Exploring the visual arts scene of Norway's southwest coast • Since 2015

Open Call! Itchy Fingers – A Writing Residency on Art Books

"My fingers are itching to move the world."

- Alexander Kielland (1880)

ENNO
Parts of the art book section at Stavanger Library and Culture Centre.

CAS – Contemporary Art Stavanger and Kiellandsenteret (Stavanger Library and Culture Centre) are thrilled to announce Itchy Fingers – A Writing Residency on Art Books, taking place 8-21 September, 2025.

Inspired by Stavanger writer Alexander Kielland's evocative phrase about 'itchy fingers', this unique residency invites a writer to explore the tactility of art books – their delicate presence, the challenges of delivering them to eager hands, and their power to metaphorically or literally move the world.

Over the course of two weeks, the selected writer will immerse themselves in the Stavanger Library and Culture Centre's rich collection of art books, responding through critique, essay, or experimental forms. The residency will culminate in one or two texts (see terms below) published by CAS – Contemporary Art Stavanger and in the channels of Stavanger Library and Culture Centre.

Key questions to explore include: How should libraries engage with books as artworks? What challenges and possibilities arise when making art books accessible within a public library? And how do art books – both their production and final format – challenge standard practices in the fields of both publishing and contemporary art?

As an added dimension, the residency aligns with Kapittel, Stavanger's International Festival of Literature and Freedom of Speech. The chosen writer will be invited to join a panel discussion, with the final topic shaped by their own perspective.

Are you ready to scratch the itch?

From the collection: Until death do us part. Thomas Sauvin. Kinakål forlag
From the collection: Tepoesi. Anne Tveit Knutsen
From the collection: Plommehagepartitur. Elida Brenne Linge (artwork) & Mari Kvien Brunvoll (music)

The chosen resident will be asked to:

  • Stay in Stavanger 8 - 21 September 2025
  • Write one long (3000 words) or two shorter (1500 words) text(s) for publication on CAS and in the channels of Stavanger Library and Culture Centre
  • Participate in a panel on art books during Kapittel, Stavanger International Festival of Literature and Freedom of Speech
  • Explore and consider Alexander Kielland's view on art

What's included:

  • 20,000 NOK honorarium
  • Up to 5,000 NOK in travel costs
  • Free accommodation
  • Per diem (105 NOK per day)
  • Free use of Stavanger Library and Culture Centre's writing room (Skrivestuen) for the duration of the stay
  • Festival pass for the Kapittel, Stavanger International Festival of Literature and Freedom of Speech
  • Introductions to local art institutions and individuals

How to apply

The open call is open to anyone with an interest in artist books. International applicants are welcome, but please note that the travel cost contribution above is final. The resident is responsible for any relevant travel visas to Norway.

To apply, please send the below documents as one pdf to: info@contemporaryartstavanger.no

  • Your CV
  • A maximum 500-word motivational text. Please outline briefly what kinds of text(s) and topics you would like to focus on for the residency.
  • An example of your writing. The piece should be a maximum of 1500 words and may have been previously published.

Application deadline: 11 April, 2025

The jury consists of Sofie B. Ringstad and Heather Jones (CAS - Contemporary Art Stavanger), and Ruth Stokke Haaland (Kiellandsenteret / Stavanger Library and Culture Centre).

More info

About CAS - Contemporary Art Stavanger

CAS - Contemporary Art Stavanger is an online art magazine that offers weekly insights into the art scene in Stavanger and Rogaland. We place the local art landscape within a broader national and international context, fostering a dialogue between regional and global perspectives. Since 2016, we have also hosted writing residencies aimed at supporting writers in the visual arts.

About Kiellandsenteret

Alexander L. Kielland (1849-1906) is considered Stavanger's greatest author, and is listed as one of the "big four" in Norwegian literature. He was one of the foremost representatives of literary realism in Norway, where women's issues, social inequality, religious hypocrisy and harsh attacks on the double standards of the bourgeoisie were central themes in his writing. Based on Alexander Kielland’s work as an author and social critic, the Kiellandsenteret at Stavanger Library and Culture Centre cultivates literature, reading and writing, and is a meeting place for debate and exchange of opinions.

Related articles

Om rollen til kunstnerbøker – kunstbokhandlere og messer

Fungerer kunstnerbøker annerledes i verden enn andre kunstverk og bøker? CAS-redaktør Heather Jones ble invitert av Pamflett og Entrée i anledning Kunstbokhandel Under Press, og kunstbokmessen Bergen Art Book Fair, til å skrive en tekst om rollen til kunstbokhandlere og kunstbokmesser. Teksten er en redigert og oversatt versjon av originalteksten, og fungerer som en kort oversikt over publisering som kunstnerisk format i USA og Europa. Den ser på utfordringene som kunstnere og forlag står overfor i dag, og reflekterer over appellen kunstnerbøker fortsetter å ha.

  • NO
  • 24 August 2023
  • Essay
  • Heather Jones

Something that we can all get better at...

Over the last several years, we at CAS have spoken with colleagues, artists, and friends, both casually and formally about studio visits. The issue of expectations and ethics came up repeatedly: nearly everyone has expectations about studio visits, but they're often different and very rarely communicated clearly. Although many good things can come out of studio visits, these mixed and unmet expectations can lead to feelings of resentment and frustration. In an attempt to counter this, CAS and Open Studios Stavanger & Sandnes co-hosted a public discussion about studio visit ethics. The goal was not a definitive answer, but rather an opening conversation to share our experiences, perspectives, and to raise awareness of tools that exist to help artists and curators communicate their needs and boundaries. We were honored to be joined in this conversation by Stavanger-based artist Anna Ihle* and Martina Petrelli, curator of Atelier Kunstnerforbundet in Oslo. Below is an edited transcript of our discussion.

  • EN
  • 6 November 2024
  • Interview
  • CAS Editors
See more articles