ARCUS Project Ibaraki Artist-in-Residence Program





Contact Details	ARCUS Project Administration Committee Area Planning Division, Department of Planning, Ibaraki Prefecture 978-6 Kasahara-cho, Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture 310-8555 Japan TEL. + 81-29-301-2735 / FAX. + 81-29-301-2739 ARCUS Studio 2418 Itatoi, Moriya, Ibaraki Prefecture 302-0101Japan TEL & FAX: + 81-297-46-2600
	E MAIL	arcus@arcus-project.com
	URL	http://www.arcus-project.com/
Contact	ARCUS Studio for program details

Administrative Organization

ARCUS Project Administration Committee

Administrative Body

Ibaraki Prefecture

Supervising Division

Area Planning Division, Department of Planning, Ibaraki Prefecture

Facility Name

ARCUS Studio

Facility Address

2418 Itatoi, Moriya, Ibaraki Prefecture 302-0101

Facility Description

The studio building is located in the city of Moriya, a suburban city that is approximately 40km from Tokyo. Surrounded by rivers on three sides, the area is rich with nature. The city is undergoing a rapid development and its population increasing, due to the new train service, “Tsukuba Express,” which was inaugurated in 2005. Now with the convenient access to Tokyo, the area is expected to undergo further urbanization in the next several years.

Studios, which are converted classrooms, are housed in a former elementary school building

•	Studio: maximum 5 rooms (67.5 sq. m. each), equipped with Internet access and air conditioning
•	Office and meeting room: 1 room (Area 67.5 sq. m.)
•	Accommodation: studio apartments are rented by ARCUS to provide accommodation to resident artists.

Access

By train:
1) Take the Tsukuba Express from “Akihabara” station in Tokyo and get off at “Moriya” station (approximately 32 minutes. by rapid train); from the west exit bus terminal, take Kantetsu bus bound for “Shin Moriya Station” and get off at “Moriya Koukou Iriguchi (Moriya High School Entrance).”
Alternatively, take Yamayuri-go bus of Hakujusou / Itatoi Route departing from Yamayuri-go bus terminal and get off at “Moriya Koukou Mae (Moriya High School).” The facility is approximately 5-minute walk from both bus stops.
2) Take the JR Joban Express from “Ueno” Station and get off at “Toride” station (approximately 40 minutes); transfer to Kanto Railway Joso Line and get off at “Shin-Moriya” station (approximately 20 minutes); take a taxi from “Shin-Moriya” station(approximately 5 minutes)

By bus:

Take the Kanto Railways/JR Bus Kanto highway bus from Platform 3 of the Highway Bus Terminal at Yaesu South Exit, JR “Tokyo” station and get off at “Matsumaedai” bus stop; walk for 15 minutes -walk from “Matsumaedai” bus stop; it takes approximately 1 hour from Tokyo station.

History

In 1991, Ibaraki Prefecture asked Hirayama Ikuo, then the President of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, to act as committee chairman for a study committee to investigate potentiality for establishing a new international facility for art and culture for which Ibaraki Prefecture would take advantage of its superior property.
In 1992, a committee was established to present the ARCUS Project proposal to the prefectural government. The proposal made recommendations for the government to establish a center for artistic and creative activities, so that it can provide a gateway that connects Japan and the world.
In 1994, Pre-Program was held and invited 2 artists for a short-term residency.
In 1995, ARCUS Project Pilot Program was initiated for a five-year trial period. The Program was designed with the artist-in-residence program at its core.

In 2000, following the successful outcome of the five-year trial program, the prefecture officially inaugurated the ARCUS Project.

Year of Commencement

1995

Program Objectives

ARCUS Project aims to serve two purposes. The first is to provide opportunities to young and mid-career visual artists to develop their artistic concepts and skills in a community setting, and facilitate them with an environment for cultural exchange at professional level and community level. The second is to provide the local residents an opportunity to appreciate art in their community and to nurture grounds for multicultural experiences.

Program Activities

(1)

Artist-in-residence program and Open Studio
This program invites young emerging artists in Japan and overseas, and provides support for their creative activities. The artists are provided with an environment that encourages them to carry out independent projects (research, concept development, production, presentation of artworks, etc.) during their stay. Outcomes of artists’ activities during their residency are presented to the public during the Open Studio.
ARCUS in the Community Project: ARCUS Café Project
This year-round program is designed to enhance exchange and communication among those who create art (artists), assist and participate in the process of creation (volunteers = ARCUS Friends), and appreciate art (audience/ general public). Artist talks and seminars on the subject of art and hands-on workshops are some of the programs that are offered to meet this objective. Examples of this Project are as follows:
-Communication Program(CP)
Hands-on workshops to create artworks from using everyday materials.

(2)

-Art Seminar (AS)
Artist talks by resident artists and guest speakers are offered to discuss the process of making art.
-Hibino Hospital (H+H)
A series of workshop program by Katsuhiko Hibino. It is a series that was initiated in 1999.
-ARCUS Friends Seminar (AF)
Training program for volunteers (=ARCUS Friends).

Focus Area(s)

Contemporary art (visual arts and related areas)

Residency Period

Late August – mid-December
*The artists’ individual residency period is maximum 4 months and determined by the ARCUS Project Administration Committee. The artists must be in residence for the Open Studio, usually held in November and/or December.

Number of
Resident Artists

4-6 artists, including 1 Japanese artist.

Conditions

The Applicant should:
•	be an artist engaged in contemporary visual arts activities
•	have legal permission to enter Japan
•	be in a state of good health and able to carry out daily activities on their own
•	have enough English skill to communicate with administration staff and local community
•	be in their late twenties or thirties (students in undergraduate or graduate schools at the time of application and/or during the residency are not eligible.).
•	A unit of two artists can also apply for the residence program. (one artist’s provisions are to be shared by two)
In participating in the residence program, applicants are obliged to:
•	be motivated to create experimental and challenging artworks/art projects in the environment provided by ARCUS Project, conduct research and exchange activities in Japan.
•	be motivated to capitalize on their experience in Japan for their future activities.
•	present the residency outcomes at the Open Studio
•	be ready to building mutual understanding and exchange with other resident artists at ARCUS
•	follow regulations of the studio building "Moriya Manabi no Sato" prioritize their participation in ARCUS Project during their residency period.
•	use the studio for more than four-fifth of their stay
•	cooperate with the program organizers for publicity and other activities aiming to promote the program

Provisions

(1)	Traveling expense: Available (for foreign artists, round-trip airfare from airport nearest to the artist’s home to Narita International Airport ; for Japanese artists, expense to cover public transportation from airport or station nearest to the artist’s home to ARCUS Studio)
(2)	Production fee: Available (for research and production)
(3)	Studio: Available
(4)	Living expense: Available
(5)	Accommodation: Available (furnished studio-type apartment near the studio)
(6)	Opportunities for presentations/exhibitions: Available
(7)	Professional and staff support: Available
(8)	Publication and distribution of a program report: Available *Program provisions are subject to change each year.

Application Procedure

Open call

Selection Process

Selection committee

*Committee members consist of curators, arts management professionals, mayor of Moriya City, prefectural officer, and a representative local resident.

Achievements and
Outcomes

Between 1995 and 2006, ARCUS Project has invited 62 artists from 22 countries/regions. It is recognized as the forerunner of the government-sponsored artist-in-residence program in Japan.
The program has enabled artists to exchange with the local community and, also, encouraged them to produce artworks capitalizing on the local resources.
It has also served as a spring board for young artists. Some artists have been actively involved in the international art scene following their residency. As result, it has established a reputation in Japan and abroad.