About the Textile Center Residency Program

Textílsetur Ísland, the Icelandic Textile Center, is located in Kvennaskólinn, the former Women's College in Blönduós. Blönduós is a small, seaside town located in Northwest Iceland, about 240 kilometers from Reykjavík. It is well equipped with a supermarket, a restaurant, a bakery, swimmingpool and state-of-the-art gym. Route 1, the Icelandic Ring Road, runs right through town, and bus services to Reykjavík and Akureyri operate daily. (For more information on Blönduós and the area, visit the website www.northwest.is)

The Textile Center opened for residency applications in November 2010 and collaborates with the Nes Artist Residency in the neighboring town of Skagaströnd. Nes has been operating since March 2008 with much success, catering to a variety of visual artists.

What we offer

The Textile Center residency fee includes the following:

• Housing (single bedrooms in Kvennaskólinn, bed linen included)
• Access to shared kitchen and sitting room, communal laundry facilities
• Access to multifunctional work space in the house
• Access to 10 - 15 weaving looms (140 - 80 cm. width)
• Internet access

All studios have an exceptional view over the mouth of the river Blanda, to the sea, and the old town of Blönduós.

What we ask for

Residency fee: € 550 per month.

We ask all artists to pay the residency fee for the Textile Centre three months prior to their arrival in Blönduós. This arrangement will help us with placements of artists and give us time to fill your post in case you find that you are unable to come to the Textile Centre after all.

Residents will also have to cover the cost of travel, food, art materials and possible shipping of art back home.

Please note that Kvennaskólinn, the former Women's College in Blönduós, is a historic building and residents are expected to follow house rules.

Open call

Applications to the Textile Centre Residency may be submitted any time (open call) and are reviewed on a rolling basis. The residency is for periods ranging from 1-3 months, hosting up to 8 residents at the time.

Application information here

Housing and studio facilities - pictures and further information here