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Kuš! Comics Residency
Illustration: Rebeka Lukošus
Kuš! invites artists to spend a month or two in Riga to focus on their work, meet the local art scene, and get inspired by their new surroundings in a creative environment. Since 2013 we've hosted 82 artists from around the globe in cooperation with different partners such as ISSP, TUR telpa, BABA JAGA Europe and CUNE Comics.
In 2026 the Kuš! Comics Residency continues in cooperation with Part Time Gallery thanks to the funding of Latvian State Culture Capital Fundation (SCCF). In 2027 and 2028 the residency is funded by Nordic Culture Point.
Currently Nordic and Baltic artists can apply for a two-months residency from January to February 2027.
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Open Call for Nordic and Baltic Artists
Illustration: Anna Vaivare
Open call for a two-months Kuš! Comics Residency in Riga in January to February 2027 for a Nordic or Baltic artistOrganised in collaboration with Part Time Gallery, Kuš! continues to host comic artists in Riga, Latvia. This opportunity is aimed for artists to focus on their personal projects in an inspiring environment away from home during Latvia's magic winter time.
Who can apply?
Comic artists living in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Åland, Estonia, or Lithuania.
Duration
01 January - 28 February 2027
What we provide
- A cozy apartment in the center of Riga;
- The possibility to use the library and extra equipment at the Kuš! office;
- Featuring your project on our social media accounts;
- Culture, art and sightseeing recomendations during your stay;
- Organized studio visits to local comic artists;
- 2'000 Eur Residency stipend;
- Travel cost reimbursment up to 250 EUR (economy class). We encourage to use ecological modes of transportation if possible.What we expect from you
- You work on your own comics project, no relation to Kuš! needed. You can spend your time here to focus on your own personal comics projects;
- Present your work to the public in the form of an artist talk and a workshop, or another public event;
- Please bring one of your zines/books to leave at the residency library.
- Openness to connect with the local comic scene.Accommodation and facilities
The artists-in-residence will reside in a cozy apartment in the city centre. The apartment is located in a neighbourhood away from the main tourist routes, in a typical wooden house, originally built for workers at the end of the 19th century. Facilities include: Bedroom, work room, bathroom, basic kitchen, washing machine, wi-fi, scanner, deskjet printer, light pad, tabletop easel, bicycle.
Host town
Riga is the capital of Latvia, a country in the North-East of Europe next to the Baltic Sea. The city hosts an active cultural scene with plenty to discover. The countryside, with beautiful forests, swamps, and beaches, can easily be reached by public transport. There are plenty of possibilities for winter swimming, Nordic skiing, or sweating at a local sauna.
Apply!
Please submit the APPLICATION FORM by 16 August 2026. The results will be announced by the middle of September.
Support
The residency has received funding for artist residencies from the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture. (Project "Part Time Kuš! Residency").
Questions?
Write us to kushmens(at)gmail(dot)com
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Residency Flat
The residency is located in the center of Riga on Miera street nearby Brīvības street, close to a farmers’ market, a theatre, and many bars, restaurants and cultural venues.
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Kuš! Comics Residency Selection 2026
After a thorough selection process, we chose the following six artists from 517 applications to spend a month in Riga in 2026 in our comics residency.
Apolonija Lučić (HR)
Dorottya Poór (HU)
Henrique Coser Moreira (BR)
Leomi Sadler (UK)
Nando von Arb (CH)
Powerpaola (CO/AR)We're very much looking forward to hosting them here. We've discovered many great artists through this process and can't wait for countless fresh collaborations beyond the residency.
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Open Call 2026 - CLOSED
Illustration: Jurijs Tatarkins
Open call for the Kuš! Comics Residencies in Riga in 2026Organised in collaboration with Part Time Gallery, Kuš! continues to host comic artists in Riga, Latvia. This opportunity is aimed for artists to focus on their personal projects in an inspiring environment away from home.
Who can apply?
Comic artists and other professionals working in the field of comics are eligible to apply.
Duration
One or two months. The residency hosts one artist at a time. The residency calendar is organized in full-month slots, typically running from the first to the last day of each month. Available months are May, June, July, August, November, and December.
What we provide
- A cozy apartment in the center of Riga;
- The possibility to use the library and extra equipment at the kuš! office;
- Featuring your project on our social media accounts;
- In some months there is the possibility to have a short pop-up exhibition at Part Time Gallery;
- Culture, art and sightseeing recomendations during your stay;
- Invitation letter so that you can apply for additional funding.What we expect from you
- You work on your own comics project, no relation to Kuš! needed! You can spend your time here to focus on your own comics;
- Present your work to the public in the form of an artist talk, a workshop, or other public event;
- Provide one drawing for a limited art print made in collaboration with Part Time Gallery, you'll get to keep half of the prints;
- Please bring one of your zines/books to leave at the residency library.Costs
The residency is funded by State Culture Capital Fundation and you'll stay free of charge. The application fee for the open call is 10 USD. The application fee needs to be paid via paypal here or via our web shop here. If there are any problems, contact us, and we can find another way to make the payment.
The selected participants will need to cover their individual travel and living costs themselves. You'll get an official invitation letter from us, which you may use to apply for funding.
Accommodation and facilities
The artists-in-residence will reside in a cozy apartment in the city centre. The apartment is located in a neighbourhood away from the main tourist routes, in a typical wooden house, originally built for workers at the end of the 19th century. Facilities include: Bedroom, work room, bathroom, basic kitchen, washing machine, wi-fi, scanner, light pad, tabletop easel, bicycle.
Host town
Riga is the capital of Latvia, a country in the North-East of Europe next to the Baltic Sea. The city hosts an active cultural scene with plenty to discover. The countryside, with beautiful forests, swamps, and beaches, can easily be reached by public transport.
Apply!
Please submit the APPLICATION FORM by 31 January 2026. The results will be announced in the end of February.
Questions?
Write us to kushmens(at)gmail(dot)com
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Previous Kuš! Residents
2026
Apolonija Lučić (HR)
Dorottya Poór (HU)
Henrique Coser Moreira (BR)
Leomi Sadler (UK)
Nando von Arb (CH)
Powerpaola (CO/AR)2025
etchingroom1 (UA)
Ruei Yi Fang (TW)
Henna Räsänen (FI/DE)
Yulia Vus (UA)
Harukichi (JP)
Ivo Puiupo (PT/BR)
Ula Rugevičiūtė Rugytė (LT)
Maybelline Skvortzoff (FR)
Angela Fanche (USA)2024
Eric Kostiuk Williams (CA)
Bim Eriksson (SE)
Carlo Carnevale (IT)
Caroline Cash (US)
Giovanna Fabi (IT)
Hadeer Ali (US)
James Collier (CA)
Jonas Fischer (DE)
Luise Schaller (DE)
Malwine Stauss (DE)
Giulia Cellino (IT)
Yina Kim (US)2023
Alyona Yekimova (UA)
Antony Reznik (UA)
Anu Ambasna (UK)
Asuka Okajima (JP)
Bohdana Zaiats (UA)
Chris Sperandio (USA)
Ciara Quilty-Harper (ES)
David Krančan (SI)
Gina Wynbrandt (USA)
Jakub Plachý (CZ)
Joonas Sildre (EE)
Keith Kavanagh (IE)
María Victoria Rodriguez (ARG)
Mia Oberländer (DE)
Michelle Kwon (USA)
Sui Lam (HK)
Susanna Kesänen (FI)
Valentin Verron (FR)
2022
Ana Margarida Matos (PT)
Greta Alice (LT)
Tim Ng Tvedt (NO)
Omar Cheikh (IT)
Magdalena Kaszuba (DE)
Viktorija Eziukas (LT)
Zody Burke (USA)
Disa Wallander (SE)
Marco Quadri (IT)
Tereza Šiklová (CZ)
Janne Marie Dauer (DE)
Zlata Novikova (UA)
Jordan Troy Biko (UK)
Evangelos Androutsopoulos (FI/GR)
2021
Anastasia Stročkova (CZ)
Aapo Rapi (FI)
Chiara Dal Maso (IT)
Cristina Pirvu (RO)
Emma Roulette (USA/ES)
Jyrki Nissinen (FI)
Klára Zahrádková (CZ)
Mila Yaneva (BG)
Zsófi Rumi (HU)
2020
Amanda Vähämäki (FI)
Chika Annen (JP/UK)
Emil Friis Ernst (DK)
Greta Alice (LT)
Jurijs Tatarkins (LV)
Matei-Ioan Monoranu (RO)
Milena Simeonova (BG)
Ward Zwart (BE)
Weng Pixin (SG)
2019
Bailey Sharp (USA/AU)
Nathan Cowdry (UK)
Scott Travis (USA/UK)
2014
Berliac (AR)
2013
Emmi Valve (FI)
James Turek (US)
Illustration: Mārtiņš Zutis -
Support
Since January 2025 the residency is supported by Latvian State Culture Capital Fundation (SCCF).
From January 2027-December 2028 the residency has received funding for artist residencies from the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture.
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Testimonials
- Bailey Sharp, cartoonist from Georgia, USA, living in Melbourne, Australia. Co-art editor of The Lifted Brow and part of GLOM PRESS, kuš! resident in December 2019.
"The accommodation itself was generous, I had plenty of working space and the apartment was well looked after. Grocery stores, art supplies, cafes and cheap food spots were just a few minutes walk away, as was the tram into the city (though I usually found it possible to walk everywhere I wanted to go). It was the ideal place to be shacked up, even in the notoriously cold Latvian winter. Overall I loved it, 10/10! Go if you can."
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Illustration: Oskars Pavlovskis
© kuš!