In November 2025, Artica Svalbard hosted Emma Henderson, an artist, producer, and arts educator based in the west of Scotland, as part of the NAARCA staff exchange programme. She joins Artica from Cove Park, where she is Curator of Engagement.
Henderson’s practice spans printmaking, textiles, and environmental learning, with a focus on natural inks made through slow, experimental processes. Her work explores feminist craft legacies while developing low-impact, circular systems for image-making. Alongside her artistic practice, she produces creative projects for local and national arts organisations—often rooted in place, nature connection, and sustainable living.
During her time at Artica Svalbard, Henderson deveoped a shared natural printmaking toolkit and began establishing a pigment library—a collaborative resource for current and future residents. Starting with pigments gathered in both Scotland and Svalbard, the pigment library will grow as an evolving archive of colour rooted in place. The toolkit will be published via NAARCA’s online resources, offering open access guidance for sustainable, low-waste printmaking.
She also hosted a community workshop in Longyearbyen, inviting participants to explore natural printmaking techniques and ecological approaches to working with materials.
Emma Henderson’s exchange visit is supported by Nordisk Kulturfond as part of NAARCA’s ongoing commitment to fostering climate-conscious practices across its international residency network.