About the Herhús and the application process
Herhús is Siglufjördur, Iceland’s newly renovated artist-in-residence home and workshop. Located in the centre of town next to all services, the artist’s residence is open to both Icelandic and foreign artists. Herhús is currently seeking applicants who are working in visual arts, writing, poetry, music and other artisitic endeavours.
The artist’s residence is a 2-level house with a 70 square metre (750 sq ft) workshop on the main floor and a bright, furnished studio appartment in the upstairs loft. The workshop has 4 metre (10 ft) ceilings, hardwood floors, an industrial sink, an easel, 3 working tables and a sofa. The bathroom and shower are located on the main floor. The studio appartment contains two beds, chairs, a table and stools, TV, radio and cd player. The kitchen is equipped with a refridgerator, coffee maker, toaster, microwave oven, food processor and two hotplates. The house is wireless ADSL enabled.
To view the rules and regulations of Herhúsid follow this link: rules
To apply for residency in Herhúsid follow this link and fill in the application: application
Either send the application by email to herhusid@simnet.is, or by mail to: Herhusid, Nordurgata 7b, 580 Siglufjördur, Iceland.
Deadline for the summer months (june-august) is the 1st of february, but you are welcome to apply throughout the year.
-Monthly fee for the appartment and the workshop is 400 €. The fee must be paid three months prior the stay.
-Deposit is 5.000 ISK (30 €) and will be returned when the occupier vacates the premises, provided that they are left in the same condition as when the occupier arrived
Siglufjördur
Known for its great winters and mild weather, Siglufjördur is the northernmost town in Iceland, surrounded by towering mountains all around. The town is most famous for having been the Capital of the North Atlantic Herring Fishery from 1903-1965, flourishing as a vibrant centre of culture in the north. Today, a large percentage of the town’s 1400 residents are still employed in the fishing industry. There are three large fish processing factories here, alongside several smaller operations, all producing a range of products as diverse as high quality frozen prawns and fish meal. Other principal employers are the banks, hospital, nursery, elementary school and music school.
Siglufjördur draws increasing numbers of tourists each summer, all of them here to take in the breathtaking beauty of the fiord and mountains, while enjoying the town’s museums and festivals. The last decade has seen the town renew its status as a premiere cultural centre and destination for tourists and Icelanders alike.
The main cultural attraction in the town is The Herring Era Museum. Winner of the Icelandic Museum Award in 2000, The Herring Era Museum was nominee for the 2004 European Museum of the Year Award and winner of the 2004 Micheletti Prize as Best New Industrial Museum in Europe. This outstanding museum is the third largest in Iceland after the National Museum and the Reykjavik Art Museum. Its three large exhibit buildings tell the stories of the people who worked in the herring industry, of the factories and products and of the fishing and fishing boats. The museum is also a centre for ongoing concerts and art exhibitions.
Around the corner from Herhús, guests will find The Gold and Watchmaker Workshop, a small museum housed in its original location from 1929. The museum is a workshop and shop showcasing dozens of watches and clocks, as well as silverwork, tools and equipment. A unique and remarkable museum not to be missed!
The Township of Siglufjördur owns a large collection of art representative of the Icelandic visual arts scene of the 1960s through the 1980s. These works can be found on display at a number of locations in the town, including the Town Hall, the District Magistrate’s office, the hospital and the schools.
Summers in Siglufjördur are a time of festivals.
Each July, the town hosts an annual Folk Music Festival with participants from around the world giving concerts, lectures and workshops. At the heart of this popular festival is the town’s newly opened Museum of Icelandic Folk Music, an education and information centre located in the restored home of Iceland’s greatest recorder and collector of Icelandic folk music and folklore.
Each August, history comes to life during the Herring Festival, with outdoor herring salting demonstrations at the Museum and lively singing, dancing and music.
Siglufjördur offers excellent opportunities for outdoor sports and recreation, from bird-watching and hiking to football, golf and horseback riding. The town also has a gymnasium, indoor swimming pool and a workout gym.
You can find fantastic pictures in the Icelandic version of our website, the English version is still under construction.
Transport
For buses to Siglufjördur from Reykjavík bus terminal BSÍ, look up the bus schedule on www.bsi.is . There you enter the scedule for North-Iceland and look for the bus to Varmahlíd in Skagafjördur, there you will have to change a bus to Siglufjördur. When you buy the ticket, be sure to specify that you are going to Siglufjördur.
You can also travel by plane from Reykjavík , with Eagle Air. You take the plane to Saudárkrókur and the bus from there( one hour drive) to Siglufjördur.
For information about Siglufjördur we direct you to www.siglo.is/en |
