The trans_2013-2014 Residence Support Program at Japan's Akiyoshidai International Art Village announces a call for artists under 40 yrs, for a 2 month residency in winter 2014, working on the theme 'The features of this land'.  This call is open to all artists, performers, musicians, choreographers and any creative individuals in all genres.

Theme: The features of this land

The prefix ‘trans’ means to go beyond, get across, cross, exchange, change and convert.
The Residence Support Program provides a time and place for artists to experience new encounters and carry out experiments to guide their future projects. Participating artists are expected to bring new ideas to the local culture and people while they, in turn, will hopefully acquire new perspectives through these fresh encounters. As a result of the residence program, the artists will convey their new experiences, gathered from the local lifestyle and our particular geographic situation, to their next destination. We hope that the residence program at Akiyoshidai International Art Village becomes a space for artists to go beyond cultural borders and expand their outlooks, exchange their unique understandings and establish relationships with fellow artists.

Residency period
19 January (Sun) – 14 March (Fri), 2014 [55 days]

Numbers of artists accepted
(1) 3 artists (2 of non-Japanese, 1 of Japanese) , under 40 years old.
(2) Artists who work on the theme above.
(3) Groups of 2 artists may apply, but no larger.

Eligibility
Artists who must be able:
(1) to stay at AIAV during the designated period of time.
(2) to participate in all pubic programs, e.g. open studio, presentations and talks and to create new work.
(3) to participate in the exchange programs for local community, e.g. talks, lectures and outreach programs.
(4) to provide images and documentations, e.g. pictures and videos, for publicity and archiving in accordance with AIAV’s request.
(5) to take part in educational programs at local schools and universities in English or Japanese.
(6) to work and live independently.
(7) to present the results of the residence program, e.g. exhibitions, reviews or talks outside Japan within a year after the program.

Support
(1) Travel expenses: a round trip from your address to AIAV
(A round trip tickets for international flights, domestic flights and/or domestic railway tickets)
(2) Accommodation at AIAV (single room with own bath and toilet)
(3) Studio (the allocation of studios is decided by AIAV: artists may have to share with others)
(4) Production expenses: 200,000 yen
(5) Per diem: 2,800 yen x days of the program

Deadline
Applications must be received by July 31 2013

For details of previous residency artists and how to apply, see website

Akiyoshidai International Art Village (AIAV), designed by the architect Arata Isozaki, was founded in 1998 with the aim of providing a platform for artists in residence as well as for a variety of art forms and cultural activities. AIAV’s main hall has a capacity of 300 and its residence hall can house 100, and the village also features a restaurant, seminar room, studios, gallery and café.

AIAV is located far away from the noise of everyday city life and is surrounded by natural resources. Isozaki himself referred to it as an “archipelago”, and it consists of many different facilities. The term ‘village’ suggests that AIAV is not a single giant building but rather a collective of small neighboring buildings reminiscent of a traditional Japanese village. Unlike its natural surroundings, which forms are continuously changing, the square formed architecture is rigorously composed and this particular juxtaposition makes the whole scape of AIAV picturesque.