Kamiyama Artist-in-Residence (KAIR)





Contact Details	GreenValley Inc. Kamiyama-cho Noson Kankyo Kaizen Center 132 Nakatsu, Jinryo, Kamiyama-cho, Myozai-gun, Tokushima 771-3310 Japan
	TEL	+ 81-88-676-1177
	FAX	+ 81-88-676-1177
	E MAIL	center@kamiyama-gvi.jp
	URL	http://www.in-kamiyama.jp/en/art/kair/
	Weblog	http://www.in-kamiyama.jp/en/art/
Contact	Keiko KUDO

Administrative Organization

Kamiyama Artist-in-Residence Executive Committee

Administrative Body

GreenValley Inc.

Supervising Division

Kamiyama-cho Board of Education

Cooperating institutions /
Individuals

Organizers:	Kamiyama Artist-in-Residence Committee
Co-organizers:	GreenValley Inc., Kamiyama-cho
Support:	Tokushima Shimbun, Shikoku Broadcasting Co., Ltd., NHK Tokushima
Cooperation:	Kamiyama Onsen, Hall of Awa Japanese Handmade Paper, Musashino Art University, etc.

Facility Description

Kamiyama-cho is a town of approximately 7,000 people in central Tokushima Prefecture, surrounded by mountains and rich nature.The program utilizes local school buildings, defunct facilities, and vacant houses as resident artists’ studios.

History

In 1997, Tokushima Prefecture established a new long-term policy to initiate the Tokushima International Cultural Village Project. This led to the establishment of the International Cultural Village Committee of the Kamiyama International Exchange Association, and the inauguration of the artist-in-residence program.

Year of
Commencement

FY 1999

Program Objectives

To develop the artist-in-residence program as the core program of the Kamiyama International Cultural Village Project
To provide local residents with opportunities to experience different values
To assist artists’ career development

Program Activities

(Activities of Tokushima International Cultural Village)

Artist-in-residence program: Artists work in studios situated in a local school building, and show the outcomes of their residency in an exhibition.
Open Atelier Day: Artists open their studios to the public
Outreach program: Artists provide classes for local children, in order to develop international understanding through art
Eat and communication: Artists and local residents together cook and eat their familiar cuisine from their homes as part of this cultural exchange program
Other: Special guests and lecturers are invited during the residency.
Publication: A program activity report is published annually.


Focus Area(s)	Visual arts
Residency Period	Approximately 60 days (September - November)
Number of Resident Artists	3 artists (2 non-Japanese and 1 Japanese)
Conditions	The artist should: produce at least one finished piece of artwork during the residency period. be cooperative with other resident artists. be interested in interacting with local residents. have conversational English language proficiency.
Provisions	Traveling expense: Available (roundtrip airfare up to ¥150,000) Production fee: Available (up to ¥300,000 per artist including material expenses) Studio: Available (studio in a local school building is available for standard residency) Living expense: Available (¥150,000 expenses for meals and daily necessities during residency) Accommodation: Available Professional and staff support: Available (arranged according to artists' needs) Opportunities for presentations/exhibitions: Available Publication and distribution of a program report: Available PC room: Available (with broadband internet access)
Application Procedure	Open call
Selection Process	Selection committee
Achievements and Outcomes	From FY 1999 to FY 2006, the program has invited 26 artists (17 non-Japanese and 9 Japanese), and exhibitions have been held to show the outcomes of their residency. The program has helped to enhance mutual understanding and interest in cross-cultural communication among the local residents, particularly the children. The program has prompted to develop interest in the arts among the local residents, and some have formed supporting groups to independently invite and support artists. A prototype for an international artist village has been developed, attracting former resident artists to move to Kamiyama to set up their studios. The program is gaining recognition as the center for contemporary art in Tokushima.