What You'll Find Here

The residency operates from two buildings in the village of Laugarvatn: The Cabin, a spacious wooden house with four bedrooms, kitchen, and common areas; and The Studio, which combines living quarters with large workspaces. Both offer modern facilities, Wi-Fi, and wide lake views. An exhibition space hosts rotating shows, open studios, and presentations from residents.↗↗

Artists here span visual arts, sculpture, textile work, music, literature, new media, animation, film, architecture, and performance. Scholars from any discipline are also welcome. The program is intentionally interdisciplinary, fostering conversations between a ceramicist, a novelist, and a composer sharing a kitchen table overlooking the lake.↗

For Artists and Scholars: Applying

Gullkistan accepts applications year-round through an open call reviewed by a committee. The minimum stay is one month, with typical residencies lasting one to three months. Fees range from €1,050 per month for a single room to €1,600 for a double room shared by two people. Family-friendly arrangements can sometimes be made, and partners and pets are welcome.↗↗

International student groups have also made Gullkistan their base for study abroad programs — institutions including Rutgers University, Monroe College, Shenandoah University, and Estonia's Tartu Art School (through Erasmus+ since 2011) have brought classes to work here with lectures on Icelandic art, history, and literature, plus studio workshops in painting, photography, and printmaking.↗↗

Getting There and Surroundings

Laugarvatn sits at a crossroads of South Iceland's most famous landscapes. Keflavik International Airport is 120 km away, Reykjavik 70 km, and the town of Selfoss 40 km. The village lies close to the Golden Circle route — Geysir's erupting hot spring and Gullfoss waterfall are both within easy driving distance, as are the entrances to the Highland interior roads.↗

Laugarvatn itself is a small, hot-spring-fed community known for its geothermal pools. Gullkistan residents often engage with local life, giving lectures, participating in book readings, and visiting schools. Artists sometimes conclude their residency with a public event sharing their work and experience with the community.↗↗

Visiting as a Guest

Gullkistan hosts exhibitions, open studio events, and presentations throughout the year. The venue is wheelchair accessible, including parking. For current programming or to inquire about visiting when exhibitions or open studios are scheduled, contact Gullkistan directly via email at gullkistan@gullkistan.is or by phone at +354 892 4410.↗

Practical note: car rental is the most reliable way to reach Laugarvatn; there are no trains in Iceland. Budget approximately 1.5 hours from Keflavik airport, with Þingvellir National Park and the Golden Circle sites all within 10–25 minutes of the village.↗↗

Seasons at Gullkistan

Gullkistan is accessible year-round, and its calm winter months are especially appealing for writers and deep-work artists seeking solitude. A photographer who spent January there called it "Best. January. Ever!" The long darkness, potential Northern Lights overhead, and frost-covered lava fields create an atmosphere entirely different from summer.↗