One of the main activities of Circolo Scandinavo is to provide interdisciplinary residence programmes focused on art and culture, mainly open to professionals from all artistic and cultural fields. The residency offers time and space to develop free research and artistic production, but also encourages meetings with other cultures and disciplines.

Since the 1970's Circolo Scandinavo has offered an interdisciplinary residency programme for artistic and cultural practitioners connected to the Nordic region. The main residence programme has been funded by support from the Nordic Council of Ministers and several national private funds.

Artists and cultural professionals can apply for a stay in the premises in Rome for at least two months with a creative or artistic research project. Shorter stays may be accepted under special circumstances. The resident pay a subsidised participation fee ranging between 700-1000 euros/month. You find more info in the FAQ below. 

The participation in the residency program includes cultural activities and events, assistance and curated collaborations. Our organisation promotes Nordic artists in Italy by collaborating and networking with the Italian and international public, artists and cultural institutions in Rome. The staff takes the residents' wishes into consideration and arranges collaborations, meetings and events accordingly.

A collaboration with Norske billedkunstnere allows Norwegian visual artists to receive a travel grant if they are selected for a stay at Circolo Scandinavo.  We also have certain collaboration with several institutions and associations in the Nordics. The Director and the Board are currently working on finding more grants and collaborations to offer new grants during the coming years. 

Scholars, journalists and others are welcome to apply for a stay at Circolo Scandinavo by writing directly to [email protected]

Click here to reach the Application form

General info about the premises

Q. I am a journalist or researcher. Can I apply?

A: Our artist-in-residence program is primarily intended for artists in different fields, but Circolo also welcomes journalists and scholars. In such cases, we ask that you contact us directly by email with a plan outlining what you would like to do and how long you intend to stay.

Q. I want to come to Circolo for a few weeks. Is that possible?

A: Shorter stays are possible, but in that case, you need to contact us directly by email. Shorter stays are subject to availability.

Q. Are there any common working spaces and studios?

A: Circolo Scandinavo offers several shared work environments, including living room areas, a library, and common workspaces. Some rooms on the upper floor also function as combined living and working spaces. While there are no fully equipped individual studios for all disciplines, the residency supports flexible and interdisciplinary ways of working.

Q. What does the room offer?

A: Each resident is provided with a private room equipped with a bed, workspace, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. Depending on the room type, bathrooms are either shared or private. Bed linen and towels are included, and residents have access to shared kitchens and laundry facilities.

Q. Can I wish for a specific room?

A: All rooms at Circolo are different and have their pros and cons. If you are selected for a residency period, we will give you an offer of a time period and a specific room. In the application, you have the opportunity to elaborate if there are any specific reasons why you are in need of for example a private bathroom, or if you wish to accommodate guests during your stay. Please note that we cannot guarantee that these wishes will be met.

Q. Where is Circolo currently located?

A: Circolo Scandinavo is located in Rome, in a historic building from 1936 situated in the calm and green surroundings of the Aventine Hill, within walking distance of the city centre.

Q. I have some mobility issues. Does that affect?

A:  Due to the architectural limitations of the historic building, accessibility is unfortunately limited. The residence may not be suitable for individuals with significant mobility needs. Applicants are encouraged to inform the organisation of any specific requirements in advance.

Q. I have small children. Can I participate in the residency?

A: Unfortunately, the residency cannot accommodate children under the age of 14. This is due to both practical limitations of the facilities and the nature of the residency environment. Occasionally, we have access to a smaller apartment near the residence where it is possible to host families. If you wish to bring your family, please state that in your application, and we will see what we can do. We cannot guarantee that it can be arranged. 

Q. Can I bring pets to Circolo Scandinavo?

A: No, pets are not allowed in the residence.

Q. Am I allowed to have guests during my stay?

A: Yes. If your room has a two-bed, we charge an extra 25 euros/night as a guest fee. If you are planning to host a guest for a longer period, for instance, your partner, we kindly ask you to provide this information in the application. 

Artist in Residence Application

Q. I can only stay for one month. Does that affect my application?

A: We typically encourage and accommodate residents who stay two months or longer. This is due to the administration, but also that we know from experience that one month is very short for a residency in a large city like Rome, with the magnitude of possibilities which the city offers. If you have a specific reason that does not allow you to stay longer than one month, you can elaborate on this in the application.

Q. Can I apply together with another person?

A: Yes. You can apply as a group or as a couple, and you can state this in the application. If you wish, or are willing, to share room, please specify this in the application. Note that you also need to create separate applications. 

Q. Which language can I use in my applications? 
A: You can write your application in either English, Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish. 

Q. What do you mean by ‘Relevance to Rome?’

A: The project does not need a specific connection to Rome. Yet, we believe that a residence is site-specific, and we are therefore interested to hear what brings you specifically to Rome or nearby. Whether it is for inspiration, research, or reflection. 

Q. What do you mean by ‘a collective residence?’
A: We have included a new question in the application form. With this question, we want you to reflect on what part of the collective activities you are interested in. This can be, for example, partaking in dinners, sharing some of your work with others or meeting people from different disciplines. Apart from a general introduction meeting where we expect everyone to participate, it is not mandatory to participate in every activity. We also do not expect you to be social all the time. We would rather highlight that residents live and share a space, and we are curious to hear how that could be an asset for your stay. 

Evaluation

Q. How are applications evaluated?

A: Once the application has closed, all successful applicants will receive a confirmation email with the total number of applicants. The evaluation is made in two steps. First, all applications are assessed by a committee consisting of professional experts within the fields of art, science and culture. Applications are assessed by quality and the project’s relevance to Italy and Rome. Then, from the shortlisted applicants, the final residency schedule is built on a diversity of origins, age and artistic disciplines, to enable an interdisciplinary and Nordic residency. 

Q. When will I find out if I have been granted a residency?

A: Due to the evaluation procedure and the logistics, we aim to give an answer approximately three months after the final deadline. We also try to update any additional changes in the schedule. As we are a small team, it sometimes takes longer than expected. 

Q. I was not selected this time. Can I apply again?

A: Yes, of course. We encourage everyone to apply again, either with the same project or with a different one. The shortlisted people varies from time to time depending on number of applications, project.

Q. Do you provide any personal feedback?

A: We cannot provide feedback for individual applications.

Participtation fees

Q. Do I pay rent?

A: Everyone who stays at Circolo Scandinavo pays a participation fee, rather than commercial rent. The Artist in Residence fee is subsidised thanks to our grant from the Nordic Council of Ministers. The fee depends on the room type and length of stay, and helps cover accommodation and shared facilities.

Q. What are the fees as a resident?

A: It depends what room and the length of your stay and we encourage residents to stay longer than one month. There are different prices: 

- For 1 month with a private bathroom and two beds is 250 euros per week = 1000 euros/ 4 weeks. The additional price for more than 4 weeks is 200 euros per week. 

- For 1 month with a shared bathroom and two beds is 225 euros per week = 900 euros/ 4 weeks. The additional price for more than 4 weeks is 175 euros per week. 

- For 1 month with a shared bathroom and single beds is 175 euros per week = 700 euros/ 4 weeks. The additional price for more than 4 weeks is 125 euros per week. 

Q. What are the fees for shorter stays?

A: The price varies depending on room and length. The minimum stay are 3 nights for a fee between 60 and 100 euros per night. Contact us directly for more details.

 
Grants & Funding

Q. I did not recieve the grant I planned. What happens now? 
A: Residents are responsible for arranging their own funding unless otherwise stated through a specific grant programme. If your planned funding was not granted, you are still welcome to participate by covering the subsidised residency fee independently. If your situation changes, please inform us as soon as possible. Circolo Scandinavo collaborates with several Nordic foundations and institutions that occasionally offer grants connected to the residency. Available opportunities vary from year to year. Applicants are also encouraged to seek support through national arts councils, cultural foundations, or mobility grants in their home country.

Social Aspect

Q. Are meals included in the residency? 

A: No, meals are not included. Residents have access to shared kitchens with basic equipment and are responsible for preparing their own meals. Residents are also expected to help out with taking out trash and keeping the kitchen tidy.

Q. Are there shared dinners or social activites? 

A: Yes. Circolo occasionally organises communal dinners, gatherings, and cultural events. Participation is voluntary, but these occasions are often appreciated opportunities to meet fellow residents and guests.

Q. Am I expected to present anything during my stay? 

A: No. We do not expect you to have a certain outcome or present something by the end of your residency. We are, however, happy to help you out if you wish to present something of your previous work or the project you have been working on during your stay. We also expect that you participate in a short interview where we talk briefly about how your stay has been and a bit of your background. This will be posted on our website and on our Instagram together with a photo which we will take here.

Arrival and travel 

Q. When can I arrive on my arrival date? 

A: It is important that the residents inform the staff about their arrival and departure times via email well in advance. If the arrival at Circolo Scandinavo is after 21.00, we cannot guarantee that someone will be able to open the same evening. If there are any delays or issues, we also need to be informed. We will provide more info on how to get to Circolo upon arrival. 

Below you can find some links to funds where you can apply

for travel grants.