Organizer Information:
Guyan Painting Village & LooLooLook Gallery. Located along the Oujiang River, Guyan Huaxiang is a historic site where art galleries, artist studios, cultural institutions, and exhibition spaces coexist. Today, this artist village attracts more than 150,000 artists and students each year, making it one of the most dynamic creative hubs in China. The preparation of the residency is supported by LooLooLook Gallery, which will assist with the organization beforehand (overall coordination, practical information, and support with necessary procedures, particularly related to travel or visas).
Title & Description:
Guyan Painting Village International Artist Residency Program.
International artists are invited to participate in a 30-day artist residency in Lishui, Zhejiang Province (China). The Lishui International Artist Residency takes place in the heart of the Guyan Huaxiang artist village, a site renowned in China for its painting tradition and exceptional natural environment. Over 30 days, selected artists will have the opportunity to live and create in a unique context where nature, local culture, and artistic life come together. This residency is part of an international program offering visibility in both Europe and China. The core of the residency is dedicated to personal artistic creation. Each artist is invited to develop a project during their stay, whether or not it is connected to the local context.
Category:
Visual Arts & Painting.
Eligibility:
Who: International artists.
Obligation: A contribution to the residency collection. Selected artists are required to donate one artwork to the residency or to local institutions, contributing to the development of a collection and the legacy of the program.
Program Benefits & Awards:
Fully Funded: The residency covers the essential aspects of the stay, allowing artists to fully dedicate themselves to their creative work: round-trip flights, transportation within China, private accommodation in the artist village, studio space, as well as three meals per day throughout the program. The artistic materials required for the projects are covered by the residency.
Workspace & Accommodation: Artists are welcomed within the artist village, just a few minutes’ walk from the studios. Each artist benefits from a private room as well as a studio space, either individual or shared, providing a comfortable environment to develop their work.
On-site Support: Throughout the residency, artists are supported by the local team, which includes: a residency coordinator, a translator, an artistic director. This team facilitates the artists.
Cultural Immersion: The residency also offers a range of activities to discover the region and its culture: meetings with Chinese artists, cultural visits, exchanges with local institutions, discussions around artistic practices.
Exhibition: At the end of the program, a final exhibition is organized in collaboration with local cultural institutions. This exhibition presents the works created during the residency and allows artists to share their work with the local audience.
Application Requirements:
During the application process, you will be asked to specify your availability in detail. Artists are invited to submit a list of their needs in advance to ensure everything is prepared on site under the best conditions. Before their arrival, artists can submit a list of the materials required for their work so that the residency can prepare their studio accordingly.
How to Apply?
Submit your application online via the official Typeform application portal provided on the residency website.
Key Dates (Residency Organization and Timeline):
Application Deadline: Applications are open until April 19, 2026.
Session 1: A first one-month session will begin on June 1, 2026, bringing together the five selected artists for this period. Departure is scheduled for this date, subject to final confirmation with each artist depending on administrative and logistical constraints.
Session 2: A second one-month session will take place after the summer, starting from September 2026 through the end of 2027, welcoming five additional selected artists who will also benefit from the residency.
Note on Cohorts: Three international artists will take part in the residency. While each artist has their own workspace and private accommodation, the residency is also a time for collective living and exchange. The goal is to form groups of artists available during the same period, ensuring a cohesive and optimal collective experience for each session.
Organisation et calendrier de la résidence (French):
Une première session d’un mois débutera le 1er juin 2026, réunissant les cinq artistes sélectionnés pour cette période. Le départ est prévu à cette date, sous réserve de validation finale avec chaque artiste en fonction des contraintes administratives et logistiques. La préparation du séjour est accompagnée par la LooLooLook Gallery, qui pourra faciliter l’organisation en amont (coordination générale, informations pratiques, accompagnement sur les démarches si nécessaire, notamment liées au voyage ou au visa). Une seconde session d’un mois aura lieu après l’été, à partir de septembre 2026 et jusqu’à fin 2027, accueillant cinq autres artistes lauréats bénéficiant également de la résidence. Lors de votre candidature, il vous sera demandé d’indiquer précisément vos disponibilités. L’objectif est de constituer des groupes d’artistes disponibles sur une même période, afin de garantir une expérience collective cohérente et optimale pour chaque session.
Location:
Guyan Huaxiang artist village, Lishui, Zhejiang Province (China).
Contact Information:
Website: https://www.guyanpaintingvillageresidency.org/introductionen