Tips and opportunities in September 2024

Participate in a paid portfolio review, learn more about how to apply for cultural funding, or draw comics non-stop for 24 hours during 24 Hour Comics Day – this autumn offers several opportunities for illustrators, graphic designers, animators and comic artists..

Open calls

Open call: Risokompis blindfolded collaborative poster project – remote

Risokompis is a recurring art project where two creators produce a joint poster without seeing what the other person is creating. The result is printed in A2 size using a risograph. Risokompis is now launching an open call for those interested in participating in the next round of the project.

Apply for a spot at Transit Kulturinkubator – Stockholm

Are you looking for a social environment, opportunities to exchange experiences, a workspace/studio in Stockholm with colleagues, and support to develop your practice? Why not apply for a spot at Transit for 2025! Applications are open until 16 September 2024. Learn more and apply via Transit’s website.

Apply for compensation for public art displays (IV)

Have you completed any public artworks? If so, you are entitled to individual display compensation. Register your works by 15 September through Bildupphovsrätt.

Artist grants from Konstnärsnämnden

Konstnärsnämnden currently has several open calls.

• International exchange and travel grants aim to support artists in establishing, developing, and deepening international contacts. This includes grants for international exchange abroad, within Sweden, and travel grants. Apply by 12 September via Konstnärsnämnden.
• Kulturbryggan provides support for new and untested cultural ideas. Are you less experienced in applying for grants? Do you have a project idea that, through its theme or execution, can contribute to new and untested cultural expressions? Kulturbryggan loves unusual concepts! Application period: 1-25 September. Read more here!

Apply to exhibit and sell art at Vintersalong 2024 in Nacka

Vintersalong is a recurring, juried group exhibition held at Nacka konsthall in Dieselverkstaden, just east of Stockholm. Participating artists can submit up to three works, all of which must be for sale. Apply by 24 September 2024 via Nacka municipality's website. The exhibition runs from 30 November 2024 to 26 January 2025. No connection to Nacka is required for participation – everyone is welcome to apply.

Open call for a paid portfolio review – remote

The call is open to professional artists residing in the regions of Blekinge, Halland, Jönköping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, and Skåne. The portfolio review will be conducted in English via Zoom. Participating artists will have the opportunity to present their work to curators from the Nordic and Baltic regions. Applications are open from 2-22 September. Portfolio reviews will take place between 11–15 November 2024. Find more information about the open call on Region Halland's website.

Region Örebro cultural grants

Apply for up to 15 000 SEK to develop your artistic practice, technique or style! Or to produce specific works of art. You can also apply to arrange a workshop, exhibition or other events. Submit your application by 15 September. Find the application form and examples of how to fill it out at Region Örebro.

Region Uppsala cultural grants – Uppsala County

Are you registered and working professionally in Uppsala County? If so, you can apply for a work grant, honorary grant, or artistic development grant. Apply via Region Uppsala by 1 October. Remember to ask any questions you have about the application process a few business days before the application deadline.

Apply for transition study support

The transition study support is aimed at individuals in mid-career. This support allows you to study and broaden your skills to become more attractive in the labour market, either by further developing your current expertise or by changing career paths. Apply by 1 October. Learn more about transition study support through CSN.

Present yourself on the Culture platform in Örebro County

Culture in Örebro County is a platform that gathers professional artists and artisans from the region. Similar to Illustratörcentrum, but with a regional focus and more cultural forms. The platform is for local practitioners who want to network or present themselves as available for local commissions, studio visits, or lectures. Learn more and apply to be featured on the platform here!

Events and Courses

Drink & Draw at Moderna Museet – Stockholm

Drop in for a free, creative after-work event at the Café Bar at Moderna Museet! Drink & Draw is held one Friday each month. Paper and an art educator will be provided. No pre-registration is required. Upcoming dates: 20 September, 25 October. Learn more on the museum's website.

Digital presence for creators – remote event

How can an artist or creator build a strong digital presence to reach clients, commissions, and income? Region Uppsala is hosting a half-day workshop on digital presence for professional creators on Monday, 16 September from 13:00-16:30. The workshop leader is Agnes Török, a communications specialist at Transit Kulturinkubator and trainer on digital presence for several cultural collectives, art centres, and universities. Register by 10 September via Region Uppsala's website. Limited spots available.

Illustratörcentrum at the Gothenburg Book Fair

Postcard Popup at the Book Fair
On 14-15 June, our postcard popup took over Formcenter Väst in Gothenburg, with a successful opening. Thanks to everyone who contributed! Now the popup is moving on to the Gothenburg Book Fair. From 26-29 September, the postcards will be displayed as the main attraction at the fair's new Illustrators Wall. Visitors can find the popup near the Book Fair's comics section Seriestrippen.

Underground and Small-scale Creation – discussion at the Book Fair
What will human creators do when machines start creating? Perhaps the answer lies in handcrafted and unique analogue works. Ben Baker will talk with Miku Maria Gustafsson about making things by hand. Ben Baker is an animator, illustrator, board member of Illustratörcentrum, and one of the initiators of the postcard popup. Miku Maria Gustafsson is the chair of Seriefrämjandet, an artist, and a zine collector. Visitors to the Book Fair are welcome to join the discussion on the Comics Stage on Thursday, 26 September from 15:30-15:50. Read more in the Book Fair program.

Presenting Portfolios – where do illustrators meet clients today?
Digital portfolios, webtoons, Substack? Is Instagram on the way out and old blogs on the way back in? Illustratörcentrum and Serieförmedlingen both aim to connect their members with clients – how does that work? Marie Tillman from Seriefrämjandet will discuss this with Valeria Hedman from Illustratörcentrum. Visitors to the Book Fair are welcome to the discussion on the Comics Stage on Thursday, 26 September from 16:00-16:20. Read more in the Book Fair program.

Join 24 Hour Comics Day – Åmål (and internationally)

Challenge yourself in comic creation by participating in the international event 24 Hour Comics Day: for the 20th year in a row, comic creators around the world will gather to marathon-draw their own comics. The goal is to produce 24 pages in 24 hours!

4–6 October, Seriefrämjandet is organising a 24 Hour Comics Day event in collaboration with Bokdagar in Dalsland. Accommodation, meals, workspaces, and a city tour are included in the participant fee. Learn more about Seriefrämjandet’s 24 Hour Comics Day here.

Illustration festival – Malmö

Illustrationsfestival is back for the third year in a row, at Inkonst in Malmö on the 19 October! Fans of illustration, aspiring and professional artists are all welcome to deep dive into the perspectives of illustration together with professional illustrators and designers from the Nordic countries. The festival explores the creative process through seminars, panels and workshops. Free admission.

Money: two days on cultural funding for freelancers – remote event

What funding is available? How do applications and selections work? What criteria and priorities influence who receives funding? On 20–21 November, the digital event "Money – Two Days on Cultural Funding for Freelancers" returns. Several national and Nordic funders, as well as municipalities supporting independent cultural workers, will present themselves and the support they make avialable to cultural workers. There will be opportunities to ask questions. Experienced professionals from the independent cultural sector will share their tips. Read more and pre-register by 18 November through Region Västra Götaland's platform.

Publicerat 12 September 2024