TEXTILE
ARTS CENTRE
tuudio Labus is an artist-run residency programme primarily designed for fiber and textile artists. Our primary aim is to cultivate an environment that fosters creativity, experimentation, and introspection for artists working within the textile field. We strive to offer a platform for sharing skills, experiences, and connections within the world of fiber and textile art.
As the house is currently under renovation, we are not accepting new residents. In 2025, we will host an open-air summer programme featuring various events. Starting in 2026, we will welcome our new residents, exclusively by invitation.
Join us in shaping the future of textile artistry, where every thread tells a story.
Our residency can accommodate 2-4 artists, with stays ranging from a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of three months.
The residency programme provides shared studio space equipped with various tools and machines. Additionally, we offer some materials such as paper, paint, glue, wire, yarn, and more. The studio is well-equipped with multiple punch needle and weaving looms, with sizes reaching up to 400 x 200 cm. We also have two looms for weaving, one for prototypes (up to 90 cm) and another for larger projects (up to 145 cm). Additionally, we provide a knitting machine and a wide array of other tools. If desired, participants can engage in guided workshops to learn new techniques.
An integral part of our residency programme is the introduction to Estonia's fiber and textile art scene. This includes events, workshops, visits to studios and cultural institutions, and more. We extend a warm invitation to residents to actively partake in these activities.
While our residency does not regularly facilitate exhibitions or other events, we wholeheartedly encourage artists in residence to initiate open houses, group or solo exhibitions, workshops, and other creative endeavors.
Once the residency programme dates, proposed creative project, and other pertinent details are agreed upon, we gladly assist the artist in securing suitable accommodation. Furthermore, we provide support in organizing travel arrangements and acquiring necessary contacts or materials for the creative project.
Upon arrival, the resident is kindly requested to sign an agreement document that outlines all the conditions of the residency programme. Additionally, an artist welcome package containing essential information and opportunities related to the programme will be provided. We will offer an overview of Estonia's contemporary art scene and introduce the local fiber and textile art.
Subsequently, the resident will enjoy unrestricted access to all facilities, tools, and materials. Throughout their stay, we strive to integrate the artist into the local art community by organizing trips, visits, small-scale events, and more. Artists in residence are encouraged to initiate open houses, group or solo exhibitions, workshops, and other activities. We are delighted to provide assistance in finding the means and resources required for these endeavors.
Artists are warmly invited to share their residency experience in Koiliblikas, the magazine of the Estonian Textile Artists' Association.
The union boasts around 100 professional textile artists as its members. Established on February 15, 1993, the Estonian Textile Artists' Association serves as a professional creative association for textile artists. Its objectives encompass preserving and advancing the traditions of textile art in Estonia, supporting and nurturing the creative endeavors of its members, fostering textile art education and providing consultations, organizing professional artistic education and self-improvement opportunities, as well as promoting Estonian textile art both domestically and internationally.
Our History
Our first residents were welcomed in Tallinn, Männiku.
In February 2024, we relocated to Lehtse, a charming village in the heart of Estonia. While the house undergoes renovations, we look forward to restarting in 2025 with our open-air summer programme.
