U.S./Japan Creative Artists' Program - Open Call for Artists

Deadline: June 27, 2005

Any and all professional creative artists are welcome to submit an application to be part of the U.S./Japan Creative Artists' Program, including those working as: architects, choreographers, composers, creative writers, designers, media artists, playwrights, visual artists, or solo theater artists who work with original material (including puppeteers, storytellers and performance artists). Multidisciplinary artists and artistic directors of theater or dance companies are also eligible.

The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission works cooperatively with the National Endowment for the Arts to sponsor The U.S/Japan Creative Artists' Program. The program supports up to five outstanding contemporary and traditional artists from the United States to spend a six-month residency in Japan to pursue creative work. The U.S./Japan program is extremely competitive; applicants should have regional or national recognition and anticipate a highly rigorous review of their work. Artists should have compelling reasons for wanting to work in Japan.

Selected artists will receive:

A monthly stipend for living expenses and a housing supplement, as well as an allowance for professional support services

Up to $6,000 for round trip transportation for the artist, domestic partner and/or dependent children, and a baggage/storage allowance

A stipend for pre-departure Japanese language study in the United States

For more detailed information, and to access the guidelines and application, go to http://www.jusfc.gov, click on "JUSFC Homepage," then click on the link to "US-Japan Creative Artists Program." From there, click on the "US/Japan Creative Artists' Program Guidelines and Application" link.