Organizer Information
The Pier-2 Art Center Artist-in-Residence Program (PAIR) is a long-running international residency platform based in the historic port district of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Established as part of the Pier-2 Art Center’s cultural revitalization initiative, PAIR supports experimental contemporary art practices, interdisciplinary collaboration, and research-driven artistic production. Located within the Dayi Warehouse Cluster—a former industrial warehouse complex transformed into a major cultural hub—the residency encourages artists to engage deeply with Kaohsiung’s urban landscape, industrial history, harbor ecology, and social fabric.
PAIR views residency programs not simply as accommodation and studio support, but as an extended process of artistic inquiry and contextual engagement. The organization emphasizes research, exchange, community interaction, and site-responsive methodologies. Through collaborations with local artists, communities, cultural practitioners, and institutions, PAIR facilitates opportunities for artists to create new work informed by the realities and imaginaries of contemporary Kaohsiung.
The program also aims to strengthen international cultural exchange, arts education, and socially engaged practice while supporting artists in transforming field research and lived experiences into exhibitions, workshops, performances, and public-facing projects.
Title & Description
Pier-2 Art Center Artist-in-Residence Programme Open Call
Annual Theme: “Beta Port｜An Unfinished Harbor”
The 2027 edition of the PAIR residency program invites artists from around the world to respond to the annual curatorial theme “Beta Port｜An Unfinished Harbor.” The theme explores Kaohsiung as a city in constant transition—a harbor shaped by industrial development, migration, hydrological systems, trade routes, and evolving cultural identities.
“Beta Port” refers to a state of incompleteness and ongoing transformation. Rather than focusing solely on historical reflection or documentary approaches, the residency encourages artists to investigate the city through contemporary lived experience, experimentation, and speculative thinking. Artists are invited to develop projects that engage with public space, local communities, urban perception, environmental conditions, and cross-disciplinary methodologies.
PAIR welcomes proposals that prioritize process-based research, public interaction, collaborative approaches, and experimental forms of artistic production. The residency is particularly suited for artists interested in fieldwork, observation, movement, urban studies, and socially engaged practice.
Resident artists will live and work within the Pier-2 Art Center’s waterfront warehouse district while developing projects connected to Kaohsiung’s social, industrial, and cultural context.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Installation Art
- Performance Art
- Social Practice
- Public Art
- Video Art
- Sound Art
- New Media
- Photography
- Film
- Interdisciplinary Art
- Community-Based Practice
- Research-Based Artistic Practice
- Architecture & Spatial Practice
- Experimental Art
- Cultural Research
Eligibility
The residency is open to both domestic and international artists and artist collectives.
- Open to artists of all nationalities.
- Individual artists and groups may apply.
- Group applications are limited to a maximum of two members.
- Applicants must have at least two years of artistic practice experience.
- Student applicants must be enrolled in graduate-level programs or above.
- Applicants should possess at least intermediate English communication skills.
- Artists must be capable of living and working independently during the residency period.
- Participants must commit to the full residency duration assigned by the organizer.
- There are no restrictions regarding artistic medium or discipline.
The residency particularly encourages applicants whose practices involve:
- Cross-disciplinary experimentation
- Place-based research
- Community engagement
- Collaborative processes
- Urban and social investigation
Program Benefits & Awards
- Private artist studio space (approximately 32 m²)
- Private living accommodation (approximately 16.5 m²)
- Shared access to kitchen, meeting, lecture, and exchange spaces
- Administrative and curatorial support
- Resource matching and local networking assistance
- Opportunities for public presentations and exchanges
- Access to local artistic and cultural communities
Financial Support
- One round-trip economy airfare for international artists
- One round-trip Taiwan High Speed Rail ticket for domestic artists
- Daily living allowance of NTD 800 per artist/group
- Project material subsidy up to NTD 35,000
- Assistance with local coordination and project facilitation
Artists will also have opportunities to organize:
- Workshops
- Public talks
- Exhibitions
- Open studios
- Community engagement activities
Application Fee
There is no application fee mentioned for the residency program.
However, selected artists must pay a refundable security deposit upon arrival:
- International artists: USD/EUR 300
- Domestic artists: NTD 6,000
The deposit will be refunded at the end of the residency after successful completion of all obligations and inspections.
Application Requirements
- Artist CV
- Artist Statement
- Residency Proposal / Research Plan
- Public Engagement or Workshop Proposal
- Portfolio (PDF format)
- One Recommendation Letter issued within the last three months
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 5 July 2026
- Notification Date: Early October 2026
- Residency Period:
- January – March 2027
- April – June 2027
- July – September 2027
- October – December 2027
Residencies must last: Minimum: 30 days and Maximum: 90 days
Location
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Additional Details
Resident artists are expected to actively participate in public engagement and outreach activities during their stay. These may include workshops, exhibitions, talks, or collaborative projects with local communities.
Artists are responsible for:
- Managing their own daily life during the residency
- Artwork installation and de-installation
- Visa fees and insurance
- Exhibition supervision and technical coordination
- Removing artworks upon completion of the residency
PAIR does not provide:
- Artwork storage
- Exhibition invigilation staff
- Professional translation services
- Independent production crews
Artists should also note that residency schedules are assigned according to organizational planning and space availability. Final residency dates are determined by the organizer.
In cases involving force majeure, public health emergencies, or policy changes, the organizer reserves the right to modify or cancel the residency schedule.