Call for a studio artist

photo: yurika kono

1. Overview

Aomori Contemporary Art Centre (ACAC) is an art facility that offers artist lodgings, production studios, and 2 gallery spaces. Numerous artists from Japan and abroad have stayed at ACAC to create and exhibit their works.

There are 3 frameworks through which artists can come to ACAC to engage in creative activities. The ‘Open-call Artist in Residence (AIR)’ programme is offered once per year, and provides full support over a maximum 3-month-long residency. The second framework is the ‘Invitation-based AIR’, in which artists are nominated by curators. Finally, we offer a ‘Paid residency’, in which artists cover their own living and production expenses and stay at ACAC for up to 1 month. And this year, on a trial basis, we are implementing the ‘Studio artist open call’ as a 4th framework.

For this open call, we are inviting artists with a connection to Aomori to stay at ACAC and engage in creative activities for a period of 6 to 9 months. This programme is not intended for short-term, intensive activities for the purpose of holding exhibitions or other presentations of finished works. Rather, by offering a space to engage with the creative process – including various trials and errors – over a longer period of time, the purpose of this framework is to give artists who have previous experience creating and exhibiting their work the opportunity to further develop their artistic expression in Aomori.

We look forward to receiving many applications.

photo: yurika kono

2. Eligibility and Application Requirements

– Individual artist with a connection to Aomori
For the purposes of this open call, a ‘connection to Aomori’ is defined as: 1) someone who was born/raised in Aomori; 2) someone who currently resides in Aomori; 3) someone who resided in Aomori for a cumulative total of at least 1 year in the past; 4) someone who engaged in a cumulative total of at least 1 year’s worth of creative activities in Aomori in the past. If any one of the above definitions applies to you, you are eligible to apply under this framework.
– There are no restrictions regarding age or expressive genre.
– You must be able to conduct a residency at ACAC for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 9 months during the period between June 15, 2026 and March 31, 2027.
* Please provide advance notice if you will be unable to engage in your residency in person at ACAC for 2 consecutive weeks or longer at any point during the residency period.
– You must be able to conduct at least one public event during your residency.
* This can take the form of a talk, an open studio, a workshop, or any other format you choose.
– The schedule for this event will be determined in advance upon due consultation with ACAC staff. ACAC will provide the venue free of charge. Responsibilities for event management and cleanup will be shared between the artist and ACAC staff.
– You must submit a report (any format) to ACAC within 2 months following the completion of your residency.
– You will not be required to complete or present your artwork during your residency.
– Number of Participants: 1

3. Support Details

-1 single room in the Residential Hall will be provided free of charge.
* Each single room is a private room furnished with a bed and toilet. The Residential Hall contains 10 single rooms, and other artists may be lodging there during your stay. The dining room, kitchen, and bathing facilities are shared.
– Use of the Creative Hall facilities will be provided free of charge.
– 300,000 JPY (tax included) for production expenses will be provided.
– Support from ACAC curatorial and technical staff will be provided.
– Accident insurance coverage during your participation in this programme will be provided.
– ACAC will not, in principle, provide personal transportation to/from the facility.

4. Application Procedure

Please apply using the following application form.
Application documents and attached materials must be submitted through the application form no later than17:00 JST (UTC +9:00) on May 15 (Fri.), 2026.
Your submitted application and attached materials will be reviewed by ACAC’s curatorial team.

Application form link

*When applying, please read the notes on the application form carefully.
*A confirmation message will be displayed once the application form has been successfully submitted. A copy of your completed form will be sent by email to the address you entered on the form. If you do not receive an email, please check your spam folder before contacting us.
*If you are unable to submit the application through Google Forms, please contact us through the Inquiry form on the ACAC website (https://acac-aomori.jp/inquiry/).

5. Notification Schedule

May 15 (Fri.) at 17:00 JST (UTC +9:00): Application deadline          
Around June 10 (Wed.): Notification of results                                                           
June 15 (Mon.): Admission period begins                                                          

6. Online Information Session

We will hold an information session for those who are considering applying to the programme. After explaining the programme contents, application procedure, and the creative environment at ACAC, we will take any questions you may have. It is conducted only in Japanese.

Date and time: April 18 (Sat.) from 17:00 (Session length: Approximately 1 hour)
Please register using the following form.
Registration form

7. Facilities Tour

We also offer tours of the ACAC facilities for those who are considering applying to the programme. The tours will centre on the Creative Hall and the Residential Hall. Please contact us through the Inquiry form on the ACAC website (https://acac-aomori.jp/inquiry/).

8. Contact and Inquiries

For inquiries regarding application to this programme, please contact us using the Inquiry form on the ACAC website (https://acac-aomori.jp/inquiry/) . Please note that we are unable to respond to inquiries by telephone.

★ Additional information

Please see the following for details on ACAC’s facilities.
– General information (website): https://acac-aomori.jp/guide/
– Facility tour video: https://youtu.be/mKQTOi7Sadc?si=PgJTWNpDh2XV6M7h

photo: yurika kono