TUR Artist Residency in Riga || August – September 2025

TUR, Contemporary Space for Art, is mostly known for curated art exhibitions in its characteristic industrial-meets-white-cube space at the core of one of Riga’s cultural quarters. With a focus on artistic experimentation, interdisciplinary exchange, and public engagement beyond the traditional art scene, TUR fosters a dynamic platform for innovative contemporary art and dialogue.

In 2025, TUR will expand its activities by offering an artist in residence program that supports artistic development and research, networking and international collaboration. 

The residency is run in cooperation with two other renowned cultural institutions in Riga – the international photography platform, ISSP and the comic art publisher kuš!.

Who can apply?

Artists and art professionals working in the field of contemporary art (artists, curators, researchers, educators) are encouraged to apply, especially those with a specific incentive to spend time in Riga. The residency is not focused on a specific end result, but rather provides an opportunity for research, process, and reflection, while allowing residents to become familiar with the context of the Latvian art scene. The successful candidate will be selected based on the strength of their portfolio and their potential connection to TUR and Riga.

Duration

The residency is for 2 months in August – September 2025. The residency calendar is based on full month slots, from the first to the last day of the month.

What do we offer?

• Fully funded accommodation in a private room in a comfortable apartment close to the city centre (shared with the residents invited by ISSP and kuš!)

• Travel cost support of up to €250 (green travel is encouraged)

• An invitation letter that the residents can use for applying for additional funding (such as mobility grants)

• A studio space (if necessary) located in Tallinas ielas kvartāls, the creative quarter where TUR is located

• Support from the local coordinator and TUR’s team: suggestions, contacts and insights into the local contemporary art scene (including studio visits)

What do we expect from the residents?

• to work on their artistic project/research in Riga, Latvia for the period of the residency

• to be open to interact with the local audience in the form of an artist talk, workshop or other public event,

• within one month upon the completion of the residency, to provide us with a feedback and documentation of the residency (in a chosen format)

Accommodation and facilities

The artists-in-residence will reside in a fully equipped, spacious apartment close to the city centre, in a 15 minute walk distance from TUR and studio space (both located in Tallinas ielas kvartāls). The apartment will be shared with other residents in the field of comics and/or photography. 

Each artist will have a private bedroom equipped with a working table and have access to a shared living room, fully equipped kitchen and 2 bathrooms.                                                  

Other facilities: wi-fi, scanner.

Accessibility: The apartment is located on the 3rd floor, there is no elevator in the building. 

Host City

Riga, the largest city in the Baltic States, stands at a geographical and cultural crossroads between Eastern, Western, and Northern Europe. It's a vibrant hub where history and modernity blend, with a dynamic arts and culture scene. For those seeking a break from the urban buzz, nearby forests and beaches are just a stone's throw away.

Project Partner ISSP

ISSP is an international platform for contemporary photography, based in Latvia. ISSP offers top-quality education and networking programmes for photographers, organises residencies, exhibitions and events, and creates new ways to promote the cross-border exchange of ideas in the art of photography.

Project Partner kuš!

kuš! (pronounced koosh!) is a comic art publisher from Latvia founded in Riga in 2007. It is most well known for its signature pocket-sized anthologies and its mini-kuš! series. The aims of kuš! are to popularize comics in a country where this medium is practically non-existent and to promote Latvian comics abroad. kuš! doesn't just publish paper-back comic books, it also organizes exhibitions, workshops, residencies, comic jams and other comic related events, as well as traveling to international festivals to spread the Latvian comic fever.

This residency is supported by the Latvian State Culture Capital Foundation.