Begavet (handcrafted employee gifting) and fauna (creative coworking & studio space) are offering a funded residency this autumn in Nexø, Bornholm.
This program is designed for makers who want dedicated studio runway to experiment, test, and develop a retail-ready product that is primed for small-batch manufacturing.
What we offer
- Dedicated studio access: Workshop space at fauna in Nexø with access to electric kilns and throwing wheels - including a desk in the coworking space (flexible seating). A dedicated glazing area and plaster mold setup may also be made available, though this cannot be guaranteed in advance.
- 8,000 DKK production & material budget: Dedicated funding to cover materials, test firings, and specialized tooling needed for R&D.
- Heavily subsidized accommodation (kindly sponsored by Møbelfabrikken): Stay at Nexø Hostel in a single room with shared bathroom for 65 DKK / night for stays over 3 weeks (includes bed linen and towels), subject to availability.
- 1-on-1 business mentorship: 4 private mentoring sessions with Katrine Ejby Bidstrup (co-founder of Begavet, practicing ceramist behind Bidstrup Bodies, and advisor at De Kreatives Forretning). Sessions focus on pricing your work, evaluating market demand, doing outreach and landing retail partnerships.
- A direct commercial route: If the final prototype aligns with Begavet's catalog, our goal is to place a direct wholesale order to produce a small batch for our gifting clients.
- You own your work: You keep full ownership of everything you produce during the residency - designs, molds, and prototypes.
Who we're looking for
We imagine you are primarily a ceramist or a craft practitioner working in disciplines like clay, textiles, paper, or print. Whatever your medium, you should have solid technical fundamentals and a clear ambition to turn your ideas into market-ready products.
We expect you to be self-sufficient in your craft, meaning you're formally trained or otherwise proficient at a professional level and able to run your own process in the workshop. The mentorship only covers business aspects.
The product is up to you - a coffee mug, a bowl, a painting, a wall piece, or other interior objects. We're always looking for something new or different as long as it has relatively broad appeal. It can be a single piece, several different ones or a set. While we don't expect you to have worked out all details when you apply, you must keep the retail price in mind: In most cases we recommend a target retail price of no more than 800 DKK (incl. VAT), but upwards of 1,200 DKK (incl. VAT) may be considered if the design and production process is particularly unique or complex.
The goal is not a one-off art piece, but developing the design, technique, molds, and/or workflow needed to viably produce larger batches, e.g. 50-300 units.
Practical details
- Location: Nexø, Bornholm. We expect you to be physically present.
- Duration: Between two weeks and two months, flexibly scheduled between October and December 2026.
- Costs: The residency does not include a living stipend - you cover your own travel, food, and day-to-day expenses.
- Access: You'll have 24-hour access to the workshop and studio space, and can work on your own schedule.
- Eligibility: You must have your primary residence in Denmark at the time of applying.
