Aranya Winter Residency 2026-2027

About this call

Aranya Art Center, with Aranya Jin Shan Ling, invites artists from around the world to its Winter Residency 2026-2027 in the Aranya Jin Shan Ling community in Chengde, Hebei Province, China, a valley among mountains and the Great Wall about a 2.5-hour drive from Beijing Capital International Airport. Residents engage with the landscape, the seasons and the local community, and are encouraged to create public artworks for outdoor display in the community for a suggested period of two to four months; artists keep ownership and copyright of their works. The program provides free studio and exhibition space, free accommodation, a free shuttle between Beijing and the community, a production budget of approximately USD 1,000 subject to approval of the project proposal, exchange programs and studio visits from curators, writers and other professionals in the Chinese contemporary art scene. Artists pay their own travel to and from Beijing. French nationals residing in France and artists from Indonesia who are shortlisted are automatically considered for external funding for travel and production.

Who can apply

• Open to applicants of any nationality
• Medium: Installation / Sculpture / Mixed Media
• Entry fee: See official site
• Open to artists from all countries, regions and backgrounds with at least 3 years of contemporary art practice, an independent artistic voice and a portfolio. All mediums welcome. Residency periods: December 2026, January 2027 or March 2027; artists are expected to spend at least 80% of the residency period on site, with arrival and departure dates arranged individually. Apply by email to artcenter@aranya.cc with CV, portrait photo (under 1MB), portfolio (under 30MB), a residency project proposal (text, or text and images, explaining the initial concept including materials, space and collaborative requirements) and any additional supporting materials; subject line "Aranya Winter Residency / Applicant's Name / Preferred Residency Dates". Artists cover their own domestic and international travel to and from Beijing. Residents are asked to follow the Aranya community guidelines, may be asked to take part in occasional video documentation of their working process, and are invited to share their work with the community through open studios, exhibitions, performances, workshops or talks. Artists of any nationality may apply; separately, external funding for travel and production is available to French nationals who reside in France and to artists from Indonesia, who should mention this in the application email and are then automatically considered for it if shortlisted.