Since 2016, the collaboration between the Kyoto Art Center (Kyoto, Japan) and Quartier am Hafen has run an artist-in-residence program.
The cooperation partners Quartier am Hafen (QaH) and Kyoto Art Center (KAC) jointly offer an annual residency program. It gives artists from Cologne and Kyoto the opportunity to apply for a 4–8 week residency in the respective partner country.
In 2027, the Kyoto Art Center invites one professional artist for 4–8 weeks between April and May 2027.
previous scholarship holders
2016 Michael Maurissens (dance, choreography) from Cologne
2019 Kyoko Nomura und Yuki Goda (dance) from Kyoto
2020 Philipp Dreber visual artist) from Cologne
2022 Alina Zhdanova (animation, media art) from Kyoto
2024 Hervé Garcia (painting) from Cologne
2026 Ana Miyaki (sculpture and performance) from Kyoto
1. REQUIREMENTS
- The call for entries is open to artists based in Cologne. There are no age restrictions and the call is open to all artistic disciplines.
- The residency duration is a minimum of 4 weeks and a maximum of 8 weeks within the period from April to May 2027.
- Applicants should already have an artistic, research-based, or educational project or idea to work on during the residency.
- Good command of English or Japanese and the ability to communicate effectively.
- Presentation of the results in Cologne after the residency.
- Applicants will apply for an appropriate visa with support from the KAC, if required for administrative
purposes (visa fee approx. €18).
2. OFFER
– The KAC covers travel costs up to a maximum of 300,000 JPY. Flights are to be booked by the resident and will be reimbursed by the KAC upon arrival.
– The KAC provides accommodation near the KAC.
– The resident will receive 250,000 JPY for the duration of the residency (including production costs for open studios and exhibitions).
– The KAC offers the opportunity for an artist talk / open studio.
– Support from the KAC team
The results of the residency will be presented publicly at the end of the stay in an appropriate format (e.g. open studio, exhibition), in consultation with the KAC.- Die Ergebnisse der Residenz werden am Ende des Aufenthalts in Absprache mit dem KAC in geeigneter Form präsentiert (z. B. offenes Atelier, Ausstellung).
– *Travel and production costs are intended as a contribution to the program and may not cover all expenses.
*The program covers only the selected artist. If the applicant is accompanied by others, they are responsible for covering all related
expenses.
3. APPLICATION
Please send the application documents ONLY by email to: milena@qah.koeln (subject: Application Kyoto)
Submissions must be in English.
Motivation letter (max. 1 page)
– CV (max. 2 pages)
– Artistic proposal for the residency (max. 2 pages)
– Website, images, and references of your artistic work (optional)
– Please indicate your preferred period of residence
– Language skills and proficiency level
4. Kyoto Art Center
Kyoto Art Center was opened in April 2000 with the aim of comprehensively promoting art in Kyoto through cooperation between the city of Kyoto, artists and art practitioners.
The building is a repurposed former elementary school that was closed in 1993. https://www.kac.or.jp/eng/
Application deadline is June 21, 2026
For further information, please contact: milena@qah.koeln