Artist in Residence Program in Fukuoka, Japan

Studio Kura’s Artist in Residence Program is a chance for domestic and international artists to experience and draw inspiration from Japan’s rural environment, as well as for Studio Kura’s thriving local community to meet different artists and their works.
Staying period are usually four, eight or twelve weeks long, and the participating artists are required to present an exhibition in the end of their stay at Studio Kura. Artists who are interested in having a workshop to children and the Studio Kura’s community, we are welcome to help and organize.
Our artist in residency program is open anytime. Please apply through our application form.

Contents:

Studio and accommodation

Studio Kura provides artists with residential facilities and bicycles during their staying period. Accommodation consists on three traditional Japanese rural houses, each house can be shared by up to three to four artists.
Each artist is provided a private single room. Common room, bathroom, toilet and kitchen facilities are shared with other residence artists and there is internet WiFi connection in each house. One partitioned studio space is offered to the artists as working space as well as exhibition space. There are enough restaurants and stores for daily needs at bicycle distance. A 25 minutes walk to the nearest train station, Ikisan.
Artists are welcome to visit our office to work and ask any needs, located in 3-10 minutes distance from the residence house 1 and 2, and 20 minutes distance from the residence house 3. They will be able to meet a number of people during the period.

Commonly scheduled activities

Around the first week of the month, we will have a welcome dinner party and a presentation night to introduce and know each other, we also plan to take the artists on a tour around Itoshima in week two or three.
On the last weekend before they leave, artists will have their own exhibitions. An opening party and artist talk is normally scheduled at 15:30 on Saturday.

Fees and expenses

The artist will pay 100,000 JPY for each period of 4 weeks of stay. This means for an eight-week slot you will need to pay 200,000 JPY and an twelve-week slot will be 300,000 JPY.
We need the artist to make a deposit of 20,000 JPY for each 4 week slot once he or she is accepted and a slot is chosen (This means that your deposit payment for 8 week slots will be 40,000 yen). The rest of the payment for their stay can be paid in cash upon arrival. For example, if you were going to stay for four weeks with us you would need to pay 20,000 JPY through PayPal as soon as we decided on the date for your residence, and 80,000 JPY once you arrived to Studio Kura. You would pay 100,000 JPY in total.
*Please note that any daily expenses including food and transport, daily consuming items and art supply are not covered in our residence fee.
We do not have our own funding program, so artists are encouraged to apply for funding in their own countries. We are pleased to help providing an invitation letter and any information to accepted artists.

Residence slots for 2024

We are offering a number of twelve, eight and four-week slots for the year 2024. The duration of each slot is 4 week stay within the month you choose. To have exhibitions by all residence artists together each month, we ask participating artists to follow the plan. If you have any inquires regarding staying period, please let us know when you apply or beforehand.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  × 
Legend

  ○   open slot
  ×   occupied slot



NEWS:
We started another new AIR program in Takeo city, Saga prefecture, Kyushu!
You can try one slot at Studio Kura, one slot at ARTS ITOYA if you wish!

Residence slots for 2025

We are offering a number of twelve, eight and four-week slots for the year 2025. The duration of each slot is 4 week stay within the month you choose. To have exhibitions by all residence artists together each month, we ask participating artists to follow the plan. If you have any inquires regarding staying period, please let us know when you apply or beforehand.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ×  ○  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ×  ○  ×  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ×  ×  ×  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ○  ×  ×  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ×  ×  ×  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ×  ×  ○  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ×  ×  ×  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ○  ○  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ×  ×  ×  ○ 
×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ×  ○  ○  ×  ○  ○ 
Legend

  ○   open slot
  ×   occupied slot


The installations

Studio Kura Gallery (Kura #1)
Kura #1 — gallery
What kind of exhibition, installation or performance would you do here?
Kids’ art studio (Kura #2)
Kura #2 — studio
You will find children taking art classes here on weekends.
Painting class
Painting class
Meet local aspiring artists!
Studio Kura Gallery2 (old japanese house)

Office


Residence House #1


Two-story building with kitchen, bathroom, toilet with internet access and washing machine.
Studio / gallery at Residence House #1

The garage at the residence house is reformed and used as a studio or gallery.
Residence House #2

Two-story building with kitchen, bathroom, toilet with internet access and washing machine.
Studios at Residence House #2

 

4 ateliers available at Residence House #2
Residence House #3

Two-story building with kitchen, bathroom, toilet with internet access and washing machine.

Sauna

Sauna is located on the hill behind Studio Kura. Every Sunday morning is sauna day!

Egg Dome Studio

Fablab Itoshima

Artists can use a variety of digital fabrication tools to create works, including ShopBot, laser cutters, and 3D printers.

Inari Shrine

A very local Shinto shrine that doesn’t get as much use as in should. Please use it to rehearse performances, or tell us any idea you come up with.


Art workshops with children

Art workshops with children

Experience creating with Japanese children!