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Database of Japanese Artist-in-Residence Programs
Nagasawa Art Park Artist-in-Residence: Japanese Woodblock Printmaking Program

Nagasawa Art Park Artist-in-Residence: Japanese Woodblock Printmaking Program





Contact Details	Nagasawa Art Park Project Committee
		Social Education Sec., Awaji City Board of Education 8 Ikuho-niijima, Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture 656-2292 Japan TEL: +81-799-64-0001 FAX: +81-799-64-2500
	Nagasawa Art Park Project Committee, Tokyo Office
		C/O Center for the Science of Human Endeavor HR-302, 1 Sanban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075, Japan TEL: +81-3-3234-6788 FAX.: +81-3-3234-6789
	E MAIL	desk@endeavor.or.jp
	URL	http://endeavor.or.jp/nap
Contact	Keiko KADOTA, Program Director (Tokyo Office)

Administrative Organization

Nagasawa Art Park Committee

Administrative Body

The Japan Foundation (in 1997 and 1998), Awaji City, and Nagasawa Art Park Committee

Supervising Division

Social Education Sec., Awaji City
CfSHE, Tokyo

Facility Name

Provisional use: Nagasawa Community Hall / Umihira-no-sato Traning Center

Facility Address

628-1 Nagasawa, Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture, 656-2292 (Nagasawa Kaikan)
555-67 Sato, Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture, 656-2143 (Umihira-no-sato Traning Center)

Facility Description

Nagasawa in Awaji City is situated almost in the center of Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, surrounded by beautiful rice terraces in the mountains. The studio and residential facilities are located on a mountaintop plateau with scenic views of Akashi and Osaka. The studio location is such that children from nearby nursery and elementary schools drop by. For purchase of daily necessities, the staff takes resident artists for shopping by car once or twice a week. Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara are within easy access of Awaji.
Studio: a community hall in Nagasawa Area (temporary use)
Accommodation: Umihira-no-sato Training Center

Exhibition venue: Shizuka Hall in Awaji as a main venue. Shows are also held in Kobe, Tokyo, and overseas.

Access

•	By bus: Take the expressway bus from “Shin-Kobe” station in Hyogo prefecture to “Tsuna-ko” bus terminal (1 hour) / Take the expressway bus from “Umeda” station in Osaka prefecture to “Tsuna-ko” bus terminal (2 hours)
•	By train: Take JR from “Kyoto” station to “Maiko” station (1 hour 15 minutes) and take the expressway bus to “Tsuna-ko” bus terminal (45 minutes)

*Nagasawa is 15 minutes by car from the Tsuna Port Terminal.

History

The former Tsuna Town (present Awaji City), accepted the proposal by ARTQUEST Co., Ltd. to organize a woodblock print workshop of 3 nights 4 days, and conducted the series of workshops from 1994 to 1997. The workshop was designed to facilitate collaborative projects between traditional woodblock print artists and contemporary artists, with observers of about 20 people. It aimed to promote the unique techniques of Japanese woodblock prints using watercolor in the contexts of contemporary art expressions.

The 4-year experience led to the town winning the Agency for Cultural Affairs grant for the artist-in-residence program scheme in 1997, and starting a formal training program on woodblock print technique for artists from overseas as trainees.

Year of
Commencement

1997

Program Objectives

To revitalize Nagasawa in Awaji City
To promote woodblock print
To promote international artistic exchange

Program Activities

To invite artists and instructors who wish to take a 2-month training on woodblock print production.
To provide resident artists with basic instruction on woodblock print technique.
To provide resident artists with opportunity to observe demonstration by woodblock print artists.
To offer opportunities to resident artists to create four to five studies of woodblock prints
To hold exhibitions of the studies
To compile a program report
To hold community programs (opening party, food event, exhibition and workshops in Kobe and Awaji, exchange with Kobe Design University, closing party)


Focus Area(s)	Printmaking
Residency Period	Two months from September to November
Number of Resident Artists	6-7 artists
Conditions	Artists who are interested in using woodblock print techniques in the art practice Woodblock print instructors who wish to gain experience and training in woodblock printmaking Artists who are in their 30s to 50s The program is interested in inviting from a diverse range of countries.
Support Details	Traveling expenses: Available Production fee: Available Studio: Available (for share) Living expense: Available (partial provision) Accommodation: Available Professional and staff support: Available (instructors, interpreters, assistants) Opportunities for presentations/exhibitions: Available (exhibitions in Awaji and Kobe) Publication and distribution of a program report: Available
Application Procedure	Direct application from artists. Recommendation from institutions such as universities, workshops, or museums required The application form is to be downloaded from the program's homepage. Alternatively, a hard copy of the application form is obtainable from the Tokyo Office.
Selection Process	First stage: preliminary selection, taking half of the total application to the second stage Second stage: shortlist candidates who match the programs’ budget and facility conditions Third stage: individual negotiation on schedule, budget, and training plans
Achievements and Outcomes	2007 marks the 11th year of the program, since its inauguration in 1997. Awaji City has developed the world largest collection of contemporary watercolor woodblock prints, with over 250 works donated by 70 artists who participated in the program. Instructors and artists who received training in this program are making contribution to the promotion of woodblock prints by holding exhibitions and workshops all over the world.