The programme supports research visits to Japan for those who are destined to play an important role on the international stage of the arts from the stage.

Support

• The Saison Artist in Residence guest researcher offers the following support:
  • Research residency for artists
    • The residence of research for Artists offers artistic development opportunities to conduct research and spend time networking with artists and arts managers in Japan for artists who wish to create new works involving arts and culture in Japan and/or who wish to carry out collaborative projects with artists and arts managers in Japan. Fellows may conduct research with a base at Morishita Studio.
  • Research residency for arts managers
    • La residence Research Fellowship for Arts Managers provides artistic development opportunities to research contemporary performing arts and spend time networking with artists and arts managers in Japan for arts managers who wish to initiate international projects with the contemporary theatre and dance communities in Japan. Fellows may conduct research with a base at Morishita Studio.

Cost covered

• Research residency for artists
  • The Foundation Season can help coordinate meetings and interviews, and provide additional research support. Accommodation and studio costs at Morishita Studio will be covered by the foundation as part of the residency support.
    • Depending on funding and contributions from other sources, applicants under the age of 45 who wish to stay in Japan for more than 20 days up to 35 days between 28 November and 24 December 2024 or between 23 January and 25 March 2025 may apply for a grant from the Saison Foundation. The grant will be awarded to one artist, including a return economy class ticket and/or living expenses (5,000 yen per day) and/or research and activity expenses (up to 5,000 yen per day), with a total upper limit of 500,000 yen.
    • You must take out travel insurance at your own expense to cover medical expenses in the event of accident, injury or illness, as well as civil liability for personal injury or damage to property during your stay in Japan.
• Research residency for arts managers
  • The Saison Foundation can help coordinate meetings and interviews, and provide additional research support. The cost of accommodation at the Morishita Studio will be covered by the Foundation as part of its support for the residency.
    • Depending on funding and contributions from other sources, applicants who wish to stay in Japan for more than 20 days up to 35 days between 28 November and 24 December 2024 or between 23 January and 25 March 2025, may apply for a grant from the Saison Foundation. The grant will be awarded to an artistic director, including a return economy class ticket and/or living expenses (5,000 yen per day) and/or research and activity expenses (up to 5,000 yen per day), with a total limit of 500,000 yen.
    • You must take out travel insurance at your own expense to cover medical expenses in the event of accident, injury or illness, as well as civil liability for personal injury or damage to property during your stay in Japan.

Expectations

• Research residency for artists/Research residency for arts managers
  • Grant holders must
    • give a talk or presentation on their country's art scene and their work
    • submit a report on the research visit
    • demonstrate the results of the research visit in the year following the visit, for example by organising events, conferences or publications in a language other than Japanese

Eligibility criteria

• Research residency for artists
  • The programme is open to individual artists, i.e. playwrights, directors and choreographers,
    • who are based outside Japan and wish to come to Japan as a visitor
    • are able to communicate in English or Japanese
    • who can stay in Japan for more than 20 days up to 35 days between 28 November and 24 December 2024 or between 23 January and 25 March 2025
      • The main purpose of the visit must be research into arts and culture in Japan; consequently, artists whose main aim is to present and/or promote a specific performance piece during the residency are not eligible.
      • Groups of artists are not eligible.
      • A person or organisation in Japan that plans to invite artists can also apply to the programme, but it is necessary to obtain the guest's consent.
• Research residency for arts managers
  • The programme is open to individual arts managers, i.e. producers, programme directors and curators,
    • who are based outside Japan and wish to come to Japan as a visitor
    • are able to communicate in English or Japanese
    • involved in international exchange projects
    • who can stay in Japan for more than 20 days up to 35 days between 28 November and 24 December 2024 or between 23 January and 25 March 2025
      • The main purpose of the visit must be to research the performing arts scene in Japan; therefore, arts managers with the aim of producing or presenting a specific work during the residency are not eligible.
      • A person or organisation in Japan that plans to invite the arts director may also apply to the programme, but it is necessary to obtain the guest's consent.

For more information, please visit the Saison Foundation.