L-AIR is pleased to announce its 2027 Artist-in-Residence Program.
The residency is divided into four seasons each year. Up to two artists per season will be selected. We welcome applications from artists of all disciplines who are interested in exploring new forms of expression through leather.
Program Concept
During the residency, artists are invited to explore the following key questions:
- What new forms of expression can be created using leather?
- How can leather be combined with unexpected materials, techniques, or artistic practices to create something entirely new?
- How can leather serve as a starting point for envisioning future lifestyles and sustainable environments?
Based on these key questions, selected artists will undertake a residency of up to three months in Takagi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture—one of Japan’s historic leather-producing districts.
Residency Periods
Season 1: January 4 (Mon) – March 28 (Sun), 2027
Season 2: April 1 (Thu) – June 27 (Sun), 2027
Season 3: July 1 (Thu) – September 26 (Sun), 2027
Season 4: October 1 (Fri) – December 19 (Sun), 2027
Residency duration: As a general rule, it is for two to three months.
Application Deadlines
Season 1: September 30 (Wed), 2026
Season 2: November 30 (Mon), 2026
Season 3: March 1 (Mon), 2027
Season 4: May 31 (Mon), 2027
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants may apply for any season at any time—for example, it is possible to apply for Season 4 before the Season 1 deadline.
All application deadlines are 23:59 (JST, Japan Standard Time) on the specified deadline date.
Support
L-AIR provides the following support:
- Leather and other production materials for artworks
- Free use of accommodation, an open studio, and leather materials
- Artistic support ranging from field research to skill learning throughout the creative process
- Support from L-AIR staff on weekends and public holidays is available upon prior consultation.
- Residency production support grant
Production Support Grant
- Japanese artists: Up to JPY 250,000 per month
- International artists: Up to JPY 150,000 per month
International artists also receive separate round-trip travel support, which is why the monthly production support amount differs.
Important Notes
The residency production support grant is not a living allowance. It is intended solely to support artistic production and is provided according to the number of eligible production activity days during the residency.
Residents may temporarily leave the residency after obtaining prior approval from L-AIR staff. However, absences for activities such as general research unrelated to the residency project, attending exhibitions, personal travel, or sightseeing are not considered eligible residency activities. Those days will therefore be excluded from the calculation of the residency production support grant.
Organizer
L-AIR General Incorporated Association
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- ・Be an individual artist, designer, or creator, or an artist duo currently engaged in creative practice. All disciplines are welcome.
- ・There are no restrictions regarding age, nationality, or cultural background.
- ・No prior knowledge or experience with leather is required.
- ・Be willing to develop work through interaction and collaboration with leather craftspeople and members of the local community.
- ・During the residency, actively engage with the culture of leather and the Takagi district through fieldwork, building relationships with local residents and leather producers as part of the creative process.
- ・Be able to communicate in either Japanese or English.
- ・Be willing to openly share the creative process through social media and other public platforms.
- ・Participate in residency-related public programs, including an Open Studio, Final Exhibition, gallery talks, lectures, and other opportunities for public engagement.
- ・Be able to live cooperatively with other artists during the residency while respecting differences in gender, cultural background, nationality, values, and personal perspectives. (If you require any support in daily life or during the residency, please consult with us in advance.)
- ・Be able to independently manage both artistic production and daily living throughout the residency.
- ・Submit progress reports outlining the development of the project after the first week, after one month, and after two months of the residency, and attend meetings with L-AIR staff at each stage. (The final outcome is not required to match the initial proposal submitted during the first week.)
- ・Donate all artworks created using leather materials provided by L-AIR during the residency to L-AIR for inclusion in its residency archive exhibition. (This condition does not apply to works created during private time using personally purchased leather, nor to works produced as part of the artist’s independent practice outside the residency.)
- ・Contribute a short essay for publication on the L-AIR website after completing the residency.
Terms of Invitation
The support provided by the organizer is based on the assumption that the selected artist participates individually. Accompanying persons are generally not permitted. For artist duos or groups, the financial support will be equivalent to that provided for a single participant.
1. Travel
Travel Expenses
- ・The organizer will reimburse one round-trip journey for the residency period. Reimbursement will be made after the artist has arrived at the residency. Receipts must be submitted for reimbursement.
- ・In principle, travel expenses are calculated based on the most reasonable and economical route using public transportation from the station nearest the artist’s place of residence. The same principle applies when traveling by private car.
2. Production and Presentation
The organizer will provide support for artistic production and the presentation of the residency outcomes in accordance with the conditions described in this application guideline.
Accommodation / Studio
- ・Accommodation will be provided at the L-AIR General Incorporated Association Residency Building (77 Takagi, Hanada-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo, Japan).
- ・The first floor of the residency building is a shared living area for resident artists. Each artist will be assigned a private, lockable bedroom on the second floor.
- ・The primary production space is the studio building located on the same premises. If an artist wishes to use sewing machines, work outdoors, or has other specific workspace requirements, arrangements will be made in consultation with the organizer.
- ・The studio operates as an Open Studio. In addition to gallery visitors, leather tanners, local craftspeople, and prospective artists may visit to observe the artists’ working process.
- ・Standard leatherworking equipment and machinery are available. Artists requiring specialized tools or equipment should bring their own.
- ・Artists are responsible for cleaning the areas of the studio that they use.
- ・Wi-Fi is available throughout the facility. However, computers and peripheral devices are not provided.
- ・Artists are expected to comply with all rules and regulations of the residency facilities.
Final Exhibition
- ・Artists are required to present the results of their residency during their stay. The format (such as an exhibition or performance), venue, and schedule will be determined in consultation with the organizer.
- ・Because interaction between artists and visitors is an important part of the residency, artists are strongly encouraged to remain on-site during the first Saturday and Sunday following the opening of the final presentation, when visitor attendance is expected to be highest.
- ・Artists are primarily responsible for installing and deinstalling their exhibition or presentation. Artists should not leave the residency before the installation has been completed. Assistance with installation may be available upon consultation.
- ・During the exhibition or presentation period, artists are responsible for any maintenance required for their work.
- ・The organizer will prepare exhibition materials such as captions and display panels in consultation with the artist.
- ・Copyright of photographs, videos, and other documentation produced by the organizer shall belong to the organizer. The organizer, and any third party authorized by the organizer, may use these materials free of charge for publicity, promotional activities, educational purposes, and other activities that serve the public interest.
3. Media Coverage
- ・If the organizer provides specific instructions regarding interview locations, methods, photography, filming, or prior permissions, artists are required to comply with those instructions.
4. Residency Life
Living Expenses
- Living expenses are not provided during the residency.
Insurance
- Artists are responsible for obtaining their own health insurance, accident insurance, and any other necessary insurance coverage. The organizer assumes no responsibility for arranging or providing insurance.
5. Other
Documentation
- The organizer will document the artist’s work and residency activities through photography and video recording. Artists are expected to cooperate with this documentation.
Media Relations
- Artists are expected to cooperate, whenever reasonably possible, with interview requests from newspapers, television, magazines, and other media organizations. If an interview is likely to interfere with the artist’s creative work or compromise their privacy, the artist may consult with the organizer and decline the request.
About L-AIR Supporters
- During the residency, L-AIR staff will act as supporters, assisting with research and serving as a bridge between the artist and the local community. Artists are encouraged to gradually develop independent relationships within the community throughout their stay.
- If collaborative activities or community-based projects are planned, they should be discussed and developed together with the assigned supporter.
- Any additional support will be determined through consultation between the artist and the organizer.
Natural Disasters and Force Majeure
- If natural disasters, emergencies, or other circumstances beyond reasonable control make it difficult to conduct or continue the residency program, the organizer and the artist will consult with one another and determine the appropriate course of action according to the situation.
- Artists are required to provide an emergency contact to the organizer before the residency begins.
Application
Please prepare the required application documents below and submit them by email.
Email: info@l-air.or.jp
Subject: L-AIR Artist Apply
Email body
- 1. Project Title / your name
- 2. Project Overview / Proposed Theme
- 3. Preferred Season of Participation
- 4. Biography
- ・Nationality or current country of activity (for travel expense calculation)
- ・Please describe your past achievements and activities.
- 5.【Required】 A project sheet including items 1–3 above.
Attachment of Reference Materials (Optional)
If available, please feel free to attach any of the following materials. These will be reviewed as part of the selection process.
★ Portfolio highlighting your background, achievements, and previous works
★ Personal website and/or Instagram account
☆ Articles or media coverage featuring interviews about your past activities
☆ Additional materials related to your proposed project, etc.
※ If the file size is large, please use a file transfer service such as GigaFile便 or another file-sharing service.
We have received several inquiries from international applicants who were unable to download the application form. Unfortunately, we have not been able to reproduce this issue on our end.
If you are unable to download the files, please send an email with the subject line:
Subject: L-AIR Artist Apply – Request for Application Form
We will send you the application form by email.
Please note that replies are sent during Japanese business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM JST).
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed comprehensively by the directors and curators of L-AIR General Incorporated Association based on the submitted materials, including:
- the objectives and content of the proposed project,
- the feasibility and specificity of the expected outcomes,
- the applicant’s motivation,
- and the overall suitability of the proposal for the residency.
The selection process is as follows:
Step 1: Document Review
↓
Step 2: Individual Online Interview (via Google Meet; in-person interviews may also be arranged)
↓
Final Selection
Please note that inquiries regarding the selection criteria or evaluation process cannot be answered.
After selection, a formal residency agreement will be signed between L-AIR and the selected artist.
In the event of any discrepancy between this English translation and the official residency agreement due to translation or interpretation, the Japanese-language contract shall prevail.
