Literature association Nuoren Voiman Liitto (NVL) was founded in 1921. Literary and cultural magazine Nuori Voima has been published since 1908, and is one of the oldest cultural magazines in Finland.
Our objective is to produce high quality events and platforms for writers, support amateur writers to become professionals, to form literary networks, offer meeting spaces for writers and readers alike as well as generally to promote the teaching of literature, creative writing and literary art in Finland.
Residency Villa Sarkia
Open call for Villa Sarkia residency 2026
The call for 2026 residency applications is open until November 16th 2025
Apply for 2026 Villa Sarkia Residency here: Villa Sarkia: Residency Application form
Applications for the 2026 Villa Sarkia Residency Are Now Open!
Apply for a residency period using this form.
Application deadline: Sunday, November 16, 2025
Villa Sarkia is a residency located in the centre of Sysmä, Finland, for writers, translators, and working groups. The residency programme is coordinated by the Nuoren Voiman Liitto, and the facilities are maintained by the Municipality of Sysmä. The residency is primarily intended for writers under 40 years of age. Applications are welcome regardless of language, nationality, or literary genre.
Sysmä lies amidst lakes and forests in the Päijät-Häme region. The residency building has three rooms: two single rooms and one double room. Shared spaces include a living room, sauna, and a large garden. At any given time, 3–4 writers or translators can work at the residency. There is no permanent staff on site.
Apply now for a 2026 residency at Villa Sarkia!
Click here for the application form.
Deadline: Sunday, November 16, 2025
Residency stays can last 1–2 months for individual applicants, while working groups may apply for shorter stays of two weeks.
Accommodation is free of charge for selected residents. The Nuoren Voiman Liitto collects a registration fee of €100 per resident per month.
Residency periods for 2026 are scheduled as follows:
- January 4 – June 25, 2026
- August 2 – December 31, 2026
Individual applicants may apply for a 1–2 month residency period. Working groups may apply for shorter periods.
About the Residency
Villa Sarkia is intended for writers, authors, playwrights, and translators—primarily under the age of 40—who work with literary and creative writing. Selection is based mainly on a well-presented work plan; a previously published literary work is not required to apply.
Villa Sarkia is a wooden villa dating from the turn of the 20th century, situated in a peaceful location in the centre of Sysmä. The house has three writer’s rooms as well as shared facilities: entrance hall, kitchen, bathroom, sauna, living room, hall, and a large yard.
The Nuoren Voiman Liitto manages the residency programme, while the Municipality of Sysmä maintains the building. The residency provides bed linen, towels, and cleaning services. A registration fee of €100 is collected from all residents. NVL does not cover travel or other personal expenses.
During their stay, residents are asked to write one text for the residency blog and to submit an informal residency report and feedback after their stay.
Application Instructions
Applications for Villa Sarkia must be submitted electronically by November 16, 2025.
Attach the following (in PDF format):
- A work plan
- A CV
- A writing sample (in Finnish or English)
- Optional letters of recommendation
Selecting “Register” starts the application form, which must be completed within 30 minutes of opening. Applicants are encouraged to review the form and prepare attachments in advance. Applications can be edited later within the application period via a link sent by email.
Address and Arrival Information
Villa Sarkia
Myllymäentie 1, 19700 Sysmä, Finland
The residency is about 0.5 km from the Matkahuolto bus stop. Shops and the library are within walking distance.
Please note: There is no public transport to Sysmä on Saturdays.
For this reason, residency periods begin and end on weekdays. Check updated bus schedules at matkahuolto.fi/matkustajat.
Sysmä Municipality offers a separate weekend taxi service, which must be booked in advance.
More information: sysma.fi/joukkoliikenne or contact Riikka Junttila at firstname.lastname@sysma.fi.
Please note that Villa Sarkia is a wooden house over 100 years old and has its own distinctive scent. Keep this in mind when applying.
Selection and Notifications
Applicants selected for January–February 2026 residencies will be notified by email in November 2025.
Other selected applicants will be notified by December 13, 2025.
Unfortunately, individual decisions cannot be commented on.
Cancelled or available residency periods will be announced separately in NVL’s newsletter and on the NVL website.
For more information, contact NVL’s Executive Director or email villasarkia@nvl.fi.
If You Are Selected
Please confirm within two weeks whether you will accept the residency.
You will receive by email detailed instructions on keys, agreements to be signed, payment of the registration fee, and an info package about arriving in Sysmä and staying at the residency.
Cancelled residencies may become available later and will be announced on NVL’s website and newsletters.
About Villa Sarkia and Sysmä
Villa Sarkia offers peace and quiet in a natural setting, ideal for focused creative work. Depending on the season and your interests, you can explore an Iron Age burial site, taste local Sysmä-style sahti (traditional Finnish ale), or walk along Ohrasaari’s nature trails.
Entries in the guestbook often mention the silence and immersion in nature as key experiences.
Read texts produced at Villa Sarkia here: https://villasarkia.wordpress.com/
Welcome to Villa Sarkia!