TOKAS Curator Residency Program 2026
Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS), operated by a division of The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, offers artist-in-residence programs for international creators working in various creative fields to stay, engage in creation, and conduct research activities in Tokyo. It also provides creators with the opportunities to exchange creative ideas and to present outcomes of their residency at TOKAS-organized events, such as the OPEN STUDIO.
The open-call program “Curator Residency Program” aims to invite distinguished and highly motivated curators in the fields of curation, art criticism, and cultural research from all over the world and offer them with opportunities to conduct research in Tokyo. We provide financial support to allow curators to develop and present their research and ideas. Selected curators are required to give mentoring sessions to local emerging creators, and deliver a public talk.
1. Target for this program
This program is aimed at those curators
who are eager to exchange with local emerging creators
who are willing to conduct new research in Tokyo
who practice in any of the following cultural / artistic fields: curation, art criticism and cultural research
2. Residency Period / Number of Curators
1 to 3 months within the following residency periods:
From the beginning of May, 2026 to the end of July, 2026
From the beginning of September, 2026 to the end of November, 2026
From the beginning of January, 2027 to the end of March, 2027
Number of Curators (tentative): 6 curators in total (2 curators per period)
3. What TOKAS offers
Living space (single room)
Airfare: A round-trip economy-class air ticket between the nearest airport from the place of residence and Tokyo (either Narita or Haneda Airport) will be provided
Fee for research/project: JPY 100,000 (consumption tax excluded)
*Income tax (20.42%) will be deducted from the above amounts
4. Eligibility
Resides outside of Japan
Has 3 years or more of experience in his/her specialized area of expertise
Has sufficient ability to communicate in English with other residing creators and TOKAS stafffor mutual understanding
Independent and capable of working and living on his/her own
Curators working as a duo are ineligible
Students are ineligible (except for Ph.D. candidates)
5. Requirements / Conditions
Able to stay consecutively at TOKAS Residency during the proposed residency period.
Shall present their research at a public talk event and submit a comprehensive report on the proposed project.
Give mentoring sessions to local emerging creators, participate in talk events if asked by TOKAS, and cooperate with its public relations activity.
Do not carry out any commercial or profitable activities throughout the residency period.
Do not conduct any activities that would make big noise or vibration in TOKAS Residency.
The accommodation is provided for the participating curator only. Family members, partners, friends or guests are not permitted to stay at TOKAS Residency.
6. Application Deadline
Deadline to submit documents: June 25, 2025, 18:00 (JST)
Deadline to submit portfolio: July 2, 2025, 23:00 (JST)
Other residencies at TOAKS:
International Creator Residency Program - International Creator Residency Program aims to invite distinguished and highly motivated international creators in the field of visual art, film, design, architecture, and to give opportunities to work in Tokyo.
The result of their residency will be presented at the OPEN STUDIO and/or the Result Presentation at TOKAS Hongo.
Research Residency Program - Research Residency Program gives opportunities to conduct research on arts and culture in the city of Tokyo, targeting both international and local creators in the field of visual art, film, design, architecture, music, sound art, performing art and curation.