▶Program Concept
▶Residency Period & Activities
▶Number of Participants
▶Eligibility
▶Support Provided
▶Application Process
▶Selection Schedule
▶Information
 
 

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［Program Concept］

This program focuses on the following themes:

•  What effect does mobility have on the transformation of local cultures, folk arts, and lifestyles?

•  How can the encounter of different cultures bring about potential conflicts and new forms of dialogue?

•  How can we archive cultural mobility and transformation?

•  What are new key concepts that can be proposed to extend these conversations? We hope that artists will raise new questions from their own unique perspectives, against the multicultural backdrop of the Shin-Nagata area.

 

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[Residency Period & Activities]

Residency Period: November 2 – November 30, 2026

A residence period of about one month will be scheduled around these dates, in mutual agreement with the selected artist.

Activities:

□ Artists will conduct research and creation over an approximately one month period
□ The artist’s development through the residency will be shared in a format of their choosing, such as a zine, performance, installation, video exhibition, event, or an artist talk.
□ Artists may present past works, given the proposed piece aligns with the residency’s theme and concept.

Activity Locations:

Artists will have access to local studios and other facilities, according to your application plan.

 

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[Number of Participants］

1 artist

We accept applications from artists working in the field of performing arts. Researchers whose work relates to performing arts may also be eligible, given their research theme aligns with the residency’s theme and concept.

 

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［Eligibility］

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Resides outside of Japan and holds a non-Japanese nationality

2. Able to conduct at least one workshop for local residents during the residency

3. Able to independently plan and carry out the project during the residency period

4. Is in good physical and mental health

5. Able to obtain personal insurance for the duration of the residency

6. Able to maintain friendly and respectful relationships with neighbors, other resident artists, and local communities

7. Agrees to and signs an agreement form, outlining the residency regulations related to living and working in Shin-Nagata

 

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［Support Provided］

1.  Round-trip airfare (up to 200,000 JPY), accommodation, round-trip transportation between Kansai International Airport and the residence, and a daily allowance of 5,000 JPY

2. A venue and staff support for the final presentation

3. Material costs for research, creation, performance, or exhibition (up to 100,000 JPY; reimbursed based on actual expenses)

4. Access to community centers, studios, or other spaces suited to the project

5. Free access to DANCE BOX dance classes and performances

 

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[Application Process]

Application Period: June 8 – July 3, 2026

How to Apply: Submit all materials via Google Form.
https://forms.gle/5vGASnjWUFDvyuvP8

Required Information (Google Form): 　

【Personal Information】

Name, affiliation, date of birth, address, phone number, email, website

Links to video documentation of past works (web-hosted links only)

【Application Questions】

1.  Have you previously participated in artist-in-residence programs? If so, list the program names.

2. Are you able to obtain funding or grants from your home country or elsewhere for this project?

3. How did you learn about this program?

【Project Proposal】

1. Residency project plan (up to 250 words)

2. Proposed form of final output (up to 250 words)

3. Distinctive features of your residency plan (up to 200 words)

4. Artist profile (up to 350 words)

5. Up to 3 profile/activity photos (max 2MB each)

 

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［Selection Schedule］

July 3: Application Deadline
A confirmation email will be sent upon completion of your application. Please contact us if you do not receive notice within 3 days.

By July 13: Notification of document screening results

July 15–17: Online interviews with shortlisted applicants

By July 24: Final results announced

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［Information］

About DANCE BOX

NPO DANCE BOX is an arts organization that is based in ArtTheater dB KOBE, a venue we manage in Shin-Nagata, Kobe city. We develop a wide range of programs centered on contemporary dance, including performances, workshops, artist development, children’s programs, international exchange, and community-based projects. We also coordinate dance-related projects across Japan by connecting artists with regional initiatives.

About Shin-Nagata

Shin-Nagata, the home of NPO DANCE BOX, is located in the southern part of Nagata Ward, Kobe City. The area is surrounded by both mountains and the sea, with Nagata Port, an active fishing port to the south, and Mount Takatori to the north.

Nagata Ward has long supported Kobe’s economy as a center of heavy industry and as a hub for local manufacturers, known for products such as matches, rubber, and chemical shoes.

Shin-Nagata was a mixed-use “downtown” area, with chemical factories, wholesale stores, as well as the wooden housing and tenements where the workers resided, as well as shopping streets.

Currently, with a population of just over 90,000, the Shin-Nagata area is rapidly aging. Furthermore, the number of vacant houses and empty lots is increasing, posing a challenge for the region. The area suffered significant damage in the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.

Shin-Nagata is also known historically as an area with a large immigrant population, which since the early days modernization have seen an influx of immigrants from Amami, the Korean Peninsula, Vietnam, Nepal, and other regions.

 

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[Organizer & Support]

Organizer: NPO DANCE BOX

Support: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan FY2026 Artist-in-Residence Community Collaboration Support Program