Njalla, the raised Tower House, in snow at dusk, windows lit, sea behind

The Arctic
Hideaway

Simplicity at its Finest

Fleinvær, Northern Norway

Two timber tiny houses on snowy rock above the sea and scattered islands

The Place

The Arctic Hideaway is a collection of tiny houses and shared spaces on Sørvær, in the Fleinvær archipelago in the Norwegian Sea, about an hour by public express boat from Bodø.

There are no cars or shops on the island. Life here follows the sea, the weather and the changing light.

Guests have their own cabins and share a kitchen, a studio, a sauna and a bath house. At times, they also share the practical work of island life. A small community lives here year-round.

Ways to stay

The same place, approached in different ways.

A guest by the long window in the Kitchen House, bread and coffee on the table

Private stays

Individuals, couples, friends and private groups.

Explore →
Two artists drawing at a table in the Studio House

Artist residencies

Time and space for creative work.

Explore →
Håvard in a life jacket rowing a wooden boat

Stewardship

Discounted stays for people who contribute to the life of the Hideaway.

Explore →
The cabins on the rocks in warm evening light

The whole Hideaway

Buyouts for retreats, gatherings, families and friends.

Explore →

From the island

Northern lights over a lit cabin on the hill at night
Fleinvær from the air: the harbour, houses and the Hideaway
The gable window of the Tower House, snow outside
The Kitchen House in low summer light, grass and sea around it
A crab lifted from the pot in steam
The wood-fired sauna
Three musicians playing on the balcony, silhouetted against the sea
A coil of rope on the quay at sunset, a boat moored behind
The Tower House at dusk with one lit window
Panorama of the cabins and the snowy island at dusk
A wooden rowing boat in clear, shallow water by the shore
Seaweed laid out to dry on the wooden deck
A life ring hanging on a weathered wall above the boardwalk
The pier out to the sauna at sunset, the sky reflected in still water
Low sun through the Tower House gable window
The Kitchen House dining room: long wooden table, sheepskins, windows onto the sea

Your stay includes

Accommodation · meals · shared spaces · studio · sauna · firewood · pantry provisions · hosting

What's included?
Accommodation
Your own private sleeping cabin.
Meals and pantry
Meals and pantry provisions for the length of your stay.
Shared spaces
The Kitchen House, Studio House, Bath House and sauna.
Firewood
For the stoves and the sauna.
Hosting
A caretaker meets you at the ferry and looks after the practical side of the Hideaway.

Food at the Hideaway

Breakfast, pantry provisions and shared cooking. Dinner is usually prepared together.

More in the FAQ →

More to explore

The Tower House in silhouette at sunset, one window lit

The story

From one person’s search for a place to work to the architecture and life of the island today.

Explore →
Opening day at The Arctic Hideaway in August 2016

Ten years

A decade of art, people and a remote island home.

Support the Hideaway →
A rust-red sculpture of a woman on the shore, looking out over the sea at sunset

Open call

Funded residencies in 2027 and 2028. Apply by 11 October 2026.

View the current call →
The cabins stacked on the rocks at dusk, reflected in the water

Come to Fleinvær

Private stays · Artist residencies · Stewardship · The whole Hideaway

Book →Apply →Explore →

Stay in touch

Every now and then, we'll let you know what's happening at The Arctic Hideaway: what the season looks like, what's happening on the island, upcoming events, new residencies, and occasional discounted stays.

If you'd like to hear from us, join the list.

By joining, you agree to receive our newsletter. We'll email you to confirm first, and you can unsubscribe at any time. More about the newsletter

Guests around a fire on the Crab Shack deck at sunset

Stewardship

A different
way to stay.

A Stewardship stay lets you spend time at The Arctic Hideaway at a reduced rate, while contributing some of your time and attention to the care of the place.

You are still a guest. You simply take part in keeping the place going.

Enquire about Stewardship →
A steward digging in the garden beds beside the Kitchen House

The idea

A place is different when you help take care of it.

The Arctic Hideaway exists because people continually care for it. Caretakers keep it running. Guests look after the spaces they use. Artists live alongside others. Wood is carried, meals are prepared, cabins are made ready, supplies are organised, windows are washed, things are noticed and fixed.

A Stewardship stay makes some of that care part of your own experience here. It isn't volunteering, and it isn't a work placement. It is a simple arrangement: around an hour a day of practical help, and a lower rate for your stay.

Preparing food in the kitchen

A small part of your day

A simple contribution.

Your contribution depends on what The Arctic Hideaway needs while you are here. It might mean preparing breakfast, getting a cabin ready, carrying firewood, tending shared spaces, organising supplies, helping with arrivals or departures, washing windows, doing simple outdoor work, or taking care of a seasonal task.

Sometimes there may be very little to do. Sometimes something needs more attention. The general expectation is up to around one hour a day, rather than a fixed number of hours.

The rest of your time is yours.

A sleeping cabin: a made bed under a window looking out to the sea

You are still a guest

Your own cabin.
Shared life.

As a Stewardship Resident you have your own cabin, meals and pantry provisions, access to the shared spaces and studio where available, sauna and firewood, and the same freedom to spend your days as you choose.

Work. Read. Make something. Walk. Swim. Talk. Sleep. Do very little.

The contribution is part of the stay, not the purpose of it.

A group around the dinner table in the Kitchen House, raising glasses

Who is Stewardship for?

For people who feel a connection to this place.

Primarily, Stewardship is for artists and creative people who want to spend time at The Arctic Hideaway but for whom the normal private-stay rate is difficult to manage.

It can also suit people who already have a connection to the Hideaway, including former guests, caretakers and collaborators, or someone whose skills, interests or attitude make them a good fit.

You don't need a particular practical skill. What matters more is a willingness to take part, notice things, take responsibility for what you use and contribute to the shared life of the place.

Stewardship stays are agreed individually.

An artist working at the bench in the carpentry studio

Already received partial funding for a residency?

You may be able to combine your funding with a Stewardship stay.

If your funding doesn't cover the full cost of your stay, you can often combine your funded place with a Stewardship stay. By contributing some time to the care of The Arctic Hideaway, you can make up part of the remaining cost.

Stewardship stays are agreed individually and depend on availability.

Ask about combining funding and Stewardship →
A person sitting on the hill at dusk, looking over the islands

Stewardship is not caretaking

A different kind of role.

A caretaker is responsible for the running of The Arctic Hideaway during a defined period.

A Stewardship Resident comes primarily to stay, create, rest or spend time here, and contributes some time to the care of the place. They are not expected to manage the Hideaway, look after other guests, be on call or take responsibility for its overall operation.

You take part in the care of the place. You are not responsible for running it.

A small red boathouse below snow-covered mountains at dusk

Stay long enough

Settle in. Become part of the place.

One to two weeks is a natural starting point for a Stewardship stay. Longer stays can be considered where the dates and circumstances work.

In recognition of your contribution, the rate is reduced by €50 per person per night, for up to 14 nights. Stays beyond 14 nights are discussed separately.

Enquire about a Stewardship stay →

Come for the place.
Take part in its life.

“Once you stay somewhere long enough, you stop being entirely a guest.”

Enquire about Stewardship → Explore residencies →
A person on the hill at sunset, looking out over the water

About

A place for
a different kind
of time.

The Arctic Hideaway began with one person's search for a place to work. It has grown into a shared space for artists, thinkers and curious people from many different backgrounds.

Not about escape,
but about return.

Håvard Lund
White and red houses along the shore of Fleinvær under heavy cloud

The beginning

It started with
an island.

In 1995, Håvard Lund realised he needed a place to work, somewhere in Gildeskål and as far out to sea as possible. In 1998, he first came to Fleinvær, shown the way by the artists Susanne Lundeng and Are Andreassen. He immediately felt he had found the place.

In 2004, he bought a piece of land on the island, initially intending to build a small place of his own to write and work.

It didn't stay modest for long.

An early design model of the Tower House and cabins on the rocks

A collaborative process

An idea becomes
a place.

In 2013, Håvard approached the architects at TYIN with a vision: to create the world's most beautiful workspace. Rather than a conventional client brief, it became a collaboration with TYIN, Sami Rintala and Rintala Eggertsson, architecture students, volunteers, artists and local collaborators.

The project evolved through an open and practical process, where the direction could change as the work progressed. The place was built in much the same way it would eventually be lived in: collaboratively, practically, and without everything being decided in advance.

The Tower House and cabins on snowy rock, a boardwalk leading between them

The architecture

Built to live
in the landscape.

The buildings at The Arctic Hideaway are simple, robust and intentionally modest. They are spread across the island rather than gathered in one place, so that everyday life takes you outside: from cabin to kitchen, to studio, to sauna. Weather, light and landscape become part of the experience.

The architecture was developed with a very light touch on the terrain, using local materials and minimal foundations, so that the island remains as untouched as possible.

Explore the place →
A figure in silhouette in the gable window of the Tower House at sunset

The name

Fordypningsrommet.

The place is called Fordypningsrommet, roughly “The Immersion Room”. It still is. But few visitors from abroad could pronounce it, so it also needed an English name with the same spirit. That became The Arctic Hideaway.

Immersion here means going deep. Fewer choices, less clutter, rooms no bigger than they need to be. With less to decide, it becomes easier to sink into your work, sometimes to the point of losing track of time.

Two names. One idea.

Islands reflected in still water under a blue dusk sky

Today

Not about escape,
but about return.

The Arctic Hideaway is a place to return to your work, your thoughts and a different sense of time. We don't try to programme the experience. Instead, we provide a simple, quiet framework in which each person can find their own way.

The architecture is not there to draw attention to itself, but to support what you have come here to do.

“A simpler life can give you a sharper perception.”

Håvard Lund
A man in an orange jacket holding up a crab by the harbour

Part of Fleinvær

A place within a community.

Before there was a residency, before there were cabins, there was a community here. Fleinvær has a long history as a fishing community, and people have always made a life here through work, creativity and a deep connection to the sea.

The Arctic Hideaway exists within Fleinvær, not apart from it. Håvard's early encounters with the island and the people who live here, including the artists Susanne Lundeng and Are Andreassen, have been an important part of what the project has become.

Fleinvær and the surrounding skerries seen from above

Fleinvær today

Nine people, on paper.

Officially, nine people live in the Fleinvær archipelago, spread across its small islands. On Sørvær, our island, winters can be very quiet. Some years it is just a handful of people keeping the lights on, watching the weather and keeping track of the boats.

Most islanders live in more than one place. They work in Bodø, in Oslo or farther away, leave for weeks or months at a time, and come back when they can.

The island is easy to cross: fifteen minutes from end to end if you walk straight, forty-five if you wander over the bridges and past Langholmen, stopping to watch the water turn from steel grey to turquoise, or the seaweed glowing dark red beneath the surface.

Instead of shops, cafés and cars, there is a community house that opens for gatherings and small celebrations, and neighbours who look out for each other. They carry your firewood off the ferry while you are away and keep it in the waiting room until you return. They bring you fish, take you out in their boat, and invite you in for coffee and cake. Or a shot of whisky.

Dusk over the mountains and the sea, the sky turning orange

The story continues.

The Arctic Hideaway is always evolving, shaped by the people who stay here, the island we are part of, and the changing seasons.

Start a conversation →

“This place changes you, not by what it gives, but by what it helps you notice.”

Booking terms

Last updated 28 September 2026

These terms apply when you book a private stay, a self-funded artist residency, a Stewardship stay or a full property buyout at The Arctic Hideaway. Funded residencies offered through an open call are agreed separately in writing.

1. Who we are

The Arctic Hideaway is run by Fordypningsrommet Fleinvær AS (org. no. 913 639 316), Sørværet 2, 8094 Fleinvær, Norway. You can reach us at booking@thearctichideaway.com.

2. Prices

All prices are in euros and include Norwegian VAT (MVA). The price includes your cabin, meals and pantry provisions, use of the shared spaces, firewood, sauna and hosting, as described for each type of stay. Travel to and from the island is not included. An invoice in Norwegian kroner is available on request.

Any last-minute discount or Stewardship reduction is shown in the price before you pay.

3. How booking works

When you book online, your card is authorised for the total price but not charged. We check availability and confirm your booking by email within 48 hours. Your booking is binding once we have confirmed it, and the full amount is charged to your card at that point. If we cannot confirm your dates, the authorisation is released and nothing is charged.

Payments are handled by Stripe. We never see or store your full card details.

Online booking closes 3 days before arrival, and stays can be booked online for up to four weeks. Longer stays, and later bookings, are by request.

4. If you cancel

Please cancel by email. The date we receive your email is the date that counts.

Private stays, residencies and Stewardship

  • 30 days or more before arrival: full refund.
  • From 29 to 7 days before arrival: 50% refund, or move your stay once to other dates within 12 months, subject to availability.
  • Less than 7 days before arrival: no refund, but you may pass your stay on to someone else.

Booking at short notice

  • Arriving within 11 to 30 days of booking: free cancellation up to 14 days before arrival. After that, 50% refund, or pass your stay on.
  • Arriving within 7 to 10 days of booking: free cancellation up to 3 days before arrival. After that, no refund, but you may pass your stay on.
  • Arriving within 3 to 6 days of booking: no refund, but you may pass your stay on.

Full property buyouts

  • 120 days or more before arrival: full refund.
  • From 119 to 60 days before arrival: 50% refund.
  • Less than 60 days before arrival: no refund.

The exact dates that apply to your booking are shown in the price panel when you book and in your confirmation. Refunds are paid to the card you used, normally within 14 days.

5. Passing your stay on

If you cannot come, you are welcome to pass your stay on to someone else at no extra cost. Let us know the new guest's name and contact details before arrival. These terms then apply to them.

6. No right of withdrawal

Under the Norwegian Cancellation Act (angrerettloven), there is no 14-day right of withdrawal for accommodation booked for specific dates. Cancellation is covered by section 4 above.

7. If we cancel, and the weather

If we have to cancel your stay, you get a full refund.

The express boat is public transport and can be delayed or cancelled by weather, especially in winter. If this happens, we will do our best to move your dates. We cannot cover costs caused by delays or cancellations of boats, flights or trains, such as extra nights in Bodø or missed connections. We recommend travel insurance.

Neither of us is responsible for failing to meet these terms because of events outside our control, such as extreme weather, storms or official restrictions.

8. During your stay

The Arctic Hideaway is a shared place on a remote island, close to the sea and exposed to the weather. Please follow the caretaker's guidance, especially around the sea, the sauna, the stoves and in bad weather. There are no medical facilities on the island.

You are responsible for any damage you cause beyond normal wear and tear. Dogs and children can only come by prior agreement.

9. Liability

We are responsible for providing your stay as described. We are not responsible for indirect losses. Nothing in these terms limits your rights under Norwegian consumer law.

10. Complaints

If something is not right during your stay, please tell the caretaker straight away so we can put it right. You can also email us at booking@thearctichideaway.com. If we cannot agree, you can contact the Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet) for help. These terms are governed by Norwegian law.

Privacy policy

Last updated 28 September 2026

This policy explains what personal information we collect, why, and what rights you have.

Who is responsible

Fordypningsrommet Fleinvær AS (org. no. 913 639 316), Sørværet 2, 8094 Fleinvær, Norway is responsible for your personal information. For any questions about privacy, email booking@thearctichideaway.com.

What we collect and why

Bookings and questions. When you book or send us a question, we collect your name, email address, your dates, the number of guests and anything you tell us about your plans. We use this to answer you and to arrange your stay. The legal basis is our agreement with you (GDPR article 6(1)(b)). Card payments are handled by Stripe, and we never see your full card details.

Residency applications. Applications are collected through Google Forms. We use them to select residents, on the basis of your request to be considered (article 6(1)(b)). We keep applications for up to two years so that we can consider you for future stays, unless you ask us to delete yours sooner.

Newsletter. If you sign up, we store your email address, first name and preferred language in Brevo, our newsletter service. We only add you after you confirm by email, and you can unsubscribe at any time from any newsletter. The legal basis is your consent (article 6(1)(a)).

Donations. Donations are processed by Stripe. We receive your name, email address and the amount, and for donations of €50 or more, a postal address so we can send your mug. We use this to thank you and send your gift.

Accounting. Payment and booking records are kept for five years, as required by the Norwegian Bookkeeping Act (bokføringsloven). Other correspondence is deleted when it is no longer needed.

Who we share it with

We never sell your information. We use a small number of trusted services to run the Hideaway, and they process information on our behalf:

  • Stripe: card payments and donations
  • Brevo: newsletter
  • Google: application forms and fonts on this website
  • Cloudflare: hosting and security for this website
  • PROisp: email correspondence with you

Some of these companies are based in the United States. Where information leaves the EEA, it is protected by the EU standard contractual clauses or the EU–US Data Privacy Framework.

Cookies and this website

We do not use analytics, advertising or tracking cookies. Your browser remembers your language choice and whether you closed the announcement banner. This is stored only on your device.

When you visit the site, Cloudflare processes your IP address to deliver and protect the site, and the fonts are loaded from Google Fonts, which also receives your IP address. The residency application form is only loaded from Google when you choose to open it.

Your rights

You have the right to see the information we hold about you, to have it corrected or deleted, to restrict or object to how we use it, and to receive a copy of it. Where we rely on your consent, you can withdraw it at any time. Email booking@thearctichideaway.com and we will reply within 30 days.

If you think we have handled your information wrongly, you can complain to the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, Datatilsynet.

The walkway out to the Crab Trap at sunset

FAQ

Before you come, here's what to know.

The Arctic Hideaway is simple, remote and shared. These are the practical things worth knowing before you arrive.

Getting here

The normal way to reach The Arctic Hideaway is by public express boat (hurtigbåt) from Bodø to Sørvær on Fleinvær. We recommend checking the boat schedule before booking your flights.

  1. Bodø hurtigbåtkaiExpress boat terminal, city centre
  2. Express boatAbout 1 hour · 45 min to 2½ hrs
  3. Sørvær hurtigbåtkai FleinværYour caretaker meets you at the dock
  4. The Arctic HideawayA short walk from the dock
The express boat alongside the quay in Bodø, with the gangway downBodø hurtigbåtkai
The Sørvær sign on the ferry waiting roomSørvær hurtigbåtkai Fleinvær
Check the current boat schedule →

Finding your boat

Use the Reis Nordland journey planner. Enter From: Bodø hurtigbåtkai and To: Sørvær hurtigbåtkai Fleinvær.

There are usually two or three departures a day, although Mondays usually have only one. Enter the earliest time you could leave, and the planner will show the next departures after that. Check the boat before you book your flights.

Tickets

You don't need to book the boat to the island in advance. Simply board in Bodø and buy your ticket on board by card. The boat is not normally full, and once you have your ticket, Sørvær is included as a stop.

If you prefer, you can buy your ticket in advance in the Reis app.

The return trip

The journey back to Bodø is a little different. Sørvær is an on-demand stop, so the stop needs to be requested in advance through the Reis app or the Reis website.

You can do this yourself, or your caretaker will be happy to help. Please arrange it with your caretaker at least 24 hours before departure.

On arrival

Once you have chosen your boat, email us your arrival time so the caretaker can meet you at the dock. We normally send you the caretaker's phone number before your stay.

If your flight arrives too late for the boat, you will need to stay overnight in Bodø and travel the next day.

Weather

The express boats are generally reliable, but weather can occasionally cause delays or cancellations, particularly in winter. Check your departure shortly before travelling and leave some flexibility, especially before an important onward flight.

Luggage & private boats

There is room for luggage on the boat, but pack lightly; the cabins are small and you walk between buildings. Charter boats can also be arranged, from around €1,000; mention it in your booking enquiry.

Everything else

Choose a topic, or search.

Sunset over the islands

Still have a question?

We're happy to help. If you can't find what you're looking for, please get in touch.

Get in touch →

Questions are a good place to begin.

Lamplight on a dark timber wall and the boardwalk at dusk

Book

Let's plan
your stay.

Choose your dates and see your price. Book directly, or ask us a question first.

Same place.
Different ways to be here.

How booking works

  1. Choose your dates and pay securely. Your card is authorised, not charged.
  2. We check the cabins and confirm within 48 hours.
  3. Only then is the payment taken, and we send you everything you need for the journey.

If we can't confirm your dates, the hold on your card is released and nothing is charged.

Cancellation policy

We plan food, caretakers and artist periods around each booking. The price panel shows exactly which rules apply to your dates.

Private stays, residencies and Stewardship

  • Cancel 30 days or more before arrival: full refund.
  • From 29 to 7 days before arrival: 50% refund, or move your stay once to other dates within 12 months, subject to availability.
  • Less than 7 days before arrival: no refund, but you are welcome to pass your stay on to someone else.

Booking at short notice

  • Arriving within the next 11 to 30 days: free cancellation up to 14 days before arrival. After that, 50% refund, or pass your stay on to someone else.
  • Arriving within the next 7 to 10 days: free cancellation up to 3 days before arrival.
  • Arriving within the next 3 to 6 days: no refund, but you can pass your stay on to someone else.

Full property buyouts

  • 120 days or more before arrival: full refund.
  • 119 to 60 days before arrival: 50% refund.
  • Less than 60 days before arrival: no refund.

If we have to cancel, you get a full refund. If the express boat is cancelled because of weather, we do our best to shift your dates. We recommend travel insurance.

Prefer to email us directly? booking@thearctichideaway.com

By booking, you agree to our booking terms and cancellation policy.

A small red boathouse below snow-covered mountains at dusk

We look forward
to hearing from you.

Questions are a good place to begin.

The cabins stacked on the rocks at dusk, reflected in the water

Newsletter

You're on the list.

Thank you for confirming. We'll write when there is something to tell: new calls, open dates and news from the island.

Home →
A small red boathouse below snow-covered mountains at dusk

Booking received

Thank you. Your stay is requested.

Your card has been authorised for the full amount, but not charged. We'll check the cabins and confirm within 48 hours.

Once we confirm, the payment is taken and we'll email you everything you need for the journey. If we can't confirm your dates, the hold is released and nothing is charged.

Getting here →Home →
Low sun over the water, a cabin in silhouette on the shore

Support

10 years
and beyond.

A place to think. A place to make.
A place to be.
Help us keep it here.

Some places are worth looking after.

A black mug with The Arctic Hideaway logo and the words 10 Years, 2016–2026, on a clay-coloured base

Our 10-year edition mug
(€50+ donation)

A place worth
looking after.

In 2016, The Arctic Hideaway — Fordypningsrommet — officially opened its doors.

For ten years, people have come here to work, think, make things, spend time together, and spend time alone. Artists, researchers, friends, families and curious people have all become part of its story.

Over the past 10 years, it has become a place for thousands of ideas, conversations, artworks and new perspectives.

To mark ten years, we're inviting our community to help us look ahead.

Your support helps us look after the buildings, keep the place running, and continue making The Arctic Hideaway available to artists, researchers and others who want to spend time here.

As a thank you, everyone who donates €50 or more will receive our limited 10-year edition mug.

Håvard Lund, arms raised, holding a sheaf of papers at the microphone on opening day, the sea behind him

August 2016

Opening day.

Håvard Lund, founder of The Arctic Hideaway, at the opening of Fordypningsrommet on Fleinvær.

A small red boathouse below snow-covered mountains at dusk

Artists: applications for our current funded residency call are now open.

We are now accepting applications for fully and partially funded residencies at The Arctic Hideaway.

Find out more →
Sunset over the sea from the end of the pier

Thank you

For caring about this place
and what it makes possible.

Same place.
Many more stories ahead.

Sunset over the sea from the end of the pier

Donation received

Thank you for supporting The Arctic Hideaway.

Your support helps us look after this place and what happens here.

If your donation is €50 or more, we'll be in touch about your 10-year edition mug.

Home →
Two artists looking at prints in the Studio House

Residencies

Time to work.
Space to think.

The Arctic Hideaway offers residencies for artists and creative practitioners whose work can benefit from time, space and immersion in the environment.

View the current call →
Eduardo painting at an easel in the Crab Trap, the sea behind him

A place to work

Come with a project.
Or come with a question.

A residency might be the time to develop an existing project, begin something new, conduct research, write, experiment, observe, read, or simply spend sustained time with your practice.

There is no prescribed programme and no required outcome. The residency is about creating the conditions for work to develop. There is no requirement to produce a finished work.

A cyanotype print drying on a table by the window, the sea outside

The place

A small island.
A big perspective.

The Arctic Hideaway is on Fleinvær, a small island in the Norwegian Sea, about an hour by public express boat from Bodø.

There are no cars or shops on the island. Life here follows the sea, the weather and the changing light. With fewer choices to make, it becomes easier to go deep into your work.

Residents have their own private cabins and share the Kitchen House, Studio House, Bath House, sauna and other communal spaces.

Explore the place →

Your own rhythm

There is no typical residency day.

The structure is deliberately loose. You might work in the Studio House in the morning, walk around the island, cook with the others, sit in the sauna, read, write, make, or simply look out at the sea.

Some days involve a lot of conversation. Others very little. The rhythm is shaped by your work, the weather, the light and the people sharing the island with you.

“A time of calmness, clarity and concentration… I started writing again.”

Theresa & Theresa, residents
Musicians playing together in the Kitchen House dining room
Residents gathered by candlelight at the window, watching the sunset

Alone, but not isolated

A shared life.

Residents work independently, but they are not isolated. Shared spaces create opportunities for meals, conversation, walks, sauna and informal exchange.

There is no requirement to collaborate, give a presentation, exhibit, teach or share unfinished work. Community isn't programmed or forced; it emerges from living in the same unusual place.

Breakfast laid out on the long table in the Kitchen House

Part of the household

A different everyday life.

Living at the Hideaway also means taking part in the ordinary practicalities of island life. Residents may help prepare meals, eat together, wash dishes and keep shared spaces usable.

This is part of the residency, not something to hide. Your stay includes a private sleeping cabin, the Studio House, Kitchen House, Bath House, sauna, meals and pantry provisions, firewood and hosting.

What's included →

Three ways to come

Fully funded residencies

Occasional fully funded places, offered through open calls and other selection processes.

Current opportunities →

Partially funded residencies

Subsidised places are sometimes available for artists we would like to support where a fully funded place is not available. A Stewardship stay can also reduce the cost.

About Stewardship →

Self-funded residencies

Artists can also apply independently and cover the residency fee themselves, subject to availability. The minimum stay is seven nights.

Enquire →
Victoria, a textile artist from Finland, in front of her work

Who is it for?

Artists and creative practitioners.

The residency is open to established and emerging artists and creative practitioners whose work can benefit from time, space and immersion in the environment.

Visual artists · Writers · Musicians · Composers · Filmmakers · Performers · Researchers · Architects · Designers · Interdisciplinary practitioners

Work at the Hideaway

Artists sharing work on a laptop, lying on the studio floor
A musician rehearsing in the Studio House
An artist presenting her work in the Studio House
Harrison and other artists working on the studio floor
Cyanotype prints laid out on the deck
Thor presenting his sculptures to the islanders in the snow
A linocut print of birds, black on white
Prints laid out in a circle on the Studio House floor
A carved lino block on the wooden table
A sketchbook, raw wool and thread on the studio table
Eduardo painting on the deck of the Crab Trap
Northern lights over the islands at night

Come with what you have.

A project. A question. A practice. Time you need to use.

View the current call →Enquire about a residency →
Inside the Tower House at sunset, low light through the gable window

Private stays

Your own cabin.
The whole Hideaway
around you.

Come on your own, as a couple, with friends or family, and stay in your own private cabin while sharing the wider Hideaway with the other people here.

Book a private stay →
A sleeping cabin: a raised bed under a long window onto the sea

Your own cabin

A simple place to be.

Each guest has their own private sleeping cabin, with a bed and a view of the sea. The cabins are intentionally simple and relatively small; some include a desk.

Bathrooms are shared: two toilets and one shower, plus the sauna and the sea. The shared buildings are a short walk away, outdoors.

Cabins & shared spaces in the FAQ →
Guests around the table in the Kitchen House in the evening

Shared life

Meals, conversation and time together.

You'll share the Kitchen House, Studio House, Bath House, sauna and other communal spaces with the other people at the Hideaway: a mix of private guests, artists, writers and researchers.

Meals and pantry provisions are included. Breakfast is prepared by the caretaker, lunches are flexible, and most evenings guests cook together, taking turns and sharing the kitchen.

Håvard's wooden boat moored at the pier

Hosted, not serviced

A caretaker is here to make the place work.

You'll be met at the dock, shown around and helped to settle in. The caretaker keeps the practical side of the Hideaway running, helps with provisions, firewood, the sauna and island systems, and is there if you have questions.

You are hosted, but you are not serviced. This isn't a hotel. It's a shared place.

A dog on the window seat looking out at a rainy day
The wood-fired sauna, lit from within
A bowl of porridge and an orange on the wooden table

Being here

Here, being is enough.

Walk. Read. Cook. Swim. Sauna. Work. Talk. Watch the weather. Or simply be. The island sets the pace.

The Tower House against a pink sunset sky

Stay a little longer

More time, a deeper experience.

The minimum stay is two nights, but most guests stay one to two weeks. Our prices reward longer stays with a lower nightly rate. Fleinvær takes a little time to settle into.

See your price →
The cabins on the rocks in warm evening light

Private buyouts

The whole Hideaway to yourselves.

For groups who want the entire Hideaway, for a retreat, a gathering, family or friends. A buyout gives your group exclusive use rather than sharing with other guests.

The whole Hideaway sleeps up to 10 people, for a minimum of three nights. Prices start at €5,000 for three nights and €8,500 for a week. We will talk through the details with you personally.

Enquire about a buyout →
A figure in silhouette on the hilltop at sunset

Come to Fleinvær.

Your own cabin. Shared spaces. A different kind of stay.

Book a private stay →Enquire about a buyout →
Residents on the hilltop watching the sun set over the islands

Current call · Artist Residency 2027

Fully funded residencies for up to 20 people.

And partially funded stays for up to 50 more. Apply by Sunday 11 October 2026, wherever you are in the world.

Go to the application form ↓

At a glance

Up to 20fully funded stays
Up to 50partially funded stays
1 or 2 weekslength of stay
April · August · October 2027 · January 2028residency periods

The residency

Our residencies take place throughout the year, with one- and two-week stays in April, August and October 2027 and January 2028. They offer time and space for reflection, creation and connection on the remote island of Fleinvær.

Who can apply

Everyone. You do not need to call yourself an artist. If you are working on something creative, exploratory or research-based, we encourage you to apply. We are excited by the mix of people and perspectives we bring together, and emerging and established practitioners are equally welcome.

What a funded stay includes

  • A private cabin with a desk and Wi-Fi, to sleep and work in
  • Meals, pantry provisions and firewood
  • Shared use of the Studio House, the Tower House (Njalla), the Kitchen House, the Bath House and the sauna
  • Hosting and practical support

Travel to and from the island is your own responsibility.

Fully and partially funded

Thanks to funding from Nordland County Council (Nordland fylkeskommune), together with our own resources and donations, we can offer a number of fully funded residencies as well as partially funded stays.

In the form you can ask to be considered for a partially funded stay if you are not selected for a fully funded one. We can provide an invitation letter to help you apply for external funding.

Selection

Applications are assessed by our team. We expect around 1,000 applications for this call.

We will let you know the results by Sunday 1 November 2026.

Once the selection has concluded, the names of the selected residents will be published on this page.

Deadline

Sunday 11 October 2026, wherever you are in the world.

Questions? Email us at booking@thearctichideaway.com.

Apply

Application form

Please complete the form by Sunday 11 October 2026, wherever you are in the world. The form is in English.

The application form will appear here.

About the residencies →Practical information →

Not selected, or can't wait for the next call? Self-funded residencies and Stewardship stays are open all year.

An artist presenting her work in the Studio House

Come with what you have.

A project. A question. A practice. Time you need to use.

Northern lights over a lit cabin on the hill at night

Newsletter

News from
Fleinvær.

A few times a year: open calls, available dates, news from the island and the artists who have stayed here.

What you'll receive

We write when there is something worth saying, usually when a new residency call opens, when dates become available, or when there is news from the Hideaway.

We don't send many emails, and we never share your address with anyone else. Every email has a link to unsubscribe.

Preferred language

After signing up you'll receive an email asking you to confirm. You're only added to the list once you click the link in that email. We use your email address only to send you the newsletter.

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It will be built from its mockup in the same visual language. This page is still being prepared.

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