Artist in Kasashima-Release Accumulation of Memory into the Productive Sea-

Setouchi Art Wave c/o Gallery Arte

Representative Ikuyo UMETANI

Setouchi Art Wave

Honjima is one of 28 Shiwaku Island and located in the middle of Seto Inland Sea. Kasashima Area in the north-east part of this island used to be a port town where the Shiwaku Marine was based in the medieval era. Kasashima has been registered as the Important Traditional Buildings of Japan since 1985. At present, 90 people live in this area, where the aging and shrinking population is becoming a growing concern.
NPO Kasashima Machinami Hozon Kyokai has been renovating buildings in the preservation area for modern functional use, as seen in the examples of the “Kasamachi Machinami Hozon Center (Kasamachi conservation center)”) and “Fureai Jaya (communal café)”. A new project to renovate historic buildings into guesthouses was launched in 2005.

• Main building of the former Maki residence (not fully equipped with water supply; electric supply available)
• Residence for artists (private property)
• Guesthouse managed by NPO Kasashima Machinami Hozon Kyokai

In May 2006, SAW planned an art project to utilize the former Maki residence, a building owned by Marugame City, with the cooperation of the city government. 
The project was officially inaugurated after being selected by the Agency for Cultural Affairs as a model project for NPO-initiated project on utilization of cultural properties in September 2006.

The program aims to utilize a historic building of the former Maki residence for the artist-in-residence program, to gain recognition of the local history and promote cross-cultural exchange between local residents and visitors.

• Artist-in-residence program
  

  Artists are invited from outside the island to take residency and produce artwork.

• Workshop program
  Workshops for local residents and children are offered to experience collaboration with artists.
  
• Information and communication service
  Information on the program activities and local communities is distributed through the website.
• Exhibition
  Exhibitions are held to present the outcomes of the artists’ residency and workshops.
  
• Publication
  An activity report is published after each residency program in order to publicize the program and the conditions of architectural preservation among institutions related to art and heritage conservation.

Contemporary art (all media)

September-March
(for minimum 15 days to maximum 2 months, to be decided according to artists’ plan; taking residency from September to mid-November is obligatory)

Maximum 5 artists

The Applicant should:

• be a contemporary artist
• be in a good health and able to carry out daily activities on their own

There are no limits concerning age, gender, and nationality.

Upon invitation, the Applicant is obliged to:

• participate in the activities of SAW.
• get engaged in exchange with local residents.
• present the outcomes of their residency during or after the residence period.

• Traveling expense: Available (Actual expense only)
• Production fee: Available (Partial provision)
• Studio: Available (Equipped with kitchen and electric appliances)
• Living expense: Available (¥80,000-100,000)
• Accommodation: Available (Residences in the heritage conservation area)
• Professional and staff support: Available (Support staff)
• Opportunities for presentations/ exhibitions: Available (Exhibitions and publications)
• Publication and distribution of a program report: Available (Website and publications)

The first program was carried out in September-December, 2006