Nordic Summer University Summer Session 2025
A Writing Retreat – independent work done in community
Location: Kökar, Åland Islands, Finland OR online
Dates: 21–28 July, 2025
Join for a guided writing retreat, either remotely from your preferred writing place or by coming to Kökar (limited number of spots)!
During the past years, this community has moved in time and place by following medieval travellers to the East, in Africa, over the Atlantic and to the North. Now it is time to conclude what we have learnt and gather our experiences into a more tangible format. This is why you are invited to take part in an organised writing retreat. This can be done in two different ways.
- You stay in the comfort of your own home and join the community for guided sessions in the mornings and evenings (Finnish time). The sessions are meant to set you up for independent writing during the day and to check-in on how the writing went at the end of the day. In the end of the week, we will also make room to share and comment on each other’s writing.
- You join Laura on the beautiful island of Kökar in the archipelago of the Åland Islands to write together with a community. There is a limited number of spots for accommodation available in simple and shared cottages (contact me for further details). Alternatively, you find yourself more comfortable arrangements that you pay for from your own expenses. Recommendations are the following places: Klobbars, Brudhäll, Antons Gästhem or Sandviken. Or, then coming with a private boat and staying in the Harbour in Hellsö.
To join the writing retreat, please send in an abstract of your idea for an article that you will be working on. Please add the following to the abstract: suggested title, general outline of your idea, the materials you will be working with, what methods you are using, how the work is trans- or inter-disciplinary in its approach or deals with traditional and/or indigenous epistemological practices. Also, add if you are writing this independently or together with someone else, as well as where you wish to publish your work.
Abstracts should be submitted by email to laura.hellsten(a)abo.fi by 30th of May! Please indicate if you want to join the writing retreat in person or online. If you are new to this community and wish to join us in person, also send a short bio where you present yourself and your interest in this work.
The abstract can be the description of an article you have half ready in a drawer or a completely new idea. If you want to work towards contributing to our upcoming special issue with ARTS, this is also possible. The deadline for NEW submissions will be September 5th.
Based on the submitted abstracts, a selection will be made on who will be welcomed to join the writing retreat. You will be informed about the decision no later than June 2nd. To register for the event and secure your spot in the writing retreat, the membership fee (25€) of the Nordic Summer University for the year 2025 needs to be paid by June 15th!