Fully Funded Artist Residency in Japan — Apply

Ako, Japan · June 2027

Apply for Seto 2027.

Three fully funded places in Akō, Japan. June 6–27, 2027 (subject to change).
$25 non-refundable application fee.
Apply by April 30, 2027, 11:59 p.m. New York time.

Check what you needReady? Go to the form

You can save a draft and return within 30 days. Keep copies of your responses; uploads, address and card details must be entered again.

3 weeksJune 2027
Ako, JapanSeto Inland Sea coast
Small cohortArtists worldwide
The residency

Making meaningful work, together.

The Seto Art Residency at Salt Road Studio is a three-week international artist residency based in Ako, Japan. Designed to foster artistic growth, cultural exchange, and creative collaboration, the program brings together a small group of artists from around the world to live and work together in a shared creative environment.

Read the full residency overview for the experience, location, and eligibility, or visit the residency FAQ before applying.

01

Round-trip airfare

Travel to and from Japan, arranged for each selected artist.

02

Shared lodging

Communal accommodations for the full three weeks of the residency.

03

Studio & workspace

A dedicated studio and workspace to develop new work.

04

Living-cost grant

$1,000 USD (approx. ¥150,000) to help offset food, local transportation, and personal expenses during your stay. This grant supports your own subsistence as a visiting artist; it is not a fee, salary, or payment for work.

Before you apply

Travel & entry

Artists attend as short-term visitors and are responsible for confirming their own entry requirements for Japan. The three-week program falls within the standard short-stay period.

Depending on your nationality, you may be able to enter visa-free, or you may need to apply for a short-stay (Temporary Visitor) visa at a Japanese consulate. The residency does not sponsor work or long-term visas.

Application

Apply to the residency.

June 6–27, 2027 in Akō, Japan (subject to change).

A $25 non-refundable application fee helps cover the cost of reviewing submissions. The residency itself is fully funded — airfare, lodging, studio, and a living-cost grant are all provided to selected artists.

Applications closeApril 30, 2027

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (New York, EDT / UTC−4).

Before you start: application checklist

  • Your contact details: name, email, and billing address for the application fee. Phone, website, and Instagram are optional.
  • Artist bio: up to 250 words.
  • Three images of recent work: one JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or WebP file per artwork. Maximum 512 MB per file; aim for 10 MB or less for faster uploads. Have each work’s title, year, medium, and dimensions handy.
  • Two short responses: why Salt Road and what you hope to gain; and the project or area of exploration you would focus on. Up to 250 words per response.
  • Travel readiness: your current passport status and willingness to live and work communally.
  • Payment: a credit or debit card for the $25 non-refundable application fee.
  • Optional: an artist CV or résumé as one PDF (maximum 512 MB).

Need more time? Use “Save and Resume Later” beside the submit button to save a draft and get a private return link, valid for 30 days. Uploads, mailing addresses, and card details must be re-entered when you return. Keep a separate copy of your written responses.

A saved draft is not a submitted application. Complete the form and payment by April 30, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. New York time.

Contact Information

Email is our primary way to contact you about your application.
Billing address
Use the billing address associated with your card. Enter your ZIP / postal code in the Postal Code box below City; this is required for the $25 application fee.

Artist Information

250 words maximum.
What type of work do you create?

Portfolio

Please upload 3 images of recent work, with a few details for each.
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload
One JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or WebP image. Maximum 512 MB; 10 MB or less is recommended for a faster upload.
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload
One JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or WebP image. Maximum 512 MB; 10 MB or less is recommended for a faster upload.
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload
One JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or WebP image. Maximum 512 MB; 10 MB or less is recommended for a faster upload.

Residency Questions

250 words maximum per response.

Travel & Logistics

Do you have a valid passport that allows you to travel to Japan?
Are you comfortable living and working in a shared communal environment with other artists for three weeks?

Final Question

Upload

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload
Optional: one PDF, maximum 512 MB. A smaller file will upload faster.
Price: $25.00
The Seto Art Residency at Salt Road Studio Application Fee (non-refundable)
Enter your billing ZIP / postal code in the Postal Code box in Billing address above. Card details are entered securely here.
Save and Resume Later