Organizer Information
Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS) is a program operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture in Japan. Based in Tokyo, TOKAS is an internationally recognized residency and production platform supporting artists, curators, researchers, and cultural practitioners across disciplines. Its mission is to foster global artistic exchange by providing time, space, and resources for creative development in Tokyo.
TOKAS Residency hosts both open-call and invitation-based programs, offering structured residency opportunities that encourage research, experimentation, and dialogue between international and local art communities, through public programs such as OPEN STUDIO, talks, and collaborative exchange formats. TOKAS functions as a bridge between visiting practitioners and Japan’s contemporary cultural ecosystem.
Title & Description
Curator Residency Program 2027 (TOKAS Residency, Tokyo Arts and Space)
The Curator Residency Program 2027 is an international open-call residency designed for curators, art critics, and cultural researchers to conduct independent research in Tokyo. The program emphasizes curatorial development, critical inquiry, and cross-cultural exchange with Japan’s contemporary art scene.
Selected curators will stay at TOKAS Residency for 1 to 3 months and will be given financial and logistical support to pursue research-based projects. Beyond individual research, participants are expected to actively engage with the local artistic community by offering mentoring sessions for emerging creators and delivering a public talk presenting their research outcomes.
The program is structured to promote both intellectual development and professional exchange, situating curators within Tokyo’s dynamic cultural environment while enabling them to develop new perspectives, research frameworks, or curatorial methodologies.
Residency periods are divided into three seasonal slots across 2027–2028, allowing flexibility in scheduling and selection.
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Art Criticism
- Cultural Research
- Contemporary Art Studies
- Interdisciplinary Cultural Theory
Eligibility
- Reside outside Japan at the time of application
- Have at least 3 years of professional experience in curation, art criticism, or cultural research
- Be able to communicate effectively in English
- Be independent and capable of living and working individually in a residential environment
- Individual applicants only (duos are not eligible)
- Must not be currently enrolled students (PhD candidates are eligible)
- Demonstrate motivation to engage with local emerging artists and cultural communities in Tokyo
Program Benefits & Awards
- Private accommodation at TOKAS Residency (single room provided)
- Round-trip economy airfare (nearest international airport to Tokyo – Narita or Haneda)
- Research/project fee: JPY 100,000 (excluding consumption tax)
- Note: 20.42% income tax will be deducted from payments
- Access to shared facilities, including studios, library, networking spaces, and equipment
- Opportunity to present research through a public talk
- Participation in OPEN STUDIO and other TOKAS-organized events
- Professional exchange with Tokyo-based emerging creators and cultural practitioners
- Institutional visibility through TOKAS public programming and documentation
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following materials in English:
- Application Form (PDF, properly filled using Adobe Reader)
- Two Letters of Recommendation (PDF, signed by referees from cultural/art institutions or professionals in the field)
- Portfolio (PDF, max 6 A4 landscape pages, max 10MB, up to 3 projects)
Portfolio must include:
- Past curatorial/research work
- Images, project descriptions, and/or URLs (video/sound links permitted)
- Clear indication of applicant’s role in each project (curator, organizer, collaborator, etc.)
- Relevance to proposed residency research plan
- Name on the first page and properly formatted file naming
Additional requirement:
- All applicants must submit through the official online form
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 16 June 2026
- First Screening: Mid-June – August 2026 (internal review, results not disclosed)
- Second Screening: Late August 2026 (external jury evaluation)
- Final Results Announcement: Early October 2026 (via TOKAS website)
- Residency Periods:
- May – July 2027
- September – November 2027
- January – March 2028
Location
Tatekawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Additional Details
- Residents must remain continuously for the full selected residency period
- Commercial or profit-oriented activities are strictly prohibited during residency
- Participants must conduct mentoring sessions and public presentations as required
- Noise or vibration-heavy activities are not permitted
- Guests, partners, and family members are not allowed to stay in residency rooms
- Wi-Fi and shared resources are available throughout the residency
- Selection is competitive and involves a two-stage evaluation
- Final decisions are announced publicly; individual inquiries about results are not answered