Airfare, accommodation, studio space, daily living support, and project funding for international artists, designers, and architects

The Japan Artist Residency opportunity at Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS) offers international creators a three-month residency in Tokyo with accommodation, studio space, round-trip airfare, daily living support, and project funding. The International Creator Residency Program 2027 supports artists, designers, and architects from outside Japan who wish to develop research and creative projects while engaging with Tokyo’s cultural environment. Six creators will be selected across three residency periods between May 2027 and March 2028.

Applications are open from May 19 through June 16, 2026 for the Japan Artist Residency, with selected participants receiving a private living space, shared studio access, daily per diem support, project funding, and travel assistance.

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Japan Artist Residency Snapshot

What: International Creator Residency Program 2027
Who: International creators residing outside Japan with at least five years of professional experience in Visual Arts (Drawing, Installation, Painting, Performance, Photography, Media Art, Sculpture, Sound Art, Video), Design, or Architecture
Where: TOKAS Residency, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Award / Support:

• Single-room accommodation
• Shared studio space
• Round-trip economy airfare
• JPY 4,200 per day living expenses
• JPY 300,000 project fee
• Curatorial and residency support
• Public presentation through OPEN STUDIO

Application Fee: Not listed
Residency Duration: Three months
Application Opens: May 19, 2026
Deadline: June 16, 2026, 18:00 JST
Official Link:
https://www.tokyoartsandspace.jp/en/archive/application/2026/20260430-317.html
Strategy Coach Note: https://www.patreon.com/posts/strategy-coach-159580502

About the Japan Artist Residency

The International Creator Residency Program is one of TOKAS’s flagship international residency initiatives. The program brings artists, designers, and architects from around the world to Tokyo for an intensive three-month period of research, experimentation, exchange, and production. Residents live and work at TOKAS Residency while developing a proposed project and participating in dialogue with fellow creators and local communities.

The residency is designed around artistic development rather than production pressure. Participants receive time, space, and financial support to pursue a focused inquiry within Tokyo’s cultural, social, architectural, and urban contexts. Throughout the residency, artists are expected to engage with the local environment, develop new work or research, and contribute to the exchange of ideas within the residency community.

TOKAS places particular emphasis on international exchange. English serves as the working language of the residency, and applicants should be prepared to communicate regularly with fellow residents and TOKAS staff.

What Is Offered at Japan Artist Residency

Selected residents receive:

• Private accommodation at TOKAS Residency
• Shared studio facilities
• Round-trip economy airfare to Tokyo
• JPY 4,200 daily living allowance
• JPY 300,000 project fee
• Access to residency facilities and staff support
• Participation in OPEN STUDIO presentations
• Opportunities for exchange with other international creators
• Visibility through TOKAS programming

Who Should Apply to Japan Artist Residency

The residency is open to creators working in:

Visual Arts

• Drawing
• Installation
• Painting
• Performance
• Photography
• Media Art
• Sculpture
• Sound Art
• Video

Design

Architecture

Applicants must:

• Reside outside Japan
• Have five years or more of professional experience
• Communicate effectively in English
• Work independently
• Be available for the full residency period

Students are generally ineligible, although Ph.D. candidates may apply.

Residency Structure

Selected artists will be assigned to one of three residency periods:

Period 1: May through July 2027
Period 2: September through November 2027
Period 3: January through March 2028

TOKAS determines residency placement. Applicants cannot select their preferred period.

A total of six creators will be selected, with two creators participating during each residency cycle.

Application Materials

Applicants must submit:

• Application form
• Two recommendation letters
• Portfolio PDF

Portfolio requirements:

• Maximum 6 pages
• A4 landscape format
• Up to three projects
• Maximum file size of 10MB
• Projects should relate directly to the proposed residency activity
• Video and audio links must remain active through September 15, 2026

Why The Japan Artist Residency Matters

Few international residency programs combine housing, airfare, living support, project funding, studio access, and a major institutional platform in a single package. TOKAS has become one of the most recognized residency programs in Asia for contemporary artists, designers, and architects.

The Japan Artist Residency is particularly attractive for artists interested in research, cross-cultural exchange, urban studies, architecture, media practices, performance, and interdisciplinary work. The combination of financial support and institutional infrastructure allows residents to focus on developing a project while building relationships within Tokyo’s creative ecosystem.

For artists seeking an international residency experience in one of the world’s most dynamic cultural centers, TOKAS remains one of the strongest opportunities currently accepting applications.

Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official TOKAS application system before:

June 16, 2026, 18:00 JST

Official Application Page: https://www.tokyoartsandspace.jp/en/archive/application/2026/20260430-317.html

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