Open Call Project

"Artist in Residence to Overcome the Crisis of Amami"

To prevent the destruction of the natural environment and the dilution of cultural heritage caused by the construction of high-rise hotels in Amami Oshima, we established the 'Artist in Residence to Overcome the Crisis of Amami' on June 16, 2025, aiming to solve problems through cultural and artistic activities.

To widely inform people around the world about the unique environmental culture and natural environment of Amami Oshima, a World Natural Heritage site, we will invite artists from around the world to Amami Oshima and develop a project to present the art works created during their stay both domestically and internationally.

We would be grateful if artists who agree with us could participate.

Amami Oshima and the crisis

Amami Oshima (Kagoshima Prefecture) was registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2021, and even today, untouched nature remains, along with a culture of shamanism, nature worship, and traditions of prayer that have continued since the Ryukyu Kingdom era.

As of 2025, in Amami Oshima (including Setsuda and Ashitoku villages), the development by major real estate developers and simultaneous opposition signature campaigns and administrative petitions have erupted, bringing the crisis into a tangible reality.

Additionally, the reckless and dishonest approach of major real estate developers is also being criticized. For example, there are developers who attempt to proceed with plans to build high-rise hotels right in the middle of a small village where about 140 households live quietly, and developers who suddenly cancel scheduled briefings for residents after announcing them, only to unilaterally inform them of the construction start date, showing a lack of moral integrity.

There are concerns that the construction of high-rise hotels will lead to problems such as the following.

・Destruction of landscapes
・Deterioration of sea water quality due to sewage and its impact on marine life
・Environmental destruction and negative impacts on living organisms due to deforestation and mountain excavation
・Traffic congestion and accidents within the community
・Housing issues due to rising land prices (cases where young people, such as students who are away from the island, cannot return to live when they come back)
・Dilution of faith and culture (decline of nature worship and environmental culture)

“Purpose and Objectives of the Artist-in-Residence Project to Overcome the Crisis in Amami

To prevent environmental destruction and the dilution of cultural heritage, it is important to widely inform people about the environmental culture (a culture built over a long time by local people coexisting with nature, respecting nature, and valuing its blessings through wisdom, techniques, and customs) nurtured in Amami Oshima and the uniqueness of its natural environment. We believe this will lead to an understanding of the appropriate buildings and ways of living for Amami Oshima.

To promote understanding of the uniqueness of Amami Oshima's environmental culture and natural environment, we believe it is effective for artists from around the world to directly experience the environmental culture of Amami Oshima on-site and to create and present art works that express and visualize these experiences.

The art works created by the artists will be widely exhibited in museums and commercial facilities on Amami Oshima, in museums and local galleries of invited foreign artists, and in embassies in Tokyo, widely disseminating the environmental culture of Amami Oshima along with local issues.

＜Recruitment Guidelines・Normal＞ FY2025

*No subsidy from the Agency for Cultural Affairs

▼Number of Artists to be Recruited

2 to 3 people per year

▼Project Implementation Period (Stay Production Period)

December 2025 - February 2026

▼ Artist residency period

2 weeks to 4 weeks

▼Recruitment Period

July 10, 2025 - October 31, 2025

▼Our Support for Participating Artists

Provision of accommodation free of charge.
・Partial burden of material costs for artwork production (50%)
Attending major spots in Amami Oshima, cultural training.
Planning, setup, and operation of exhibitions(Announcement of results) at museums and commercial facilities.
Planning, setup, and operation of interaction events with local residents.
Sales of art works and related products through crowdfunding (we will share the sales).

※The following costs will be borne by the artist.
Travel expenses.
・Material costs for artwork production (50%)
Food expenses.
・Transportation costs within the island

▼Requests to Participating Artists
We would like to exhibit permanently at the accommodation facility at least one art piece created at our facility.

▼Application Requirements

- As an artist, you must have strong ideas and thoughts about nature and culture.

- You must understand and agree with the purpose and objectives of this program and be able to work on creating an artwork.

- You must be able to actively interact with local residents and collaborating domestic artists.

- If there are other artists you will be collaborating with, you must be able to actively interact with them.

*Participation in this program is subject to screening, and you can only participate in the program if you pass the screening.

＜Recruitment Guidelines・If we are eligible for a subsidy from the Agency for Cultural Affairs＞ From 2026 onwards

※Results regarding whether or not it has become eligible for subsidies will be announced every March. It is not eligible for subsidies in 2025. Currently preparing for the subsidy application for the fiscal year 2026.

▼Number of Artists to be Recruited

2 to 3 people per year

▼Project Implementation Period (Stay Production Period)

Every year from December to February.

▼ Artist residency period

2 weeks to 4weeks

▼Recruitment Period

Anytime

▼Support from the Agency for Cultural Affairs for Participating Artists

Travel expenses.
Food expenses.
Transportation costs within Japan.
Material costs and research costs related to work production.
Attending major spots in Amami Oshima, cultural training.
Planning, setup, and operation of exhibitions at museums and commercial facilities.
Planning, setup, and operation of interaction events with local residents.

Some of the above may not be subsidized depending on the budget amount.