Villa Nelimarkka Facilities
The artist residency is based in the studio villa Villa Nelimarkka, built by artist Eero Nelimarkka for his family in 1932, with views of the surrounding fields and lake. The building is located next to the Nelimarkka Museum, approximately four kilometers from the center of Alajärvi.
Villa Nelimarkka has bedrooms and bright work spaces located upstairs. There are two options: a separate bedroom with open studio space or a combined studio and bedroom. Two artists or working couples or a working group of a maximum four can work at a time.
The shared kitchen, shower/toilet and living room are located downstairs. Mostly during the summer, occasional events may be held on the ground floor.
The residence is equipped with linen, kitchenware, bicycle, laundry facilities (at the museum) and Wi-Fi.
The building is not accessible.
Villa Väinölä Facilities
The residency is in Villa Väinölä, located in the center of Alajärvi, designed by architect Alvar Aalto for his brother and completed in 1926. Villa Väinölä is protected by the Building Heritage Act and have been renovated with the support of the Finnish National Board of Antiquities to a look that respects the original design.
On the upper floor of the building, the residence’s facilities include two private bedrooms, a shared kitchen, and a combined toilet and shower. Residents share a common study room with two desks.
There is also a seminar room on the upper floor that can be rented out. In the summer, from June to August, the seminar space serves as another resident’s study room. At other times, the seminar room is used by the resident when it is free.
Villa Väinölä can usually accommodate two residents at a time. The possibility of additional places can be inquired about separately.
The facilities at Villa Väinölä are particularly suitable for literary work and research, as well as small-scale painting and model building.
The residence is equipped with dishes, linens, kitchen appliances, a bicycle, laundry facilities and Wi-Fi. Residents can suggest books of interest to their field or practice for possible purchase for in the residence’s library.
The ground floor houses an exhibition space, museum office and art rental. In addition, occasional public events are held there. Especially in the summer, the destination also attracts tourists interested in architecture.
The building is not fully accessible.
Rent
The rent is 400 €/month/person.
The resident gets a 200-euro discount on the first month’s fee by organizing an event that is open to the public, such as a workshop, lecture, exhibition or reading circle – or by writing a text that is related to one’s own work and can be published on the residency’s blog. The event is always arranged separately. The museum provides the necessary materials..
The resident pays for their own material, living and travel expenses.
Alajärvi and its surroundings
Alajärvi is a town of about 9,500 inhabitants in the farmlands of Southern Ostrobothnia. The parish – as well as the Nelimarkka Museum and Villa Nelimarkka – are among the nationally significant built cultural environments.
Alajärvi offers experiences of the architect Aalto’s architecture from different eras, starting from the early work during his student days up to the last season, when the plans were made by Alvar and Elissa Aalto Architects. The town’s waterfront is dominated by the wooden church designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and built by the Kuorikoski family of church builders, next to which are the modernist city hall, library and parish, health and office buildings designed by Alvar Aalto. The whole is completed by the youth club house, the municipal hospital and Villa Väinölä, all belonging to Aalto’s early production.
Alajärvi Municipal Centre – Alvar Aalto Foundation | Alvar Aalto -säätiö EN
Kraatterijärvi UNESCO Global Geopark is located in South Ostrobothnia in the area of Alajärvi, Evijärvi, Lappajärvi and Vimpeli municipalities. The most popular attractions in the Geopark area are the Meteorite Center, Lakeaharju, Pyhävuori and the Uittomies heritage area.
HOME — KRAATTERIJÄRVI GEOPARK
Sculptor Antti Maasalo’s sculpture park and eco-house are located in Alajärvi’s Lehtimäki. The studio home with wind turbines and solar panels designed by Maasalo and architect Kirmo Mikkola was the first of its kind in Finland in the 1970s. The exhibition space and the sculpture park are open in the summer months by agreement.
Taiteilija Antti Maasalo – Valon ja liikkeen vuosikymmenet
How to Apply for Residencies
Please fill out the application form (Word) (remember to sign it). Kindly write your name and the name of the residency you are applying for in the title field of the electronic application. Please attach your work plan, previous work samples and CV/resume. Please include the preferred date(s) and length of your stay on your application.
If you cannot fill out the application document in word, you can also print out the PDF form: Residency Application (PDF)
The annual application period always ends on the last day of March at 23:59. An electronic invitation letter will be sent to those selected by April 15th.
Send your application to the email address:
residenssiohjelma.nelimarkka-museo@alajarvi.fi
or in a letter (mention the name of the residency you are applying for in the envelope) to the address:
Nelimarkka-museo
Pekkolantie 115
FI-62900 Alajärvi
FINLAND
News
GEDOK Munich and Nelimarkka Museum open call for a month-long artist residency in August 2025
The Nelimarkka museum’s residency program cooperates with GEDOK Munich. GEDOK is a traditional German organization of women artists, and GEDOK Munich is its largest regional section.
The open call is aimed at female artists living in Finland. Applicants born, living or working in Ostrobothnia take precedence.
To apply send
👉 CV (with artist’s contact information)
👉 3-5 work samples with information
👉 a short text/motivation letter including a preliminary project plan for the residency
📧 to info@nelimarkka-museo.fi
or ✉ to Nelimarkka-museo, Pekkolantie 115, 62900 Alajärvi.
The deadline is on March 1st 2025. Please, apply in English.
The museum selects and sends 3 applications to representatives of GEDOK Munich, who will make the final decision.
The artist will stay in a separate apartment (shared with another artist – two separate bedrooms, shared kitchen and bathroom). Photos of the flat are attached. The house is close to the atelier.
https://www.domagkateliers.com/atelierhaus/gastateliers
In addition to the apartment and studio, the selected artist will receive a grant of 1200 €. There is an opportunity to meet other artists and visit their studios. It is also possible to organize an exhibition, but this will be agreed separately with local parties.
Further information: residenssiohjelma.nelimarkka-museo@alajarvi.fi
FAQ
Where is the nearest grocery store?
– The nearest grocery store is S-Market at Alajärvi ABC, about four kilometers from Villa Nelimarkka. K-Market and Lidl can be found a little further. Grocery stores are about a kilometer away from Villa Väinölä.
What are the lunch spots in Alajärvi?
– In Alajärvi you can enjoy lunch at ABC, Hotel Alvariini, Natamon Aarhan Thai and Teboil.
Where can you exercise in Alajärvi?
– In Alajärvi you can find e.g. Alajärvi outdoor sports center and swimming hall. In the area of Kraatterijärvi Geopark there are several outdoor trails of different lengths.
Where can I buy artist supplies?
– Villa Väinölä has a small selection of artist supplies. The closest shop specializing in artist supplies, Suomen Taidetarvike, can be found in Seinäjoki.
How do you get from one place to another?
– Alajärvi’s public transport works best during the school year. More information can be found on Matkahuolto’s website: Matkahuolto – Online Ticket Sale
– The nearest train stations can be found in Lapua and Seinäjoki.
– The residence includes the possibility to use a bicycle.
Guestbook
Miriam Markl
Movement Artist, Dancer, Choreographer
Berlin, Germany www.miriammarkl.com
In winter 2024, I had the opportunity to be an artist-in-residence at Villa Nelimarkka, where I spent a month researching and working both in the villa and the museum. This experience provided an environment of exceptional support and artistic exchange.
My research focused on developing a movement practice that emerges from the interplay between the body and the environment. At Nelimarkka Museum, I explored ways to translate Nelimarkka’s fixed images—his landscapes, portraits, and depictions of everyday life—into “imaginary movement maps.” This process deepened my understanding of his work both aesthetically and historically and culminated in a public performance that was warmly received by the local community.
The residency’s tranquil and secluded setting offered an ideal environment for deep, independent work. The museum’s dedication to supporting artists was evident in every aspect of the residency. From engaging discussions about Finnish culture and art to practical assistance and a genuine interest in my creative process, the Nelimarkka Museo staff made me feel trusted and valued. This level of care and support is profoundly appreciated.
I wholeheartedly recommend the Nelimarkka Museo and Villa Nelimarkka residency to any artist seeking a quiet environment in which to grow and create in solitude. The unique combination of the spacious and historic villa (filled with hidden treasures, rooms and boxes to explore), the surrounding nature with its lake and forest, the nearby town (be sure to visit the charming hotel!), the inspiring architecture in Alajärvi, and the museum’s dedicated support makes this residency truly one of a kind.
