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Open Calls · Japan

Open Calls for Artists in Japan

Residencies, grants, exhibitions, and competitions across Japan. Curated and updated weekly.

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Later this season7

International·Nakanojo Town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan·Free entry

11th Nakanojo Biennale 2027 – International Open Call

Production grant (amount not specified), free exhibition and residency fees, access to multiple venues across town, potential accommodation from April 2027.

The 11th Nakanojo Biennale 2027 invites international and Japanese artists and artist groups to exhibit and reside in the five rural districts of Nakanojo Town, Gunma Prefecture. The festival runs September 18 to October 24, 2027, over 37 days. Selected artists receive a production grant, free venue access, and institutional support; participants cover their own travel, food, and installation costs. Priority is given to artists who can stay during the preparation phase from April 2027.

International·Kyoto, Japan·Entry fee $95

The Kyoto Retreat

Round-trip airfare to Kyoto (KIX); 4-week accommodation Nov 1-30, 2026; $800 USD meals and transport allowance

The Kyoto Retreat is a four-week international residency program founded by independent curator Dexter Wimberly, offering artists, curators, and writers from around the world the opportunity to immerse themselves in Kyoto, Japan. The 2026 program runs from November 1 through November 30 and provides participants with a roundtrip flight to Kansai International Airport, a private bedroom in a shared house, and $800 USD for meals and local transportation. The program is open to visual artists across all media, writers, curators, and interdisciplinary practitioners over the age of 21 from any country. Residents are encouraged to engage with Kyoto's rich cultural landscape including temples, shrines, artisan workshops, and galleries for research, exploration, and creative renewal. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by September 1, 2026.

International·Kyoto, Japan, Japan·Entry fee $95

The Kyoto Retreat 2026

Round-trip Airfare, 4 Weeks Accommodation, $800 USD Stipend

A non-production-based residency designed for inspiration, rest, and reflection. Visual artists, curators, and writers from anywhere in the world are eligible to apply for a one-month stay in a private house in Kyoto during November 2026. The program covers round-trip airfare, accommodation, and a living stipend, focusing on research and immersion in Japanese culture rather than a final exhibition.

The Kyoto Retreat 2026

International·Itami, Japan, Japan·Free entry

2026 ITAMI International Craft Exhibition – "Sake Ware"

¥500,000 Grand Prize, ¥250,000 Quasi-Grand Prize, ¥100,000 Excellence Award

A prestigious international triennial craft competition hosted by Itami City Museum of Art. The 2026 edition focuses on "Shuki Shuhaidai" (sake ware), inviting artists worldwide to submit original functional or conceptual drinking vessels. Selected works are exhibited at the museum and judged based on the physical originals.

2026 ITAMI International Craft Exhibition

International·Japan / Europe, Japan·Free entry

EU-Japan Mobility Support 2026 – Travel Grant for Artistic Exchange

Financial support from JPY 50,000 to JPY 150,000 covering travel expenses and project mobility costs for artistic exchange between Japan and Europe.

The EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee offers travel grants to artists, curators, designers, cultural organizers, and researchers involved in Japan-Europe cultural exchange projects. Grants range from JPY 50,000 to JPY 150,000, covering travel expenses for project mobility, research visits, or attendance at cultural events. Applicants connected to European Capital of Culture programmes are especially encouraged. Applications must be submitted at least six weeks before planned travel. Both emerging and established practitioners at any career stage are eligible.

EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee

International·Tottori Prefecture, Japan·Free entry

15th Annual Manga Kingdom Tottori International Comic Art Contest 2026

Grand Prize: JPY 500,000; Merit Awards (2): JPY 100,000 each; Selection Committee Awards (3): JPY 50,000 each; U-15 Youth Prize: approx. JPY 30,000. Exhibition and potential invitation to award ceremony in Japan.

The 15th Annual Manga Kingdom Tottori International Comic Art Contest welcomes artists of all ages and nationalities to submit original manga on the theme 'Clothes.' Submissions can be one-frame manga, four-frame manga (1–8 pages), or longer manga stories (4–24 pages). A special U-15 category exists for young participants aged 15 and under. Winning works will be exhibited in Japan, and winners receive certificates, prizes in JPY, and potential invitations to the award ceremony in Tottori Prefecture.

Tottori Prefectural Government

International·Onishi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan·Entry fee $2750

Shiro Oni Studio Artist Residency 2026

Participation fee USD $2,750; includes private bedroom, utilities, 24/7 studio access, woodshop, ceramics facilities, local transport, translation support (6 weeks)

Shiro Oni Studio offers six-week artist residencies in the rural town of Onishi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, with a population of approximately 5,000. Each session accommodates nine artists working alongside full-time artists, graduate students, and university professors. The studio provides private accommodation, 24/7 studio access, woodshop and ceramic facilities, and logistical support. Artists are required to attend community meetings, participate in exhibitions, and donate one artwork to the studio. Applicants must be aged 25 or older and proficient in English or Japanese. Interviews for 2026 applicants begin in August and there is no formal deadline.

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