The Forssa Textile Residency, hosted by the Forssa Museum, offers 1–2 textile artists or designers the opportunity to work in Forssa. The museum supports the residency with practical assistance, artistic mentoring, and access to its professional networks.

At the heart of the residency is the Forssa Museum’s Pattern Centre (Kuosikeskus), which houses Finland’s largest collection of printed textile design, including original patterns by over 130 designers and hundreds of thousands of fabric samples.

The residency is part of the museum’s broader mission to promote contemporary textile art and design, alongside exhibitions at Galleria Moletti and the biennial Forssa Textile Week festival. The aim is to provide artists with time and space to explore Finnish textile heritage and small-town life while bringing new perspectives to the local cultural scene.

Resident artists are integrated into Forssa’s cultural life through meetings, workshops, and collaborative activities. The residency process and outcomes are actively communicated by the museum and presented during the residency period and at Forssa Textile Week in August 2027 (themes: linen, indigo, denim and the Francophone countries).

Textile art, design, or visual art with focus on textile-related themes. We hope the applicant is interested in working with the local community or communities either

The resident artist may work and receive guidance (if needed) at the Rykkeri hand-printing facilities, the weaving space of the community college (Wahren-opisto), other textile education spaces, or the Visual Arts School, depending on the technical nature of their work. The artist will also have the opportunity to learn about rya rug making under the guidance of Wetterhoff in Hämeenlinna.

The working facilities will be tailored to suite both the artist and the partner providing the space.

The residency is located in Forssa, about 1.5 hours from Helsinki. Forssa is a small town surrounded by nature, founded around textile factories in the 19th century. Nearby you will find two national parks and excellent outdoor recreation areas. You can reach Forssa from Helsinki by bus.

Finnish – English

One month: October 2026 or February 2027

The accomodation and working facilities are provided by the residency host and partners. In return we hope the artist would work with the local community or give a workshop or lecture.

Applicants must cover their own travel and living expenses, and materials. The museum has applied for residency funding from the Culture Moves Europe Programme. If this will be granted, we can also help with expenses.

The residency house “Jokitalo” is a picturesque wooden home built in the 1890s, beautifully situated in the old town center near the river. The house is surrounded by a small garden. 

Equipped with modern amenities, Jokitalo includes two rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a sleeping loft. It comfortably accommodates 1-2 persons.
During the rest of the year, Jokitalo serves the music-oriented Tila.nne residency and cultural program.

Send the application by email to museo (at) forssa.fi with the title “Textile Residency October 2026” or "Textile Residency February 2027".

Please include the following with your application:

A portfolio and/or CV, including images of previous work

A plan outlining your proposed work during the residency period in Forssa

Description of facilities you will need for your work

Please contact me:

(kati.kivimaki (a) forssa.fi)

tel. +358-3-4141 5837

+358-40-181 6263

Käynti: Wahreninkatu 12; posti: PL 62, 30101  FORSSA

P. 03-41415100