drawing research

WELL – international drawing residency 2026

| Emma Fält


July 24–29, 2026 | Niemelä House, Nerohvirta Village, Iisalmi, Finland

Applications are now open for WELL 2026, the 4th International Drawing Residency, hosted by artists Angie Brew and Emma Fält in the Finnish lakeside countryside. WELL offers a focused and supportive environment for artists, researchers, and creative practitioners interested in drawing and expanded drawing practices. The residency creates time and space for deep reflection, listening, and grounding, while encouraging dialogue, experimentation, and collective exchange. Each summer, the Fält family opens their land and studios in Nerohvirta Village near Iisalmi to a small group of international and local artists. Surrounded by forests and lakes, participants are invited to engage with their own creative practice while becoming part of a temporary community of drawing practitioners.

Residency Focus
The residency is centred around drawing as a practice that can expand into multiple disciplines and approaches. Participants are encouraged to explore both individual work and shared creative processes.

What we offer

  • Drawing and sound art workshops led by Anna & Emma Fält and Angela Brew
(Further workshop details will be announced during the spring.)
  • Opportunities to share and develop your artistic practice with fellow artists, researchers, and practitioners
  • Time and space for independent creative work
  • A small, supportive community of practitioners
  • Simple shared vegetarian meals
  • Daily access to nature: lake swimming, forest walks, and harvesting
  • A peaceful working environment in the Finnish countryside-


Participation Fee


The residency fee is 451.5 € (£390).
The fee covers the programme and shared meals and is kept as low as possible to cover basic costs.
Accommodation is not included in the residency fee. Participants may choose from:

  • A low-cost bedroom in the studio house
  • Local accommodation nearby
  • Camping in the surrounding area.

Who Can Apply

  • Applications are welcome from artists, creative practitioners, researchers, and makers whose work relates to drawing or expanded drawing practices.
  • The residency hosts a maximum of 7 participants, allowing for an intimate and focused working environment.

To apply,/register please send an email including:

  • A short introduction to your practice
  • A brief description of what you are currently working on
  • A few sentences on why participation in the WELL residency would be meaningful for you
  • Application deadline: April 20, 2026

Contact
For applications and questions regarding accommodation or the residency programme, please contact the organisers by email. We warmly welcome applications from practitioners interested in exploring drawing, nature, and shared creative practice in the Finnish landscape.



WELL International Drawing Residency


Hosted by Emma Fält & Angie Brew
brewdrawing@gmail.com
emmavilina@gmail.com

listening workshop for kids and their close ones

| Emma Fält

(in English – please scroll down)

Tervetuloa kuuntelemaan ja piirtämään lapsille ja lapsenmielisille tarkoitettuun työpajaan Annantalolla Helsingissä.

Koskettavia keskusteluja

Koskettavia keskusteluja on tila, jossa perheet ja ystävät voivat kohdata ja luoda yhdessä äänimaiseman ja piirroksen. Teoksen äänimaisema syntyy piirtäen erilaisilla arkisilla materiaaleilla/esineillä, jotka ovat tuttuja kotiympäristöstä ja puistoista. Materiaaleista jää jälki paperiin ja mikrofoni tallentaa äänimaiseman, jota voi kuunnella kuulokkeiden kautta.

Teokseen voi osallistua 15–20 minuutin ajan. Kerralla mukaan mahtuu 1–4 osallistujaa. Tilassa toimintaa on ohjaamassa taiteilija Emma Fält.

https://www.annantalo.fi/fi/tapahtumat/event/40505A3B61C17FEB200D50D21EDB4A49/Annantalon_taidelauantai____nen___rell_

As part of Äänen äärellä – exhibition there is one more workshop for kids and their close ones:

Touchscapes

Touchscapes is a space where families and friends can collaborate to create soundscapes and drawings. The soundscape is created by drawing with various everyday materials/objects familiar from homes and parks. The materials leave a mark on the paper, and a microphone records the soundscape, which you can listen to through headphones. The simple tools are suitable for everyone.


You can participate in the artwork for 15–20 minutes. Each session can accommodate 1–4 participants. The activities in the space will be guided by artist Emma Fält.

Welcome to listen and draw together!

Happening in September: Creating Space for Listening will visit KEHÄ – festival

| Emma Fält
photo: Anniina Holappa, KEHÄ 2020

Creating space for listening is going to visit Kehä – festival in Northern Finland, Oulu this month. I feel so happy to be part of it and it feels good to perform live after a long brake.

My piece is a drawing dialogue with the audience. It is very special chance to draw together with one person at a time. This is an updated version of the drawing installation at Third Space gallery in Helsinki in 2019. In the piece I am inviting people to a nonverbal dialogue. We will create a soundscape by drawing. If desired, everyone can share their thoughts on the encounter after the drawing session. I hope you are able to come and experience some of the works on Saturday 26.9. that is the day for the audience.

Kehä is a Multidisciplinary Artfestival for two. This year there are works from 11 artists, all one-to-one performances. I am really looking forward experiencing it because it is not only a day of performing but 5 days of sharing and working with other artists, with local communities, a symposium and workshops. I am sharing a link and some information about the festival here (unfortunately in finnish).

Kehä-festivaali 2020


 https://www.kulttuuriosuuskuntailme.fi/keha2020

Monitaiteellinen Kehä-festivaali kahdelle järjestetään 25.-26.9.2020 Kulttuuritalo Valveella Oulussa. Kulttuuriosuuskunta ILMEen järjestämän festivaalin teemana on tänä vuonna raja. Aihetta lähestytään kahdenkeskisissä kohtaamisissa muun muassa vuorovaikutuksellisen esitystaiteen, paperiteatterin, improvisaatiovideotaiteen ja holistisen säveltaiteen keinoin.

​Kaikille avoin ja maksuton festivaalipäivä on lauantai 26.9. Teokset toteutetaan yhdelle kokijalle kerrallaan. Osaa teoksia voi katsoa kaikessa rauhassa, osa kutsuu festivaalivierasta osallistumaan. Ohjelmassa on teoksia yhdeltätoista taiteilijalta.

News 2020

| Emma Fält

Hi everyone,

I hope you are well and safe ❤

This year I will be mostly working at the studio and learning something new, but there are some dates you can save:

In June there are sound drawing workshops for young in Kuopio. Go and book your place at https://www.kulttuuriareena44.fi/event/kesatoimintaa-kulttuuriareenalla-2020/

In September you can take part in Creating Space for Listening – performance at KEHÄ – festival in Oulu, Finland. Check out the info (right now only in Finnish) at https://www.kulttuuriosuuskuntailme.fi/keha2020

Also, Thinking through drawing is planning on having online symposium this year because our September meeting Drawing Together in New Paltz – New York has postponed to 2021. If you are interested in taking part, offering an online workshop or showing your work, please contact us. You can join our mailing list or write an email to brewdrawing@gmail.com. We will be telling more about it soon at https://www.thinkingthroughdrawing.org

Big Hugs,

Emma