Open Call 2026
The Nordic Analog Network offers supported Artist Residencies at our darkrooms in 2026.
Application deadline 25th January 2026.
The Nordic Analog Network connects photography darkrooms across the Nordic countries through a shared program of artist residencies.
It is free to apply for a residency with one of 6 differen darkrooms, for all Nordic residents working with any type of analog photography.
One application covers all darkrooms, and you list your preferred ones in order in the application.
On the 15th January 2026 we will host an online information meeting. Sign up here if you want to join the meeting and here more from the darkrooms taking part.
The Nordic Analog Network program began in 2022 with a pilot and 4 artists traveling. Between 2023 and 2024, 23 artists participated, each traveling for two to four weeks to work in a darkroom in another Nordic country.
The residency program will continue in 2026–2027, with a focus on sustainable analog photography.
This means that invited photographers will be offered a workshop in this theme, or asked to teach a workshop on this, if they already work within parts of this type of practice.
It does not mean that invited photographers have to work within a theme of sustainability or follow a practice that incorporates these ideas. Visiting photographers are free to work with their own projects as normal.
The Nordic Analog Network is coordinated by CYAN Studio in Oslo, Norway, and the Finnish Darkroom Association in Helsinki, Finland.
The Darkroom Exchange residency program is supported by Nordic Culture Point
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Application deadline is 25.01.2026
Fill in the Application form here
Make sure you number your preferred darkrooms in the application form.
Finnish the application with uploading one PDF that includes:
-Short Bio
-CV
-Work plan
-10 images of recent work (at least 5 made with analog processes)Application texts must be in English.
Include info in your work plan whether you want to offer to teach a workshop on sustainable photography or if you want to attend such a workshop.
The application PDF should be named: Firstname_Lastname_Open_Call_2026
We will not review late applications.
Invitations to selected artists will be sent out before the end of February 2026.
Please read more about each darkroom here on the website before you apply.
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Based on the received applications the participating darkrooms will decide which artist they want to invite for the residency period.
6 photographers in total will be invited to go to their chosen darkroom in another Nordic country for approximately 3-6 week individual residencies. Specific dates of travel will be worked out between the invited artist and host darkroom.Accommodation will be organized by the inviting darkroom, and the invited artists will have an artist's fee of 15000 (or 18000) NOK to cover the travel and living expenses. There is no application fee.
During their stay the artists are free to work with whatever project they want, alongside other photographers using the darkroom.
The invited photographers are encouraged to give some form of presentation of their work at the darkroom they are visiting and may get help to organize other activities such as workshops, small shows, artist talks, meetups with other artists or galleries and the like.
Our goal is to facilitate the sharing of experience and create contacts and opportunities for networking between analog photo artists.During their residency the darkroom will also offer the visiting photographer to either take part in a workshop on some aspect of the theme of sustainable photography, or ask the visiting photographer to teach a workshop for other local photographers on an aspect of this theme.
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Who can apply?
-The Open Call is open to any person above 18 years, living in one of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, including the regions of Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.
-Applicants should be working with analog photography.What is the deadline for applying?
-The deadline for applications is January 25th 2026, 1PM CETHow do I apply
-You download the application form as a text document from the Nordic Analog Network website. Fill in your information and add your photographs to the document.
-In the application form you choose which darkroom you would prefer to go to.
-The application form must include your application text with a project description, a short bio, a CV and up to 10 images of your work of which at least 5 images need to be made with analog photographic techniques.Is there a fee to apply, and what are the costs involved with the residency?
-It is free to send in an application.
-If you are invited to a residency you will be awarded 15000NOK (about €1400 artist’s fee. If you choose to use a sustainable travel option we will raise the awarded artists fee to 18000NOK. You are expected to cover travel costs and other expenses with this support. You are encouraged to discuss with your darkroom which travel option will be the best.
-Your accommodation will be covered and you get the use of the workspace for free.
-Depending on the darkroom you visit you might also get free use of photo chemicals or some photo materials, and the type of equipment they have available there.
-Other costs you have to cover yourself.-If you have need of special materials you can organize with the darkroom to have this ordered there but then you most probably will have to pay for this yourself.
Will the darkroom have all the equipment I need?
-Each different darkroom has its own type of laboratory equipment, community and landscape surrounding it, so you should read up on the darkroom information to find the one that might work best for whatever theme or processes you want to focus on.
-For example there are several darkrooms that offer color development and printing, but not all of them, so you have to make sure you choose the places that can be helpful for your needs.When are the residency dates
-This residency program has several darkroom workspaces you can apply to stay at, for different periods of time.
-In your application you decide which place and period of time you apply for, and you can mark off both a first, second and third choice if you want to apply to more than one of them.Is there a theme?
-There is no specific theme or subject we want applicants to work with.
The only criteria is that you work with analog photography.
-The overall theme of this round of artist residencies is “Sustainable photography”. This is a practice and philosophy we want to share with more photographers. Therefore the darkrooms will invite residents to either take part in a workshop to learn something about sustainable practices and techniques while they are visiting, or ask the visiting photographer to teach some aspect of sustainable practice to the local photographers if they are already working with this.
This does not mean that the visiting photographers only have to work with this kind of practice or theme and are free to continue their projects as they want.
-Each darkroom lists if they believe they will invite someone they can teach about sustainable photography practice or someone who can teach them something about this.
But if the application is interesting the darkroom can choose to switch this around, so do not let this theme make you hesitant from applying.Do I have to be at the online meet up?
-The online meet up on the 15th of January is meant to be a meeting point for people curious to hear about the darkrooms in this network, and maybe ask some questions.
-You don't have to want to apply for a residency to take part in the meet up, and there is no requirement to take part if you do.How do you choose artists to invite?
-Each residency darkroom has their own separate jury and gets to choose who they think would get the most out of visiting their space.
-All the darkrooms look for artists that they believe may bring something useful and interesting to the community they are visiting.When will I know if I have been selected?
-We will announce all the selected artists by the end of February and then each of the darkrooms will follow up with their invited artists.What is expected of me as an artist in residence?
-Each darkroom is different so you should read about the set up and expectations of the darkrooms you want to visit.
-You must follow the rules of the darkroom facility you are visiting, and you should already know how to work in a darkroom by yourself.
-We hope you will be open to sharing and discussing your work process with other users of the darkroom and giving and receiving feedback on the work-At the end of the stay we ask all artists to give one piece of art work of their choice made during their stay, back to the darkroom they have visited.What can I expect from the darkroom I visit as an artist in residence?
-The contact person at the darkroom will show you the available equipment and the rules of use of the facilities and help you get started doing your work.
-You can ask for feedback and advice to discuss how to develop your project or who you should meet or talk to in the local community or art scene.
-The darkroom will help to organize for you to meet up with other artists or photographers and may try and set up a public event for you to present your work to the local audience.I have more questions!
-You can email directly to the darkroom you want to know more about.
-You can join the online meet up on the 15th of January 2026 to hear more from the darkrooms and former participants in the program
-You can email us at the Nordic Analog Network with your questions about the program and application process: nordicanalognetwork@gmail.com -
For more information about application and the exchange: nordicanalognetwork@gmail.com
Or email the darkroom you want to apply for a residency at directly.