Organizer Information
Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS) is a public cultural institution operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture. Based in Tokyo, Japan, TOKAS is dedicated to supporting contemporary artistic production, interdisciplinary exchange, and international collaboration across a wide spectrum of creative fields. The organization manages residency programs, exhibitions, and public events that connect artists from Japan and abroad, fostering dialogue between local and global art communities.
A central component of TOKAS’s mission is its artist-in-residence framework, which provides time, space, and institutional support for research-driven artistic practice. Through its residency programs, TOKAS invites creators from diverse disciplines to engage with Tokyo’s cultural environment, develop new work, and contribute to the city’s evolving artistic landscape. The institution also organizes public-facing programs such as Open Studio events, talks, and presentations that allow residents to share their processes and outcomes with audiences and peers.
The Research Residency Program is one of TOKAS’s flagship international initiatives, designed to bring highly motivated and experienced creators to Tokyo for sustained periods of research and experimentation.
Title & Description
TOKAS Research Residency Program 2027 – (Tokyo Arts and Space)
The Research Residency Program 2027 is an international open-call residency initiative that invites established and highly motivated creators from around the world to conduct research-based artistic activities in Tokyo. The program emphasizes experimentation, cultural exchange, and engagement with the city’s artistic ecosystem rather than purely production-oriented outcomes.
Selected participants are expected to develop research projects rooted in their own artistic or conceptual interests while responding to Tokyo’s cultural, social, and spatial context. The residency encourages dialogue between residents, fostering collaboration and exchange among artists working across disciplines.
Residents are also expected to participate in TOKAS-organized public programs such as Open Studio events, where they present their work-in-progress and share their research process with the public and invited professionals. The program aims to generate critical reflection, cross-cultural dialogue, and long-term professional development for participating creators.
Categories
The program accepts applicants from a broad range of creative and research-based disciplines, including:
- Visual Arts (drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, photography, performance, media art, video, sound art)
- Design
- Architecture
- Music and Sound Practices
- Performing Arts
- Curation
- Art Criticism
- Cultural Research
- Writing
The program strongly supports interdisciplinary and hybrid practices.
Eligibility
- International creators from any country
- Professionals with substantial experience in their artistic or research field
- Demonstrated potential for future artistic development and achievement
- Ability to communicate in English for collaboration and daily interaction
- Independence in both artistic practice and daily living
- Duo applications are accepted, provided the pair has prior collaborative experience
- Ph.D. candidates are eligible; other students are not eligible
Additional expectations:
- Applicants must be capable of self-directed research and residency living
- Must be willing to engage with other residents and TOKAS staff in a collaborative environment
Program Benefits & Awards
- A fully equipped single-room accommodation at TOKAS Residency (25 m²; duo applicants receive a twin-bedded room of 49 m²)
- Access to shared facilities, including studios, library, networking room, and communal spaces
- Wi-Fi internet access throughout the residency
- Opportunities to participate in Open Studio programs and other public events
- Institutional support from the TOKAS staff during the residency period
- Visibility within TOKAS’s international artistic network
Additional facilities include a kitchen, furniture, a bathroom, a laundry, and shared working spaces designed to support long-term research and production.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Application Form (PDF)
- Completed in English or Japanese
- Must be filled using Adobe Reader
- Must follow strict formatting instructions and file naming rules
- Two Letters of Recommendation (PDF)
- Written by two different referees from relevant cultural/artistic institutions or professionals
- Must include signatures and date
- Must be submitted via the online system (not directly by referees)
- Portfolio (PDF, max 6 pages, max 10MB)
- A4 landscape format
- Maximum 3 projects included
- Must include images, project summaries, and/or URLs (video/sound links allowed)
- Must clearly indicate roles, context, and relevance to proposed residency research
- Links must remain active until at least September 15, 2026
- Text must be selectable (not flattened images)
- Must include the applicant's name on the first page
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Period: 16 June 2026
- Final Results Announcement: Early October 2026 (via TOKAS website)
- Residency Period Options:
- May – July 2027
- September – November 2027
- January – March 2028 (6 to 12 weeks per selected participant)
Location
TOKAS Residency, Tokyo, Japan
Additional Details
- Residents must commit to a continuous stay during the selected residency period
- No commercial or profit-making activities are allowed during residency
- Loud noise or vibration-intensive practices are prohibited
- Accommodation is strictly for selected artists only (no guests, partners, or family allowed)
- Participation in public programs (such as Open Studio) is mandatory when requested
- Full compliance with TOKAS residency rules is required
The program is highly competitive and emphasizes conceptual clarity, research depth, and the ability to engage with Tokyo as a site of artistic inquiry.