We are pleased to announce Finnish-Romani writer, artist and filmmaker Carmen Baltzar as the recipient of the 2025 Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland X Acme London Residency, taking place from June to August 2025.
Hosted by Acme as part of our ongoing international residency programme and continued partnership with the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, the opportunity is intended for a Finnish or Finland-based artist whose practice would benefit from time in London to explore and research new ideas, and who feels that they face additional barriers in pursuing their artistic practice.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity to spend time in London as part of the Acme community. Exploring the contributions, realities and histories of Roma communities around the world informs my work, and I’m looking forward to connecting with art and literature professionals in London, especially those of the Romani diaspora.”
– Carmen Baltzar, Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland X Acme London Resident 2025
“Acme is delighted to welcome Carmen to London this summer. The studio within the artist community at Acme Fire Station is the ideal base from which to explore the filmmaking, literature and Roma communities in the UK as we support Carmen to explore the next steps for her film and writing projects. It is also a pleasure to continue our collaboration with the Finnish Institute for a third year, supporting Finnish artists to undertake research in London.”
– Jon Opie, Head of Artist Support, Acme
“As an emerging, multidisciplinary artist and storyteller, the ACME residency in East London offers Carmen a fertile and fresh ground for exploring the lived realities of Romani communities. The Institute and ACME were in unity in our selection, and we look forward to seeing how this opportunity will support Carmen’s artistic development and enhance her career in an international context.”
– Sara Kärpänen, Arts Programme Director, Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland
About the artist
Carmen Baltzar is a Finnish-Romani writer, artist and filmmaker living between Helsinki and Lisbon. Her work explores intersections of love and power, the experience of a woman’s body, embodied liberation, alternate feminine realities and Roma life and death.
Carmen curated and co-edited the anthology Ohi – kirjoituksia kuolemasta ja sen vierestä (Past – Writings on Death and Beyond, WSOY 2022), and her prose and poetry has appeared in publications by WSOY, S&S, Kosmos and Kiasma as well as online on Al Jazeera, Yle, Iso Numero and others. Carmen’s literary expression imagines past euro patriarchal forms, and her first novel combining text and photography will be published by Kosmos in spring 2026.
Carmen’s most recent short film All the Love in My Body is a portrait of a touristic beach in Greece from the perspective of two young Romani sisters selling toys to beachgoers. Her previous films have screened at Tampere International Film Festival, Helsinki International Film Festival, Savonlinna Nature Film Festival and URB Festival in Kiasma.
Carmen is a recent resident at the Documentation and Cultural Centre of German Sinti and Roma in Heidelberg, and her work has been supported by the Finnish Film Foundation, Hellenic Film Commission, Kone Foundation, Arts Promotion Centre Finland and others.
About the residency
The 2025 Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland X Acme residency is research focused and no outcome is expected. The aim is to nurture co-creation, dialogue, care and sustainability, both psychologically and ecologically. The residency includes:
Located in east London, the Fire Station building is a former LCC Fire Brigade Station, built in 1910. The upper four floors were originally designed as twelve firemen’s flats which have been converted into the work/live units. The Acme Fire Station has housed artists in a close-knit community since 1997.
About Acme
London-based charity Acme has been supporting artists in need since 1972. Over this time, we have provided thousands of artists at all stages of career with affordable studios, work/live space and a programme of artist support through residencies and awards. We support the development and production of art by reducing the practical challenges that artists face,
increasing their ability to take creative risks.
Acme is the single largest provider of permanent affordable artist studios in England, supporting over 800 individual artists across 15 buildings in Greater London each year.
Photo: Juuli Kangasniemi
