STARA - 01.09.2015, Blaðsíða 61

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position in 2009, followed by Christoph Büchel
and Ráðhildur Ingadóttir. The Scottish curator
and writer Gavin Morrison is currently hold-
ing the position for 2014-2015.
The core of Skaftfell’s operation is the exhibi-
tion program in the 155m2 gallery space on
the second floor. The focus of the space is on a
high quality mix of progressive contemporary
and traditional art, either by domestic or in-
ternational artists. An on-going collaboration
with the Dieter Roth Academy and the Ice-
land Academy of the Arts has been very fruit-
ful. Since 2001, an annual workshop has taken
place at Skaftfell for the graduating class from
the Art Academy. The workshop concludes
with an exhibition where students receive both
professional and practical assistance to realise
their artwork.
Since 2007, the educational role of the cen-
tre has been upheld with artist talks, lectures,
workshops, open studios, a specialized small
library, and by producing educational projects.
These pedagogic projects are tailor-made for
the students in East Iceland’s primary schools,
of which there are 14 in total, each with small
class sizes. The mission of these projects is to
improve the quality of life and enhance the
worldview of the children by introducing to
them the conversations, critical thinking and
social criticism that can be found in contem-
porary art.
The international residency programme for
artists and scholars at Skaftfell has developed
and expanded significantly for the past years
with the centre receiving around 200 applica-
tions for the 2014 residency. The aim of the
programme is to support the artistic process
and provide artists with space and time to cre-
ate. The programme is self-directed, with the
possibility of support from the staff at Skaftfell,
who can assist artists in pursuing and realizing
their artistic research and practice. The pro-
gramme offers an opportunity for a dialogue
between the other selected international art-
ists, as well as with the local artists community
by hosting weekly coffee meetings with the art-
ists-in-residence, artist talks, and exhibitions.
For the past year, 25-30 international artists
have participated in the programme for a 1-6
month period. It has become quite common
for artists to return again and again to Seyðis-
fjörður, even investing in houses there.
Skaftfell has also received funding from the
Nordic Culture Point to provide invited artist a
travel and residency grant while collaboration
has been established with the Goethe Institute
to invite German artists. Through the residency
programme, many opportunities have afforded
to the centre to participate in international
projects. Currently Skaftfell is participating
in four projects: Frontiers in Retreat, Climb-
ing Invisible Structures, Frontiers of Solitude
and Artists as Institutional Exchange. In these
projects, foreign artists stay within the Skaftfell
residency programme while Icelandic artists
travel abroad, with exhibitions, seminars and
publications taking place.
Photo Paula Prats