Organizer Information
This programme is jointly organized by Artist-in-Residence Vietnam Network (AiRViNe) and *** in Residence Kyoto. AiRViNe was established as the first platform connecting artists, creatives, and cultural enthusiasts with residency opportunities in Vietnam and worldwide, with a mission encompassing cultural mobility, cross-cultural exchange, and artistic growth through research, workshops, seminars, and pilot artist-in-residence programmes. The network was founded by Hằng Nguyễn, who also serves as Managing Partner at Hanoi Grapevine, a platform supporting Vietnam's artist ecosystem.
*** in Residence Kyoto (アスタリスク・イン・レジデンス) is run by a general incorporated association established by Kyoto City to build a framework for creative long-term stays and exchange between Kyoto and the world. The project connects creators from around the world with people living in Kyoto to share daily life, exchange perspectives, and build relationships for the future, drawing on Kyoto's 25-year history of artist-in-residence work and welcoming creators across art, architecture, crafts, literature, food, and startups for stays of one to three months.
Title & Description
*** in Residence Kyoto 2026 Exchange Programme
This is a joint AiRViNe / *** in Residence Kyoto residency and research exchange initiative that bridges Vietnam, Japan, and the wider Southeast Asian region. Rather than a conventional production residency, it functions as an incubator for cross-regional dialogue, peer learning, and long-term partnership-building, aiming to lay groundwork for a triangular exchange network connecting practitioners across Vietnam, Japan, and neighboring countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. One participant from Southeast Asia will be selected to join a one-month residency and research stay in Kyoto, immersed in the city's cultural ecosystem to cultivate shared knowledge and spark new collaborative frameworks.
The programme is aimed less at artists in the conventional sense and more at practitioners whose work supports, connects, and shapes cultural ecosystems, though it also welcomes those working in crafts, food, gardening, and other non-conventional fields. It welcomes applications across three focus areas: mediators, coordinators, and facilitators (researchers, curators, cultural organizers); craft and cultural heritage practitioners; and everyday and place-based practitioners such as gardeners, chefs, culinary researchers, or community organizers.
Categories
- Residency
- Research
- Culture
- Craft
- Curatorial
Eligibility
- Basic level of English communication skills required
- Age 25 to 45
- Open to freelancers and individuals affiliated with organisations
- Applicants must be from Southeast Asia (one participant will be selected)
Program Benefits & Awards
- Full coverage of round-trip international flight expenses between Vietnam/Southeast Asia and Kyoto
- Full coverage of accommodation costs at one of the designated residency sites in Kyoto
- Pre- and post-programme coordination: guidance, local contacts, and support from both AiRViNe and *** in Residence Kyoto
- Facilitated introductions to local artisans, cultural institutions, community groups, and local coordinators in Kyoto and Japan
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Email: airvine.program@gmail.com — Subject line: "[Application: AiRViNe 2026 Kyoto Residency] Applicant Name"
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 16 August 2026
- Final Interviews (Online): Early-September 2026
- Final Result Announcement: Late September 2026
- Residency Window: Flexible between September 2026 and March 2027
Location
Kyoto, Japan
Additional Details
- One potential residency site described in the source is the Rakushi Housing Complex (Rakushi Danchi), a public housing complex being gradually transformed into a creative residency environment, working with local architecture office STUDIO MONAKA and the "Yohaku Materials Department" project, which stages rooms using reclaimed and surplus materials from the neighborhood; availability of this and other sites may vary depending on the participant's schedule
- Selected participants must organize at least one public programme showcasing their research and activities during the stay
- Selected participants must participate in public programmes organized by *** in Residence Kyoto during their stay
- Selected participants must cooperate with interviews and other PR activities for *** in Residence Kyoto
- Online interviews may be conducted as part of the selection process, run by a joint selection committee composed of representatives from AiRViNe and *** in Residence Kyoto