Artist-in-Residence Sakuragawa





Contact Details	Address	741Kameoka, Sakuragawa, Ibaraki 309-1314 Japan
	TEL	+ 81-296-75-1550
	FAX	+ 81-296-75-1550
	E MAIL	tq3m-asg@asahi-net.or.jp
	URL	http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~tq3m-asg/
Contact	Masaji ASAGA, Junko ASAGA


Administrative Organization	Ishi no Bunka Club (Friends of Iwase Rock Museum)
Administrative Body	Iwase Rock Museum Director and Ishi no Bunka Club
Facility Name	SOGO BIJUTSU KOBO Iwase Rock Museum
Facility Address	741Kameoka, Sakuragawa, Ibaraki 309-1314 Japan
Facility Description	Fully equipped with implements, heavy machinery, and tools for stone carving. Quantities of granite to meet various ideas. Professional support from stone processors in the vicinity. Truck. Opportunities of indoor and outdoor exhibitions. 1650 sq. m.
Access	The facility is located in one of the tree famous quarries in Japan for Inada, Iwase, and Makabe stones and also adjacent to Mashiko and Kasama which are well-known for ceramic art. The town of Iwase has become part of Sakuragawa City lately. It is surrounded by rich nature and undergoing development with neighboring Tsukuba City which is prominent in science and culture. Access By train: Take the JR Mito Line and get off at Haguro station 25 minutes by walking Take the Tsukuba Express and get off at Tsukuba station. Take the Kanto Bus from Tsukuba station and get off at Iwase Ekimae Bus Stop. *Take a taxi from Haguro station or Iwase station By car: 35 minutes by car from Tomobe IC on Joban Expressway (Iwase IC on Kita Kanto Expressway will be open in 2008)
History	Iwase Rock Museum was established to widely spread the culture of stone. This museum has been collecting stonework of international artists by taking advantage of geographical and cultural conditions of the location as one of the largest stone industrial areas in Japan. In addition, the museum has launched the program composed of the artist-in-residence program and exhibitions which is the first of this kind of activity in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Year of Commencement	1994
Program Objectives	The program aims to spread the culture of stone from a quarry to the world. The program objectives include: to realize world peace to expand the potentiality and resources of the local community to promote international exchange to contribute to education for children to nurture their humanity to pursue the highest quality of stone sculpture. The artist-in-residence program becomes ground for improving and competition. To honor professionals in the field of stone carving for their pride and skills.
Program Activities	- Create monuments of granite from Ibaraki. - Create small-sized pieces of granite. - Visit local kindergartens to have cultural exchange with children. - Collaborate with students from local junior high schools to create stone sculpture. - Attend a welcome ceremony held by local volunteers. - Participate in public seminars of stone carving as lecturers. - Participate in social gathering of Ishi no Bunka Club and those who are involved in stone industry. - Present the results of the residence program and hold lectures. - Visit cultural sites in Japan such as Nikko and institutions (museums, art museums, aquariums, etc) as training. - Hold solo exhibitions of sketches and watercolor painting at the indoor exhibition space during the residency period. - Exhibit photo documentation of past works at the indoor exhibition space during the residency period. - Hold video screening to show the environment and living condition in resident artists’ home countries.

Focus Area

Stone carving

Residency Period

1 month

Number of
Resident Artists

2 individuals
(Artists can be accompanied by their family)

Conditions

No specific conditions.

In good health to carry out stone carving. A pleasant personality is advantage.

Provisions

(1)	Traveling expense: Available
(2)	Production fee: Available
(3)	Studio: Available (conditions: for artists or individuals who have acquired basic techniques)
(4)	Living expense: Available
(5)	Accommodation: Available
(6)	Professional and staff support: Available (practical advice from sculptors, support for daily life from Director)
(7)	Opportunities for presentations/exhibitions: Available (Iwase Stone Museum)
(8)	Publication and distribution of a program report: Available (activity report is compiled for each residency period)

Application Procedure

Open call

Selection Process

Selection is made by Director and representatives of Ishi no Bunka Club, based on advice from art professionals.

Achievements and
Outcomes

1994	Ziyatin Nuriev (artist-in-residence)
1996	Tsviatko Siromashki (artist-in-residence), Joram Mariga (training and lecture)
1998	Milan Andreev (artist-in-residence)
2000	Ivan Russev (artist-in-residence)
2002	Snejana Simeohova (artist-in-residence)
2005	Stefan Lyutakov (artist-in-residence)

Results

•	The program has been attracting high reputation from Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, and Bulgaria.
•	Resident artists have produced complete works. Milan Andreev’s work was exhibited at Expo 2005 Aichi and won the highest praise from citizens and art critics.
•	The program has been offering occasions where citizens enjoy international exchange and also been beneficial for children to gain experience to develop their humanity through interaction with artists.
•	Activity report is successfully transmitting achievements of this program.
•	The program won the honorary award from the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria in 2004.
•	The program has received support and encouragement from a large number of people as the only artist-in-residence program in the field of stone carving.