Organizer Information
798 Art District occupies the former 718 Joint Factory complex in Beijing's Chaoyang District, a Bauhaus-style industrial site built with East German assistance in the 1950s that began electronics production in 1957. Originally part of the Beijing North China Wireless Joint Equipment Factory, the site was reorganized under Beijing Sevenstar Science and Technology Co., Ltd. by 2000, and starting in 2002 artists began transforming the former factory workshops into galleries, studios, and creative spaces. Today the district describes itself as a cultural symbol of Chinese contemporary art, preserving over 70,000 square meters of Bauhaus architecture across a roughly 300,000-square-meter core area, home to more than 600 institutions and drawing artistic resources from 19 countries and regions; in 2024 it welcomed 12.57 million visitors, with overseas visitors making up 30% of footfall.
The residency is co-organized with BOUNDED SPACE, an art space located within 798 Art District that works across easel painting and experimental installation art, with a particular focus on the interdisciplinary fusion of art and technology — digital media, interactive installations, and emerging scientific technologies. Limited independent public information is available about BOUNDED SPACE beyond what the source provides; the space lists a roster of more than 300 artists it has worked with, including Jin Rilong, Ma Kelu, Maxim Zhestkov, Shao Yinong, and Guo Gong, among others.
Title & Description
798 Multidisciplinary Residency Project — Global Call for New Media Artists and Electronic Musicians
798 Art District, in partnership with BOUNDED SPACE, has launched the "798 Multidisciplinary Residency Project" under the theme Premonition: Miracles at the Threshold, issuing a global open call for new media artists, electronic musicians, and collectives. The organizers describe it as China's first residency and co-creation program dedicated to the intersection of art, technology, and music. The residency takes place at the 798 Multidisciplinary Base within the district, and is positioned as a platform for cross-disciplinary dialogue, industry connection, and creative inspiration, drawing on the site's industrial heritage and existing contemporary art ecosystem. The project will be officially launched with a kick-off event at Beijing Art and Technology Week in mid-September, and resulting works will debut globally at the 798 Art District New Year's Eve Event starting December 20.
Theme
Pre / Sense — the residency's stated theme explores "the Real" (drawing on Jacques Lacan's framework) as the aspect of reality not yet captured by language or existing systems of knowledge. It frames the project as an invitation for artists, musicians, and scientists to jointly push beyond established cognitive boundaries and explore the unknown at the convergence of art, music, and science.
Categories
- New Media
- Sound/Music
- Residency
- Installation
- Public Art
- Technology
- Audiovisual
- Performance
- Interdisciplinary Arts
Eligibility
- Open to visual artists, new media artists, sound artists, and groups (up to 2 members)
- Minimum of 5 years of creative practice required
- Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration is preferred (not mandatory)
- Must be able to participate full-time throughout the residency period
Program Benefits & Awards
- Professional studio space equipped with necessary materials and facilities
- Support from scientific research institutions, tech enterprises, and cultural tourism groups
- Assistance throughout the creative process, plus curatorial and production support for the final exhibition
- Round-trip economy class flight ticket for the artist
- Accommodation and food arrangements during the residency
- Basic creative materials, covering commonly used consumables, experimental materials, and basic supplies for specific media
- Access to equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, projectors, high-performance computers, professional display screens, and audio equipment (by appointment)
- Access to technical support teams through the project's connections with technology enterprises and research institutions
- On-site equipment managers and technical supervisors for operation guidance, safety oversight, and maintenance; required operational training before equipment use
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Email application: info@bounded-space.com
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 20 September 2026
- Residency Duration: mid-October – mid-December 2026
- Kick-off Announcement Event: Beijing Art and Technology Week, mid-September
- Global Debut of Residency Works: 798 Art District New Year's Eve Event, starting December 20
Location
798 Multidisciplinary Base, 798 Art District, Beijing, China
Additional Details
- Application materials required: a completed application form; a CV/résumé and portfolio of major works (representative works from the past 3 years); a preliminary creative concept and project plan, including a budget outline, statement of creative intent, and work schedule for the residency period
- Work types the residency is seeking: technology + music art installations, public art, outdoor interactive technology installations, audiovisual art, immersive sound art, bio-art, new material experiments, and live performances
- After email submission, the organizing committee conducts an initial review; selected applicants receive an official letter of invitation to confirm participation, followed by an on-site orientation and the signing of a formal agreement
- The project states it will coordinate a media matrix across the industry to amplify the event's reach