Next Monday, Miriam Wiskemann, a 27-year-old art student, will take on the role of being the exclusive guardian of Marsten Island, an uninhabited piece of land off the coast of Sweden. Measuring a modest 180 meters by 50 meters, Marsten Island is a popular spot for kayakers and paddle boarders during the summer months, while the rest of the year is dominated by a colony of cormorants.
As part of a competition organized by Visit Sweden, Miriam is one of the fortunate winners who will have the opportunity to enjoy this unique experience until June 2027. Visit Sweden’s main aim with this initiative is to showcase that true luxury revolves around time, space, and harmony rather than extravagance.
Along with four other participants from around the world, Miriam will receive a one-year right-of-use agreement for the island and a travel voucher valued at 20,000 Swedish krona, roughly equivalent to £1,590. It’s important to note that this prize does not include permanent residency, as there are no buildings on the island.
Miriam, currently studying art at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design, plans to visit Marsten in September to gather inspiration for her final project in illustration. She shared, “The most valuable aspect of this prize is the journey itself.”
Hailing from Dusseldorf, Germany, Miriam, who has already spent a year in Sweden, expressed her preference for the country’s more laid-back lifestyle compared to Germany. She mentioned to the German news agency dpa, “This trip will be at the forefront of my mind for the rest of the term.”
“I look forward to exploring the island on a bike and drawing inspiration from my surroundings,” she stated. “The opportunity to travel there will undoubtedly have a significant impact on me.”
She added, “The Swedish natural environment and the distinct seasonal variations have always been a source of inspiration for me and my artwork.”
Marsten Island is part of a group of islands located approximately four miles from Sweden’s west coast. With Sweden boasting over 267,000 islands along its shores, the competition aimed to shed light on these hidden treasures.
The “Your Swedish Island” campaign by VisitSweden attracted nearly 2,500 entries from individuals in 100 countries worldwide. The other winners are from Canada, the US, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Each winner will act as the custodian of their own remote island for the upcoming year.