Application form
The application for residencies at Life on a Leaf in 2027 is now open. Please read the application requirements of the residency carefully before filling in the application form. The 2-4 month residences are intended for Finnish or international artists or researchers whose work focuses on urban space or environments. The fields of art are not limited. Possible areas of research include, for example, art research, architecture, urban planning, urban studies, cultural studies, etc. The residence is intended for self-directed work. The residence offers one artist or researcher (or a couple) at a time the opportunity to live and focus on artistic or scientific work in a unique and inspiring environment.
For artists, the residence is mainly suitable for planning creative work and working on a computer. There is a room in the house that can be used for drawing and planning, but not for painting, sculpting or building. The resident takes care of the cleaning and the garden. Alternatively, Life on a Leaf can organize it for a fee. The house is not a museum, but it is vital that the house and the art integrated into it remain in good condition. Unfortunately, the house is not accessible for people with reduced mobility or for small children (the upper floors can only be reached through a narrow spiral staircase).
You can apply for 2-4 month long residency periods. The rent is €630 / month (including electricity and internet) + a monthly water fee of 20 € per person. A deposit of 100 €/residency month is required three months prior to the residency. If the resident cancels after this, the fee will not be returned. If the residency happens accordning to plan, the fee will be calculated as part of the rent. More info about the residency here.
About the house
The residence, a leaf-shaped house named Life on a Leaf, is a total work of art designed by Jan-Erik Andersson together with architect Erkki Pitkäranta. The house, polemicising the relationship between architecture and art, was part of Andersson’s doctoral thesis at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki. The house and its structures contain tens of works of art by Finnish and foreign artists, all commissioned in 2009 when the house was built.
The 147 m2 Life on a Leaf building is located in Hirvensalo, about 6 kilometers from the centre of Turku. It is located on a spacious plot that borders a natural forest. The house shares a yard with another house (Kuusi-o) designed by Jan-Erik Andersson and Erkki Pitkäranta, which is the current home of Andersson and Marjo Malin. The Life on a Leaf building has good public transport and bicycle connections from central Turku.
The house is used for meetings and events also during residencies. The residents will be informed about upcoming events in advance.
The application form is open 15.4-17.5.2026. The application is done through the application form below.
The residency does not include economic support for the artist’s or the researcher’s work. You can apply in English, Swedish or Finnish. Please read our house rules and rental agreement before applying. You can find both below. Questions: leaf@lifeonaleaf.fi
More information:
Information about the residence
Previous residents