An Anonymous Evaluator: Evaluating Applications Takes You on a Journey of Discovery 

At its best, an evaluation process based on peer review is like an exciting journey into the unknown. One of our anonymous evaluators for the open call for Saari Residence 2027 provides insight into the evaluation process and discusses what applicants should keep in mind when submitting their applications, how artificial intelligence is visible when reviewing applications, and how positive discrimination influences the evaluation process.

Every evaluation is like an expedition. As a reader of applications, I sometimes come across something familiar, and sometimes something unfamiliar. It serves as a reminder of the limitations of my own understanding, because there is always something that is not yet familiar. This doesn’t mean, however, that I don’t understand the application; rather, it means that I have to rethink my own perspective. Unfamiliar topics are challenging, and that is precisely what makes them so inspiring.

In my evaluation, I consider it important that the work plan is clear in both theory and practice. I have also noticed in my other evaluation tasks how essential clarity and focus are. Instead of several separate projects, one or two strong ideas are often enough to convince the evaluator. Work samples are also very important. In artistic work, I see this as essential, because words alone cannot always convey everything that one’s own expression means in a multisensory way. I’m interested in how something looks, sounds, and – at least in my imagination – how it might taste, feel or smell.

Guidelines for a Good Application

The application process is demanding for both applicants and evaluators. There are many strong applications that meet all the criteria. In addition to being topical, open-minded and bold, I believe enthusiasm is so important. When a topic is meaningful to the applicant, it comes through in the way they write about it. This is precisely what can make even a familiar topic feel fresh and intriguing.

When making selection decisions, I strive to take into account as wide a range of factors as possible. I also have in mind various constraints and recommendations, such as the principle of positive discrimination. If, on the other hand, the same themes or working methods recur in the applications, I compare them with one another to better understand their nuances and differences. I go over the applications several times, over the course of several days and weeks, because it’s only with time that their distinctive features begin to stand out more clearly.

The Role of Positive Discrimination in Evaluation Work

Positive discrimination refers to giving special consideration to applications that come from outside the Western art world, such as from the Global South. I feel that our conception of a “strong” application may be linked to the aesthetic conventions of the Western art world. That is why I consciously strive to challenge my own tastes and the way I view things. At its best, this is precisely what it means to be in the presence of the unknown and something new. However, no evaluator is perfect, and our preferences are influenced by a number of factors. That is why I think it is important to take a step back and examine the applications critically.

In 2026, I evaluated applications for the Saari Residence. The residency does not require that the work plan be directly related to the Saari Manor or its surroundings. I liked that the applications approached the residency from a broad perspective, both through the site specifically and through entirely separate themes. As I read through the applications, however, I wondered what the unique environment of the Saari Manor could offer applicants in terms of its community, surroundings and values. Sometimes applications reveal connections that the applicant may not have noticed themselves. These questions remain open and intriguing: will these connections ultimately come into touch, or not? I also wondered why the Saari Residence would be beneficial to the applicant at this particular stage of their career, whether they were just starting out, changing direction or needing to settle into a new role.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Applications

The increasing use of AI is also reflected in the applications. Most applicants do not specifically mention using AI, although in some applications it has been quite obvious. AI can be a useful tool for tasks such as translation or the outlining of a text, but it also has recognisable patterns that tend to repeat themselves from one application to the next. I use AI myself as a translation aid for my own applications, but I think it’s important that the actual content stems from the applicant’s own thoughts. This means that the applicant will have to identify connections and describe their work in a way that AI is unable to grasp.

Ultimately, the evaluation is a dialogue between the applicant and the evaluator based on the work plan and work samples. There is no single formula for a strong application, but conveying your enthusiasm and the significance of the topic is often the deciding factor. That is why I ask others to read my applications as well: an outside perspective is important, since the evaluators are also reviewing the applications for the first time.