We are pleased to announce the 2025 Artist-in-Residence program at L-AIR. This year, the program will be divided into four seasons, with two artists being recruited per season.

Program Details
What new forms of expression can be created using leather? How can leather, as a material, be combined with previously unexplored materials, techniques, or forms of expression? How can leather serve as a lens for envisioning future lifestyles and environmental sustainability? These are the key questions that participants will explore during a residency of up to three months in Takagi, the leather town of Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Application Deadlines

• Season 1: January 26, 2024 (Sunday)
• Season 2: March 31, 2025 (Monday)
• Season 3: June 30, 2025 (Monday)
• Season 4: September 30, 2025 (Tuesday)

Costs/Support Provided

• Provision of leather and other materials for production
• Support for art creation, including field research and skill learning (weekend and holiday staff support by prior consultation)
• Activity support grant: Up to ¥250,000 per month
• Free provision of living space and production studio
• Creation and presentation of a documentation book

Organizer
General Incorporated Association L-A･I･R

Residency Periods

• Season 1: April 1, 2025 (Tuesday) – June 29, 2025 (Sunday)
• Season 2: July 1, 2025 (Tuesday) – September 28, 2025 (Sunday)
• Season 3: October 1, 2025 (Wednesday) – December 21, 2025 (Sunday)
• Season 4: January 5, 2026 (Monday) – March 29, 2026 (Sunday)

Residency duration: A minimum of 1.5 months to a maximum of 3 months

Eligibility and Requirements

• Open to individual artists, designers, and creators (including duos) currently active in any genre.
• No restrictions on age, nationality, or background.
• No prior knowledge or experience with leather is required.
• Applicants must be willing to engage in collaborative creation with leather artisans and local residents.
• During the residency, participants are expected to immerse themselves in the appeal of leather and the Takagi area, actively engaging with the local community through fieldwork and creation.
• Must be able to communicate in either Japanese or English.
• Should openly share their creative process through social media and other platforms.
• During the residency, participants are required to conduct an open studio, a final presentation exhibition, and exchange programs such as talks, lectures, performances, workshops, or school visits.
• Must be comfortable with communal living arrangements with other artists (if support for daily living is needed, prior consultation is required).
• Participants are responsible for their own creation and daily living activities.
• By the end of the first week of the residency, participants must present a rough concept or goal for their work and participate in monthly meetings with the L-AIR office, submitting progress reports. (The final output does not need to strictly align with the initial concept.)
• Participants must donate at least one work or archival material (such as a film) to L-AIR.
• After the residency, participants are required to contribute an essay.

Terms of Invitation

The following terms outline the support provided by the organizer for the invited artist. These terms assume the artist will travel alone to the residency location. As a general rule, accompanying persons are not allowed, and support for group applications will also be limited to the equivalent of one individual’s support.

1. Travel to the Residency

Travel Expenses

• The organizer will provide reimbursement for one-way transportation costs for the artist’s arrival at the residency. Payment will be made after the artist’s arrival, upon submission of receipts.
• As a general rule, public transportation should be used. Travel expenses will be calculated based on a reasonable and economical route from the nearest station to the artist’s residence. If traveling by car, the same conditions will apply.

2. Production and Presentation

Accommodation/Workspace

• Accommodation will be provided at the L-A･I･R residence building (77 Takagi, Hanada-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture).
• For workspace, the studio building on the same property will be available. If the artist has specific preferences, arrangements will be made in consultation with the organizer.
• Artists are responsible for bringing any equipment or tools they require. (Leather-related equipment will be provided by the L-AIR office.)
• Artists must clean the areas they use in the production space.
• Wi-Fi is available on-site, but PCs and peripheral devices will not be provided.
• Artists must comply with all facility rules and regulations.

Final Presentation

• The artist is required to conduct a final presentation (e.g., exhibition, performance) during the residency period. The schedule and venue will be determined in consultation with the organizer.
• The artist is encouraged to actively engage with visitors during the presentation period, and the number of days for interaction will be arranged based on discussions.
• The artist is primarily responsible for setup and takedown. Assistance with these tasks can be arranged upon consultation.
• During the presentation period, the artist is responsible for maintaining the work if needed.
• The organizer will provide exhibition-related items (e.g., captions, panels) in consultation with the artist.
• After the presentation concludes, the artist must dismantle and remove their works.
• The organizer retains copyright for photos and videos documenting the event and has the right to use them for promotional purposes that serve the public interest. These materials may be used freely and without compensation by the organizer and parties authorized by the organizer.

3. Compliance with Instructions for Coverage

• If the organizer provides specific instructions regarding locations, methods, or prior permissions for media coverage, the artist must strictly adhere to these instructions.

4. Residency Living Arrangements

Living Expenses

• Living expenses during the residency will not be provided.

Insurance

• Artists are responsible for arranging their own injury, health, and other insurance. The organizer assumes no obligation regarding insurance coverage.

5. Other Conditions

Activity Documentation

• The organizer will create a record booklet for the program.
• To document the artist’s works and activities, the organizer will record photographs and videos, and the artist is expected to cooperate.

Media Cooperation

• If approached by media outlets for interviews, the artist is expected to cooperate as much as possible. If the request disrupts the artist’s work or infringes on their privacy, they may consult the organizer to decline the interview.

Supporters

• During the residency, L-AIR staff and volunteers will act as supporters, assisting with research and connecting the artist with the local community. Collaborative efforts with the community should be planned and carried out jointly by the artist and the supporters. Any additional support will be determined in consultation with the organizer.

Responses to Natural Disasters and Unforeseeable Circumstances

• If the organizer determines that the continuation or implementation of the program is unfeasible due to circumstances such as natural disasters or other acts of force majeure, the organizer and the artist will discuss the situation and decide on an appropriate response.
• The artist must provide the organizer with emergency contact information in advance.

Application Process

Prepare the required documents listed below and submit them via email as attachments.

Email Address: info@l-air.or.jp
Subject Line: L-AIR Artist Apply

Required Documents

1. 1.Project Title
2. 2.Project Overview/Theme
   • A detailed description of the theme you wish to pursue.
3. 3.Implementation Schedule
   • Complete the application form with the above information.
     • [Application Form (Word)]
     • [Application Form (PDF)]
4. 4.Background and Achievements
   • The background and achievements of your activity/project establishment.
   • Your past activity and career history.
5. 5.Supplementary Materials for the Project

If the file size is large, please use a file transfer service such as GigaFile.

Selection Process
Based on the submitted materials, the purpose, content, specificity of deliverables, and motivation for participation will be comprehensively evaluated by the directors and curators of the General Incorporated Association L-AIR. The selection process is as follows:

1. First Round: Document Screening
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2. Second Round: Individual Online Meeting (via Zoom or in person)
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3. Final Decision

*Please note that inquiries regarding the selection process will not be accepted.