2025-01-07

The purpose of Artist in Residence project is to host and support artists etc. from domestic and overseas who conduct creative activities while residing at the Niigata City Center for Creative Arts and International Youth Exchange （YUI – PORT）, to create an environment where creative-rich human resources can easily gather, to transmit the charm of Niigata City to domestic and overseas, to inspire regional pride and affection by rediscovering the attractions of nature, history and culture of this region through the interaction of citizens and artists etc.

Applications are now open for artists to participate in the YUIPORT Artist-in-Residence ‘Autonomous Activity Program 2025 Summer’ and ‘Invitation Program 2025 Autumn’.
For more information about the open call, please make sure to read the application requirements.
We look forward to your application.


DETAIL of OPEN CALL

1. Purpose of the Project
The purpose of Artist in Residence project is to host and support artists etc. from domestic and overseas who conduct creative activities while residing at the Niigata City Center for Creative Arts and International Youth Exchange （YUI – PORT）, to create an environment where creative-rich human resources can easily gather, to transmit the charm of Niigata City to domestic and overseas, to inspire regional pride and affection by rediscovering the attractions of nature, history and culture of this region through the interaction of citizens and artists etc.

2. Features of the Program
YUI – PORT is a refurbished former junior high school facility. It is a complex facility to conduct two activities, “experience based activities for youth” and “cultural and artistic activities”. The location is near the central urban area of Niigata City and located in an environment facing the Sea of Japan and the pine forest. It is possible for artists etc. residing in the facility to conduct higher creative activities while being inspired by Niigata City's natural, historical and cultural charm.
Artist etc. residing in the facility will open their creative process to the public and through workshops and research, it is possible to nurture relationships with citizens and youth and lead to diverse creative developments. Also, by artists etc. residing at the same time period interacting with each other, it leads to create new area by fusing different kind of fields.

3. Program Outline
■Autonomous Activity Program 2025 Summer
Number of Applicants Invited: 2 people (or groups)
Duration of Stay: Within 30 days from July 9, 2025 (Wednesday) to August 19, 2025 (Tuesday)

■Invitation Program 2025 Autun
Number of Applicants Invited: 2 people (or groups)
Duration of Stay: Within 90 days from September 1, 2025 (Monday) to November 30, 2025 (Sunday)

4. Qualifications
・Currently active artist (genre does not matter).
・Participate in the citizen exchange project at least once in cooperation with Designated Administrator.
・Reside and conduct creative activities in YUI – PORT.
・Able to communicate in either Japanese or English.
・In good health condition.

5. Details of Invitation
Artist etc. and Designated Administrator shall carry out the program by concluding a contract which includes the following contents. The invitation is based on the principle that artists participate in the program by themselves. Their families and production assistants are not allowed to accompany or stay. It is possible for more than one person, such as a group, to apply, but in that case, the support will be for 1 person (1 room).
*The support/invitation contents differ between the ‘Autonomous Activity Program'and the ‘Invitation Program'. Please make sure to check the application requirements.


6. How to Apply
Please download the designated application form from below, fill in the necessary information and apply by e-mail [yuiportair-apply@kirameki.co.jp].

＜Subject＞
■Autonomous Activity Program Applicants：AIR 2025 Summer Application
■Invitation Program Applicants：AIR 2025 Autumn Application

＜Documents to be submitted＞
(a) Application form
(b) One photograph of your face taken within the last 6 months (Only the photograph of the representative is required, please attach the photograph to the application form)
(c) Work Materials （Work Materials shall be attached or described in the column “7. Material of Your Work” in the Application form.）
　①Up to 3 images of works
　At least one item must be submitted and the data capacity of each work image must be less than 1MB.
　②Up to 3 video works (Optional)
　Upload the video files to YouTube, Vimeo, or other video streaming platform and attach the URL. The total length of the videos shall be within 10 minutes.

*Please keep the application form within 6 pages of A4 size.
*Applicants who do not use the specified size, format, or method may not be eligible for selection.
*Please note that, in principle, the submitted application documents will not be returned.
*Handling of personal information: We will never use the submitted application documents for purposes other than the YUI – PORT project.

7. Period of Accepting Application
January 7, 2025 (Tuesday) – February 7, 2025 (Friday) 23:59 JST [No Later Than]
*Applications outside this period will not be accepted.

8. Selection and Result
The selection committee selects and decides based on the submitted materials. All applicants will be notified by e-mail by early May 2025 (planned schedule). Please note that we do not accept individual inquiries regarding the selection process and results.

＜Selection Committee *Planned＞ (in Japanese syllabary order)
Torao Osawa (Co-founder, CEO and Senior Consultant, Institute for Culture Commons)
Hiroyuki Ogawa (Deputy Director and General Director, YUI-PORT)
Yoshihiko Tanji (Professor, Artistic Environment Course, Faculty of Education, Niigata University)
Hiroshi Fuji (Professor, Akita University of Art/ Artist)
Yuji Maeyama (Executive Director, Niigata City Art Museum)

9. Application / Inquiries
Please contact us by e-mail if you have any questions regarding application during the period of accepting application.

YUI - PORT Niigata City Center for Creative Arts and International Youth Exchange
Artist-in-Residence Project
2-5932-7, Futaba-cho, Chuo-ku Niigata City Niigata Pref., Japan 951-8102
E-mail: yuiportair-apply@kirameki.co.jp WEB: https://www.yui-port.com/
Designated Administrator: KIRAMEKI CORPORATION

*These projects are based on the draft budget for fiscal 2025. Please note in advance before applying that there may be changes to the content, including cancellation, depending on the status of budget deliberations.


DOWNLOAD OPEN CALL DOCUMENTS

■Autonomous Activity Program 2025 Summer
　Application Requirements　［PDF］［Word］
　Application Form 　［PDF］［Word］

■Invitation Program 2025 Autumn
　Application Requirements　［PDF］［Word］
　Application Form 　［PDF］［Word］

Details for Open Recruitment of Artists