Organizer Information
The Kinosaki International Arts Center (KIAC) is a Japan-based artist-in-residence institution dedicated to supporting contemporary artistic practices with a strong emphasis on experimentation, interdisciplinary exchange, and community engagement. Located in Kinosaki, a historic hot spring town in Hyogo Prefecture, KIAC operates as a creative platform where artists can develop research, rehearse, collaborate, and test new ideas outside the pressures of commercial presentation formats.
Unlike conventional theaters or exhibition venues that primarily showcase completed works, KIAC focuses on the artistic process itself. The center encourages artists to engage deeply with experimentation, work-in-progress methodologies, and local interaction through creative exchange programs involving residents and visitors. Over the years, KIAC has become internationally recognized for supporting innovative performing arts practices and socially engaged art projects.
Beginning with the 2027/2028 cycle, KIAC has expanded the scope of eligible disciplines to include “Research-based art projects” alongside performing arts practices. This shift reflects the institution’s ongoing commitment to supporting broader forms of artistic inquiry, critical research, and collaborative cultural production. Through this residency, KIAC seeks artists and collectives interested in exploring new possibilities in artistic expression while building meaningful dialogue with local communities and international audiences.
Title & Description
Kinosaki International Arts Center – Open Call for Artist-in-Residence Program 2027/2028
Kinosaki International Arts Center (KIAC) in Japan has announced its international open call for the 2027/2028 Artist-in-Residence Program. The residency will run between 1 April 2027 and 31 March 2028 (excluding September 2027) and invites artists, researchers, collectives, and art professionals to develop creative projects within a supportive residency environment focused on experimentation, critical inquiry, and public exchange.
The residency welcomes projects in performing arts, research-based artistic practices, and professional exchange formats such as symposiums, study groups, and lectures. KIAC particularly encourages projects that critically engage with contemporary society, explore new artistic methodologies, and create meaningful interaction between artists and local communities.
The center positions itself as a space for process-oriented artistic creation rather than simply a venue for presenting finished productions. Artists are invited to use the residency period to conduct research, experiment with unfinished ideas, rehearse works-in-progress, or develop collaborative projects that may evolve through interaction with the local context.
A distinctive aspect of the KIAC residency is its Community Exchange Program, through which participating artists are expected to engage local residents and visitors through workshops, open studios, rehearsals, presentations, artist talks, discussions, or other public-facing activities. The goal is to create opportunities for dialogue, exchange, and collective learning between artists and the surrounding community.
Importantly, applicants are not required to produce a finalized performance or exhibition outcome during the residency. KIAC explicitly welcomes research-focused and developmental projects, recognizing artistic experimentation as a valuable process in itself.
Categories
- Performing Arts
- Theatre
- Dance
- Music
- Performance Art
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Research-Based Art
- Social Practice
- Multimedia
- Community Art
- Experimental Art
- Artistic Research
- Workshops
- Lectures
- Symposiums
- Collaborative Practices
Eligibility
The residency is open internationally to both individual artists and artist groups working in eligible disciplines.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Open to international artists, collectives, researchers, and art professionals
- Individuals or groups may apply
- Artists must stay for a minimum of 7 days and up to 3 months
- Applicants must be able to communicate in basic Japanese or English
- Artists unable to communicate in Japanese or English must hire an interpreter at their own expense
- Participants must be capable of independent daily living, including cooking, cleaning, and laundry
- Applicants must be willing to participate in community exchange activities with local residents and tourists
- Artists must comply with KIAC regulations and residency guidelines
There is no stated age limit.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected artists and groups will receive substantial residency support from KIAC, including:
- Free use of KIAC’s hall and studio spaces
- Free accommodation with access to up to seven residence rooms
- Technical support from KIAC staff
- Coordination and research support during the residency period
- Opportunities to engage with local communities and audiences
- Access to a professional artistic research environment
- Time and space for experimentation and artistic development
- Opportunities for open studios, workshops, rehearsals, presentations, and talks
The residency is particularly valuable for artists seeking process-oriented development rather than production-driven outcomes.
Please note:
- Artists are responsible for transportation costs to Japan and Kinosaki
- Participants must cover their own living and production expenses
- Residents must pay utility fees of 350 JPY per person per day to Toyooka City
Application Fee
None
However, selected participants are responsible for paying 350 yen per person per day to Toyooka City for utilities.
Application Requirements
- Completed application form
- Project proposal
- Information about artistic background and previous activities
- Production and implementation plans
- Budget planning information
- Project schedule and management approach
- Supporting materials relevant to the proposed project
Applicants should clearly explain:
- The artistic concept and purpose of the project
- How the project engages with society and contemporary issues
- The project’s potential for critical creativity and experimentation
- Proposed methods for community exchange and participation
How to Apply?
Applicants must download and complete the official application form and submit it by email. air2027@kiac.jp
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 27 June 2026
- Notification of Results: End of October 2026
- Residency Period: 1 April 2027 – 31 March 2028
Location
Toyooka, Japan
Additional Details
KIAC’s selection committee evaluates applications based on three major criteria:
- Response to Society
- Critical Creativity
- Creation of Exchanges
The residency prioritizes projects that demonstrate awareness of contemporary social realities, challenge existing artistic or cultural assumptions, and actively seek to create new forms of exchange between artists and communities.
Artists accepted into the programme are also required to acknowledge KIAC in future presentations or publications related to works developed during the residency. KIAC may additionally request permission to use documentation materials such as photographs and videos for promotional purposes.
The residency strongly values experimentation, unfinished processes, and collaborative inquiry. Artists interested in socially engaged practice, interdisciplinary creation, and long-term artistic research are especially encouraged to apply.