Artist and scientist led, The Arctic Circle is an annual expeditionary residency program.
Established in 2009, The Arctic Circle brings together international artists of all disciplines, scientists, architects, and educators who collectively explore the high-Arctic Svalbard Archipelago and Arctic Ocean aboard a specially outfitted expedition vessel.
The Arctic Circle provides a shared experience for its participants to engage in the myriad issues relevant to our time and to develop professionally through fieldwork and research, interdisciplinary collaborations, exhibit opportunities, and public and classroom engagement.
The Arctic Circle program supports the creation and exhibition of new and pioneering work, and aims to empower the creative individual while fostering the collaborative.
Upcoming Expeditions:
The Arctic Circle 2026, Arctic Spring Expedition: April 16 to May 02, 2026: International Territory of Svalbard
The Arctic Circle 2026, Arctic Spring Expedition: May 14 to May 30, 2026: International Territory of Svalbard
The Arctic Circle 2026, Arctic Summer Expedition: July 14 to July 30, 2026: International Territory of Svalbard
International artists and scientists of all disciplines, architects, and educators are invited to apply.
The Arctic Circle 2026
The Arctic Circle accepts applications from international contemporary artists of all disciplines, scientists, architects, innovators and educators alike.
Please click here to download The Arctic Circle 2026 Application Guidelines (PDF).
This application cycle opened on May 15th, 2025.
The application submission deadline is July 15th, 2025.
Please join our mailing list by emailing us at news@thearcticcircle.org to stay current with program news and events.
The Arctic Circle 2026 takes place aboard an ice-class expedition sailing vessel in the international territory of Svalbard, a mountainous Arctic archipelago just 10 degrees from the North Pole. The Arctic Circle expeditions provide the opportunity for artists and innovators to pursue their personal projects on board while exploring collaborations with the expedition’s fellow participants. Our vessel and home during our time in the remote Arctic, a traditionally rigged Schooner, is equipped with workspace, common areas, and ample room for privacy, productivity, and creativity. The Arctic Circle participants are provided with the full support of a working expedition; ship and crew, all on board facilities, meals, shore excursions, transportation and accommodation while in our port of embarkation, Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
Please visit https://thearcticcircle.org/ for full program details.
Included are:
- Hotel accommodation, within program dates, pre and post sailing, Longyearbyen, Svalbard
- Transfers from airport to hotel, and hotel to ship, Longyearbyen, Svalbard
- Accommodation on board from our point of departure to return
- All meals on board
- All shore excursions
- Access to on board facilities
Selected participants are responsible for transportation to/ from Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Selected participants are provided with the full support of a working expedition, and are provided a list of required items and appropriate dress to bring, and provided in-depth, comprehensive assistance in all areas of expedition preparation and logistics planning. The ship is equipped and certified for Arctic waters. The Captain and crew are fully qualified and experienced in high-Arctic sailing.
Application Guidelines for Individuals, The Arctic Circle 2026
Program costs are subsidized in part by The Arctic Circle and our partners, and in part by participant fees. The Arctic Circle commits to keeping the participant fees to a minimum. The individual participant fee for The Arctic Circle 2026 is: $8850 USD.
We assist selected participants with their fundraising efforts. The applicant’s ability to work with funders to realize projects should be reflected in the application. Applications are vetted by jury based on artistic/ scientific merit, and project description (where applicable).
To apply: We ask applicants to submit all materials by email only to: apply@thearcticcircle.org.
There are no application fees.
Application Deadline is: 11:59pm (EST) July 15, 2025
Artists & Scientists Please Provide:
▪ A letter of interest, PDF (~300 words).
▪ A letter of reference (preferably from a related arts, educational, or
science institution). The letter of reference may be included with application materials or sent separately by the author, by email, to apply@thearcticcircle.org.
▪ Resume and short Bio, PDF, include applicant’s URL if applicable
▪ For visual artists; examples of previous work, approx. 8- 10 JPEG images sized and labeled appropriately. See page 05 for instructions.
▪ For scientists: provide an abstract of proposed project, PDF (~300 words)
▪ For artists; provide project details, PDF (only if a specific project is the focus of your participation).
▪ Complete contact information, PDF, including physical address
▪ Written acknowledgment of the participation fee ($8850 USD) and the applicant’s commitment to meet financial requirements, PDF. In this acknowledgement please indicate if you are applying for a specific expedition, or if you wish to be considered for any expedition.
Applicants may provide separate PDFs for application materials, or combine all materials into a single PDF.
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