Organizer Information
The OÖ AIR AoCG x YCM Residency Exchange Program is a bilateral artist-in-residence initiative developed through cooperation between Austrian and Taiwanese cultural institutions. It is implemented by OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH in partnership with the New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum and Gmundner Keramik, a historically significant ceramics manufacturer in Austria.
The program operates within the broader framework of international cultural exchange agreements between Austria and Taiwan and is specifically designed to foster contemporary ceramic practice, material research, and cross-cultural artistic dialogue. The initiative connects Upper Austria’s strong ceramic tradition with Yingge’s position as Taiwan’s largest and most historically embedded ceramics hub. It is structured as a production- and research-oriented residency, combining studio practice with institutional engagement, educational exchange, and exhibition opportunities. The residency also reflects a curatorial interest in how ceramic practices evolve within different cultural, industrial, and pedagogical contexts.
Title & Description
AoCG x YCM Residency Exchange Program (Ceramics-focused International Residency)
This residency exchange program offers selected ceramic artists with a professional or biographical connection to Upper Austria the opportunity to work at the Yingge Ceramics Museum International Residency Center in New Taipei City, Taiwan. The program supports the development of contemporary ceramic work in an internationally recognized institutional environment equipped with full production infrastructure, including studios, workshops, and educational facilities.
The residency is designed to encourage both artistic production and contextual research. Artists are expected to develop new work during their stay, often responding to local materials, traditions, industrial histories, or the broader cultural environment of Yingge—Taiwan’s most significant ceramics production district. The program emphasizes intercultural exchange, allowing participating artists to engage with Taiwanese ceramic practices while also contributing their own regional perspectives from Upper Austria.
A key component of the residency is the integration of artistic output into institutional contexts. Works produced during the program are intended for educational use by the Yingge Ceramics Museum, ensuring that the residency contributes not only to individual artistic development but also to public learning and institutional collections. Additionally, participants may be included in exhibitions organized by partner institutions in Upper Austria.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Ceramics / Ceramic Arts (primary discipline)
- Sculpture
- Material-Based Contemporary Art
- Artistic Research
- Craft / Applied Arts (with contemporary focus)
Eligibility
The program is open to freelance professional artists specializing in ceramics. Applicants must have a demonstrable connection to Upper Austria, which may include:
- Residence in Upper Austria
- Place of work in Upper Austria
- Birth in Upper Austria
- Or another clearly established professional or personal connection
Additional eligibility requirements include:
- Completed artistic education (university degree in fine arts or related field) OR equivalent professional artistic qualification demonstrated through CV and practice
- Proven artistic track record in ceramics or materially related disciplines
- Ability to work independently in an international residency context
- Projects with a clear local or contextual research component are strongly encouraged
- Applications must be submitted in English only
The program is not limited by nationality but is geographically conditioned by the required Upper Austria connection.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Economy-class travel expenses covered
- Monthly stipend of NT$ 24,000
- Fully equipped studio and living accommodation at the YCM Residency Center
- Material budget for production during the residency
- Institutional communication and support via OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH
- Opportunity to participate in exhibitions organized by OÖLKG partner institutions
- Access to advanced ceramic production infrastructure and museum resources
- Immersive engagement with Yingge’s ceramics ecosystem and professional networks
Additionally, artworks produced during the residency are donated to the Yingge Ceramics Museum for educational purposes, ensuring institutional integration and long-term public value.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Proof of connection to Upper Austria (brief statement or documentation)
- Short biography (English)
- Letter of motivation and project proposal (maximum 2 pages)
- Portfolio including CV (maximum 40 pages, file size up to 13 MB)
- Documentation of artistic practice (images, project descriptions, relevant works)
Incomplete applications or submissions exceeding the technical limits may not be considered.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 2 September 2026
- Residency Period Options:
- May–June 2027 (61 days)
- May–June 2028 (61 days)
Location
New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Additional Details
This residency emphasizes site-specific artistic development, particularly encouraging projects that engage with Yingge’s local ceramic culture, industrial heritage, and contemporary production ecosystems. Artists are expected to approach the residency as both a production period and a research opportunity.
A key institutional expectation is that the residency outcome contributes to educational programming at the Yingge Ceramics Museum. This positions the program within a broader pedagogical and curatorial framework rather than purely individual artistic production.
The exchange format also highlights long-term cultural collaboration between Austria and Taiwan, positioning ceramics as a shared material language across distinct cultural traditions.