South Cotabato in Mindanao, Philippines, has arrived for his residency with us from November to December 2024. Nominated by Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, Liryc brings his deeply reflective practice to the Arctic, exploring themes of care, hospitality, decolonial and post-colonial practices, indigenous knowledge, and the complex histories of the Philippines.
Taking place on November 16 & 17 at Unge Kunstneres Samfund, Oslo, Kunstbok Oslo is a new art book fair and an online bookstore that presents artist books, zines, monographs and literature by artists.
Artica Svalbard is delighted to feature insights from Endre Harvold Kvangraven in our ‘Residents Recommends’ series. Endre joined us as our writer in residence from July to September 2024, nominated by the Norsk faglitterær forfatter- og oversetterforening.
Artica is pleased to announce artist Sébastien Robert will be joining us at Artica in November and December 2024 to work on his project The Lights Which Can Be Heard, which aims to capture the sounds of the Northern Lights in collaboration with radio astronomer Rob Stammes.
We are excited to announce the release of Artica Writings 2023: Food on Svalbard, the print edition of 2023’s essay series. This limited edition book features four essays that explore the unique challenges and perspectives on food sustainability in Svalbard.
This dark season, we’re opening our studio for Art Club, an arts and social club for adults. Starting on Wednesday, 30 October 2024, from 18:00 to 20:00, Art Club will run every fortnight throughout the dark season, offering a welcoming space to work on your own arts and crafts projects, share skills, and be inspired by others.
Artica Svalbard’s Artica Writings series returns in 2024 with a new focus on the personal stories of international residents in Svalbard. Against the backdrop of recent policy changes outlined in the Svalbard white paper—aimed at attracting more Norwegian families while restricting voting rights for non-Norwegian residents—the upcoming edition will explore the lives of migrants who have made the Arctic their home.
Artica Svalbard is pleased to welcome Mhairi Killin as our current resident artist. Mhairi is a visual artist based on the Isle of Iona in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, where she works with the relationships between land, sea, humans, and other living beings. Nominated for the residency by the Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA), her practice counters the notion of islands as peripheral and marginal, instead revealing them as progressive centres that offer unique perspectives on the forces shaping our futures.
We are thrilled to announce Sally Hovelsø as the new residency and community coordinator at Artica Svalbard, starting this month. Sally has lived on Svalbard for over 12 years and brings a wealth of experience in project management, communication, and hospitality in Svalbard, all crucial for supporting our visiting artists and writers. Her extensive local network will play a key role in ensuring our residents have enriching stays and meaningful connections during their time with us.
The Office for Contemporary Art Norway and Artica Svalbard are delighted to announce the artists nominated for residencies at Artica Svalbard in 2025. We will welcome the collaborative duo Bianca Hisse and Christian Danielewitz, along with visual artist Cléa Darnaud.
Artica Svalbard is pleased to announce the artists nominated by Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum for residencies in 2025. We look forward to welcoming the artist duo Malin Arnell and Mar Fjell, alongside artist Simon Daniel Tegnander Wenzel, whose unique practices will bring new perspectives to Svalbard.
We are excited to announce that applications are now open for NFFO members to apply for residencies at Artica Svalbard in 2025!
Are you working on a project related to the Arctic or northern regions? This is your chance to spend time in the Arctic and gain inspiration from the unique environment of Svalbard. The residency offers stays of four to twelve consecutive weeks, providing the perfect space for focused work and creative exploration.
On Thursday, 12 September 2024, Artica Svalbard hosted a screening of END (two prologues), a film by artist Dora García, at the Nordover Arts Centre in Longyearbyen. The event was part of a collaborative project between García and macroecologist Dr. David Nogués-Bravo, supported by the CNIO Arte program.
We are thrilled to share that Trine Hamran, a former writer in residence at Artica Svalbard, has just released her new book, ‘Hybrid War: How Russian Aggression Puts Norway to the Test’. This timely work sheds light on the complex and multifaceted threats posed by hybrid warfare, which has recently become a growing concern for Norway and the world.
We are excited to announce that Artica Svalbard has been featured in Artnet's prestigious selection of the top 35 artist residencies globally. This recognition highlights our program's commitment to fostering creative exploration and critical conversations around climate change, geopolitics, and migration within the unique environment of the Arctic.
We are excited to welcome Ellen Heck as our newest artist-in-residence at Artica Svalbard for the month of September 2024. Nominated by The Queen Sonja Print Award, Ellen is an accomplished printmaker based in North Carolina, known for her intricate explorations of identity through her work.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended Endre Harvold Kvangraven’s talk, "Fugler i nyere norsk litteratur", during the Longyearbyen Litteraturfestival last week. The discussion was a wonderful exploration of the portrayal of birds in contemporary Norwegian literature.
We are excited to announce that Dust & Flow, the latest exhibition by Artica Svalbard alumnus Rikke Luther, is now open at the Gotland Art Museum in Sweden and runs until September 22nd, 2024.
This month we are delighted to welcome back artist Inma Herrera who returns to Longyearbyen to continue her project, "Arctic Tales of Mother Earth."
Drawing inspiration from Svalbard's rich geological history, Herrera is exploring fossil imprints using the "Rubbing Printing" technique, a traditional, non-invasive image transfer method.
Artica Svalbard is delighted to share that Cathrine Alice Liberg, one of our resident alumni, will be presenting a solo exhibition, "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum / Theater of the World”, at Kunstverket Galleri in Oslo. This exhibition is the result of the work she developed during her three-month residency at Artica Svalbard, where she explored the historical and geopolitical importance of the Arctic.
The application deadline for the 2025 residencies, nominated by the Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA), is now closed. We received a record number of applications this year and want to thank all applicants for their interest.
OUR PUBLIC PROGRAM
Through our public program, we foster dialogue, collaboration, and cultural exchange between our residents and the local Svalbard community. Historically, Svalbard has been a place of extraction. Artica Svalbard aims to counteract this by encouraging residents to think about what they can leave behind. We encourage residents to host workshops, lectures, and community events open to the public. These activities challenge perspectives, inspire new thinking, and create meaningful connections.
ARTICA EVENTS
Are you interested in meeting Longyearbyen’s creative community? Join us on the first Friday of every month for Artica Svalbard’s Coffee Club!
Unwind after your workday and join us for a cozy and inspiring Friday afternoon that blends live music, thought-provoking ideas, and a delicious bowl of soup to warm your soul. Festival’s artist and composer Missy Mazzoli (USA) will guide us through a selection of her written works, which are performed live by some of the festival artists, and finest performers from Voksenåsen Academy.
ARTICA WRITINGS 2024: SVALBARD'S INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Writings is a curated series of texts offering diverse perspectives on Svalbard, the polar regions and their global influence. Published throughout the year in both English and Norwegian.
Artica Svalbard’s Artica Writings series returns in 2024, focusing on the personal stories of international residents in Svalbard. Unlike many Arctic regions, Svalbard has no indigenous population, with its 2,500 residents representing over 50 countries. Recent changes in Norwegian policies, outlined in the Svalbard white paper, aim to make Longyearbyen more appealing to Norwegian families by improving housing and services. At the same time, voting rights for non-Norwegian residents in local elections are being restricted unless they have strong ties to mainland Norway. These changes signal a shift in Norway’s governance approach, aiming to reinforce its presence in the region while impacting Svalbard’s diverse international community.
Led by journalist Elida Høeg, known for her work on climate and migration, with photography by Ángel Valiente, the series explores how international residents navigate these evolving policies and cultural dynamics. It delves into their personal journeys, the challenges of adapting to Norwegian customs, and the broader implications of these policy shifts. The series comprises seven texts, published monthly from January 2025, and coincides with the centenary of the Svalbard Treaty, which upholds principles of shared access and equality. The essays culminate in a 2025 publication that offers an intimate and timely portrait of life in this unique Arctic community.
Just before the pandemic shut down one place after another, Valeriya Burlachenko Mikhalskaya took the last scheduled flight from Moscow to Svalbard. She was going to work as a guide for tourists in the Russian mining town of Barentsburg. Valeriya had been hired by the state-owned company Trust Arktikugol to help develop its tourism operations. However, when COVID-19 spread and international travel halted, most tourists were unable to come.
"One always imagines Spitsbergen as a barren and silent frozen world—but that is a grave mistake," wrote the French traveller Léonie d’Audet in 1839. She was likely the first woman to visit the archipelago and believed she would also be the last. When d’Audet travelled to the Arctic with a research expedition, she encountered no other people. The noise she heard and described was the sound of breaking ice during the spring thaw. Even today, the archipelago is far from silent. But now, the sounds also include voices—voices from Longyearbyen’s diverse community. In this series, some of those voices are heard.
ARTICA BOOKS
Our annual Artica Writings essay series is published in a limited edition book. Due to Svalbard's tax-free status, selling and shipping items from here can be complex, so offering our books for free (you only pay the cost of shipping) helps us avoid those issues.
If you're in Svalbard, you can purchase a copy for 100 NOK.
ARTICA FILMS
Artica Films is a selection of short films that document our activities; from interviews with residents discussing their work and experiences in Svalbard, to highlighting community engagement projects and more.
In the summer of 2022 we welcomed Spanish artist Inma Herrera to the Artica residency. In this new film Herrera, a visual artist living and working in Helsinki since 2014 shares her reflections on the residency experience, her practice and the meditative process of making.
In November 2021 Artica resident Jessica MacMillan presented Time Line, a one-of-a-kind short term public project which took place for the first time in Longyearbyen.
In October 2021, Artica hosted the project: The Slow Adventure, a collaborative between artist Floortje Zonneveld and the students of the Svalbard Folkehøgskole.
For Artica Listens 2021 Ignas Krunglevičius, created HARD BODY DYSPRAXIA, a sonic installation inside a disused coal power plant in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
In April 2021 during Maja Lunde’s residency, Artica and Longyearbyen Library hosted an in conversation with Longyearbyen based writer and journalist Line Nagell Ylvisåker.
During his residency at Artica, artist Ignas Krunglevičius gave an evening talk about his practice and influences. To read more about Krunglevičius and his work visit here.
Norges selvbilde bygger i stor grad på at myndighetene anser seg selv som en «humanitær stormakt» og fredsmegler. Dette var sentralt i markedsføringen da Norge i sommer vant konkurransen om en plass i FNs sikkerhetsråd.
What should the future of Longyearbyen and Svalbard look like? And what will it take to get there? In the final part of Artica Listens 2020, we invited people to join us for a live conversation that linked the topics of the previous three parts.
When the Covid-19 crisis hit, foreigners truly experienced that they have different social rights in Svalbard than Norwegians.