The Saison Foundation Visiting Fellows 2018

The Saison Foundation is a grant-making foundation established in July 1987 that supports projects and activities related to contemporary Japanese theater and dance. In order to increase the visibility of contemporary Japanese performing arts on a worldwide level, The Saison Foundation awards grants and priority use of its rehearsal/workshop and residence facilities at Morishita Studio in Tokyo. Morishita Studio, owned by The Saison Foundation, has four studios and three guest rooms (accommodation). Their grantees are able to rent the studio for rehearsals, workshops, creative work, work-in-progress showings, residencies, etc., at reasonable rates.

Saison Artist in Residence Visiting Fellows: This program aims to build up an international network for contemporary performing arts and to enhance mutual understanding, and gives opportunities for artists to research the contemporary performing arts scene in Japan. The program supports research visits to Japan for those who are expected to play an important role in the international performing arts scene.

The Research Residency for Artists offers artistic development opportunities to research and spend time building links with artists and arts managers in Japan for artists who wish to create new works involving arts and culture in Japan and/or who wish to do collaboration projects with artists and arts managers in Japan. Fellows are able to conduct research with a base at Morishita Studio. The program is open to individual artists, i.e. playwrights, directors and choreographers:

• who are based outside of Japan and wish to come to Japan as a visitor
• who are able to communicate in English or Japanese
• who are able to stay in Japan for more than 20 days up to 35 days from August 20 to November 17, 2018, from December 1 to December 28, 2018 or from January 4 to March 15, 2019

The main purpose of the visit has to be for researching arts and culture in Japan; therefore artists with the main purpose of presenting and/or promoting a specific piece of performance during residency are not eligible to apply. Groups of artists are not eligible to apply. An individual or organization in Japan planning to invite artists may also apply for the program, but it is necessary to gain consent from the invitee.

The Saison Foundation may help coordinate meetings and interviews, and provide additional support for the research. Accommodation at Morishita Studio will be provided free of charge. According to the funding and contributions from other sources, applicants who are under 45 years old and would like to stay in Japan for more than 20 days up to 35 days from August 20 to November 17, 2018, from December 1 to December 28, 2018 or from January 4 to March 15, 2019, are able to request a grant from The Saison Foundation. The grant will be given to two artists for 2018 including one round-trip Economy-class ticket and/or living expenses (4,000 yen per day excluding the days of arrival and departure) and/or research & activities costs.

Fellows are expected to:

• hold a public talk or give a presentation on their country’s art scene and their work
• submit a report on the research visit
• demonstrate the outcome of the research visit within one year after the visit, e.g. performing events, workshops, talk events or publications written in any language except Japanese

The Research Residency for Arts Managers offers artistic development opportunities to research contemporary performing arts and spend time building links with artists and arts managers in Japan for arts managers who wish to start international projects with contemporary theater and dance communities in Japan. Fellows are able to conduct research with a base at Morishita Studio. The program is open to individual arts managers, i.e. producers, program directors and curators:

• who are based outside of Japan and wish to come to Japan as a visitor
• who are able to communicate in Japanese or English
• who engage in international exchange projects
• who are able to stay in Japan for more than 20 days up to 35 days from August 20 to November 17, 2018, from December 1 to December 28, 2018 or from January 4 to March 15, 2019

The main purpose of the visit has to be for researching the performing arts scene in Japan; therefore arts managers with the purpose of producing or touring a specific piece of work during residency are not eligible to apply. An individual or organization in Japan planning to invite the art arts manager may also apply for the program, but it is necessary to gain consent from the invitee.

The Saison Foundation may help coordinate meetings and interviews, and to provide additional support for the research. Accommodation at Morishita Studio will be provided free of charge. According to the funding and contributions from other sources, applicants who are under 45 years old and would like to stay in Japan for more than 20 days up to 35 days between from August 20 to November 17, 2018, from December 1 to December 28, 2018 or from January 4 to March 15, 2019, are able to request a grant from The Saison Foundation. The grant will be given to one arts manager for 2018 including one round-trip Economy-class ticket and/or living expenses (4,000 yen per day excluding the days of arrival and departure) and/or research & activities costs (up to 5,000 yen per day excluding the days of arrival and departure) for each arts manager.

Fellows are expected to

• hold a public talk or give a presentation on their country’s art scene and their work
• submit a report on the research visit
• demonstrate the outcome of the research visit within one year after the visit, e.g. performing events, workshops, talk events or publications written in any language except Japanese

Please prepare a Request Letter for Application Form including the following information:

• Applicant’s name and contact information including address, phone number and email address
• Brief descriptions of the past and present works and achievements by the applicants
• A concise summary of the proposed research project, including its aims, objectives, theme and when and where it will take place.

and submit it by email to [email protected], by 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2018 (Japan Standard Time). Alternatively, applicants may submit the letter by fax, post/courier, or in-person. An application form will be given to the applicant as soon as the organizers confirm that the proposed project falls within the goals of their program.