Prima Ink was established in autumn 2010 by visual artist Silvia E. Martinez, with the support of Norske Grafikere (Norwegian Printmakers) and Troms Fylkeskultursenter. Originally conceived as a printmaking studio, it aimed to become a dynamic arena for visual artists and anyone interested in art.

From 2010 to 2023, Prima Ink operated as an artist residency space based at Troms Fylkeskultursenter in Northern Norway, welcoming artists from different parts of the world for intimate and meaningful exchanges.
This period was fundamental to the development of the project, and Prima Ink is deeply grateful for the support, space, and opportunities that made these encounters possible.

Over the years, these experiences revealed the importance of process over production, dialogue over isolation, and connection over structure.

Today, Prima Ink evolves into a flexible and collaborative platform that moves beyond the traditional residency model.

Its activities unfold across hybrid and shifting spaces, depending on each collaboration — between artists, places, and art institutions. While projects may be proposed in Norway, Prima Ink is open to working in any city or country where meaningful exchanges can emerge.

Led by Silvia Martinez, the initiative focuses on building relationships between artists engaging with themes of migration, memory, identity, and territory.

Rather than a fixed place, Prima Ink exists as a network of encounters — in Tromsø and beyond.