Teaching period: Sunday 13th to Sunday 20th September 2026
Teacher(s): Sigurður Guðjónsson professor MA Fine Art, IUA and Gústav Geir Bollason artist & director Verksmiðjan Hjalteyri.
Host institution: Iceland University of the Arts
ECTS: 2
Number of available place for KUNO students: 2
Level: MA
Application deadline: August 20, 2026
How to apply: Please submit an artist statement (PDF) of 300–400 words, written in English. The statement should outline your current artistic practice and explain how and why your work would benefit from participating in the workshop. Please also state the institution where you are currently studying and your current level of study (e.g. first- or second-year MA Fine Art student). Also, include either a PDF portfolio or a link to a website showcasing your recent work.
Applications should be emailed by 20th of August to: hildurusa@lhi.is
Course description:
This is a site-specific workshop held in Verskmiðjan Hjalteyri in the north of Iceland. Verksmiðjan Hjalteyri is a disused hering factory that is run as an art venue.
See: http://www.verksmidjanhjalteyri.com
The workshop will draw from the local environment focusing on ecological and environmental issues concluding with a site related group exhibition. During the workshop students will be introduced to various inter- and cross disciplinary research methods through on site presentation, lectures and fieldtrips. This is an experimental workshop that requires students to be able to respond to the site in any form of artistic practice considered applicable to their practice. For additional information about the workshop and stay in Hjalteyri please contact Sigurður Guðjónsson sigurdurg@lhi.is
Schedule:
Sunday 13th of September.
10am depart by coach from Reykjavík to Hjalteyri.
Communal dinner in the Factory organized by Sigurður and Gústav Geir
Monday 14th of September.
Tour of Verkmsmiðjan Hjalteyri by Gústav Geir Bollason director
Student present their work – discussion
18:00 Communal dinner in the Factory
Tuesday 15th of September
Field Trip to Safnasafnið – The Icelandic Folk and Outsider Art Museum, Svalbarðsströnd
Visit to Akureyri Art Museum – Artist talk and discussion with Berglind Jóna Hlynsdóttir, visual artist and doctoral candidate at the Iceland University of the Arts and the University of Iceland, about her PhD project and exhibition, Shadow Material Vacuums.
18:00 Communal dinner in the Factory
Wednesday 16th of September
Individual/group tutorials by Sigurður Guðjónsson and Gústav Geir Bollason
Working in Verksmiðjan Hjalteyri for the exhibtion
18:00 Communal dinner in the Factory
Thursday 17th of September
Individual/group tutorials by Sigurður Guðjónsson and Gústav Geir Bollason
Working in Verksmiðjan Hjalteyri for exhibition
16:00 Meeting. Requirements for installation.
18:00 Communal dinner in the Factory
Friday 18th of September
Working in Verksmiðjan Hjalteyri for the exhibition including group discussion in the Factory. Individual discussion and installation support by Sigurður & Gústav Geir
18:00 Communal dinner in the Factory
Saturday 19th of September
Group critique: Hildur Bjarnadóttir, Sigurður Guðjónsson, Sigrún Inga Hrólfsdóttir and Gústav Geir Bollason.
16:00 Opening of the Exhibition
18:00 Communal dinner in the Factory
Sunday 20th of September
Travel by coach back to Reykjavík
Learning Outcomes:
Have acquired knowledge through site specific research and artistic practice and be able to use in their work.
Have adopted research procedures and methods applicable to their artworks
Have the ability to independently develop concepts from research material to implement artworks that present their own artistic assumptions.
Additional information:
Return travel by coach is provided between Reykjavík - Hjalteyri and also for scheduled fieldtrips. Students need to find accommodation in Reykjavík prior to departing for the workshop and if needed on arrival back in Reykjavík. Accomodation (shared rooms) are provided during the workshop at Hotel Hjalteyri. Included is one communal dinner during the stay otherwise students take care of own food.
General KUNO Eligibility Rules:
- only BA and MA full-degree students from the KUNO network schools can participate;
-exchange students from other institutions, which do not belong to the KUNO network, studying at one of the KUNO network schools, CANNOT participate;
- full-degree students from the KUNO network schools, currently on exchange at another institution, CANNOT participate (neither with nor without the KUNO grant).
