Currently 13 active paid grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in Asia, across AI, arts, film, research, tech and cross-disciplinary practice. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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APWLD invites grassroots women's organisations and movements in Asia and the Pacific to take part in a Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) cycle on Feminist Food Sovereignty, supporting women-led and community-driven research, collective action and advocacy that reclaim community control over food systems, natural resources and knowledge while challenging corporate control and structural inequalities in food and agriculture. Six national grassroots women-led organisations will be selected to work with their communities to conduct FPAR, generate community-led evidence and develop collective advocacy from 2026 to 2028. THEMATIC STREAMS (partners may focus on one or more): community-led sustainable food systems (women-led agroecology, ecological farming, biodiversity restoration, farmer-to-farmer learning); seed sovereignty and Indigenous knowledge systems (women as seed keepers, community seed banks, resistance to corporate seed regimes); land, water and territorial rights (struggles against land and water grabbing, community governance of commons); and access to food justice and systemic transformation (legal, policy and advocacy strategies, cooperatives, community markets, alternative food economies). APWLD prioritises initiatives that strengthen Indigenous knowledge, collective governance, ecological sustainability, feminist transformation and women's leadership. SUPPORT: a sub-grant of up to USD 14,000 per partner over 16 months. Each selected partner identifies two women, a mentor and a young woman researcher below 35, at least one from the community or constituency where the organisation has ongoing food sovereignty work (grassroots, rural or Indigenous women, small-scale food producers, peasants, fisherfolk, or women advancing women-led food sovereignty alternatives). ELIGIBILITY: non-governmental, non-profit, women-led and/or grassroots organisations with experience working with grassroots women, ongoing food-sovereignty work, capacity to conduct participatory feminist community-led research, and ability to work in English (the main working language for training and reporting); a recommendation/reference letter from at least one women's or grassroots organisation is required. APPLY via the online Google Form or by emailing the completed application form to eloisa@apwld.org and tasmiah@apwld.org. Deadline: Sunday 5 July 2026. NOTE: this is an organisation-only sub-grant in the food sovereignty / agroecology and gender-justice space rather than an individual arts/AI opportunity.
The Pier-2 Art Center Artist-in-Residence Program (PAIR), established in 2015 and rooted in the port area of Kaohsiung, supports contemporary artistic practices that embrace experimentation and cross-disciplinary perspectives. The 2027 open call theme, 'Beta Port | An Unfinished Harbor', reflects a state of becoming, inviting artists to respond to the changing realities and imaginaries of Kaohsiung as a port city in continuous formation. Rather than merely revisiting history or collecting local materials, PAIR encourages projects that engage the city's present perceptions and lived experiences, emphasizing public engagement, local sensibility, and experimental approaches. PROVIDES: a 33 sqm studio (with private bathroom) and 16.5 sqm living space; exchange with local artistic and cultural spaces and a public presentation during the residency; access to shared facilities (multifunctional space, kitchen, dining, lecture and meeting rooms); round-trip travel (international economy airfare or domestic Taiwan HSR); a daily living allowance of NTD 800 per artist/group (taxes and premiums withheld); and a project material subsidy up to NTD 35,000. Designated staff assist with administrative coordination, resource matching and creative support, but artists manage their own daily life, material procurement, installation, and any non-English interpreting/translation. ELIGIBILITY: artists and artist groups (groups limited to two members) of any nationality and any discipline, with at least two years of artistic experience; students must be enrolled at graduate level or above; at least intermediate English is required (residency communication is primarily in Chinese and English); applicants must work and live independently and reside for the full approved period. Apply online by 5 July 2026.
Pier-2 Artist-in-Residence Programme (PAIR) 2027 welcomes artists whose practice engages experimental approaches, cross-disciplinary work, and place-based research from Taiwan and abroad. Pier-2 Art Center is a settlement-style arts hub in Kaohsiung, transformed from former warehouse clusters, known for diversity, openness, experimentation and innovation across visual arts, music, theatre, cultural and creative industries, film, television, and more. 2027 THEME: 'Beta Port | An Unfinished Harbour' - a state of becoming; Beta Port suggests an unfixed, in-progress condition embodying openness, fluidity and ongoing evolution; An Unfinished Harbour points to a city that continuously retains the potential to be re-examined, reconnected, and rearticulated. PAIR approaches the residency as an open site of artistic production, supporting artists to develop works and methodologies in dialogue with Kaohsiung through research, exchange and practice. Artists are invited to take Kaohsiung as a starting point and propose projects emphasising public engagement, local sensibility, and experimental approaches. ELIGIBILITY: open to artists and artistic groups (of two people) of all nationalities with at least two years of experience in art creation. BENEFITS: studio and living space; art exchange opportunities; round-trip economy flight or high-speed rail ticket; daily allowance of NTD 800 per person/group; project material subsidy up to NTD 35,000; an assigned project manager. RESIDENCY 2027 PERIOD: 1 January - 31 December 2027 across four intervals (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec); each selected artist undertakes no less than 60 days and no more than 90 days. DEADLINE: 5 July 2026.
Nakanojo Biennale 2027 (11th edition) is an international open call for artists of all genres — sculpture, painting, photography, video art, installation, performance, and more — to exhibit in Nakanojo Town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Theme: 'Echoing Green', inspired by William Blake's poem, exploring cycles of life, regeneration, and connection between past and future generations. Open internationally to individual artists and artist groups at all career stages; new participants are encouraged. A production grant is provided (amount not publicly specified); no exhibition or residency fees are charged. Residency accommodation available from April 2027. Staff support provided for venue selection and installation guidance. First-time participants in Japan must attend an on-site venue inspection; an online orientation on 5 September 2026 is required for all accepted artists. Deadline: 12 July 2026 at 23:59 JST (online). Apply via Google Form at https://forms.gle/SS8DaaGA6uwUKogj7. Full details at https://nakanojo-biennale.com/2027-open-call/english.html. Contact: office@nakanojo-biennale.com.
International visiting artist/scholar residency at the USC-SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry in Shanghai, recruiting 5-6 participants for a cross-media, cross-cultural and cross-spatial exploration of contemporary art at a time when AI and spatial computing are reshaping artistic expression. Three program directions: Art and Technology (digital and material interaction); Humanistic Dialogue (cross-cultural understanding through exchange); and Urban Engagement (responding to urban transformation). Residents receive an individual studio plus access to ceramics, computer lab, sculpture, sound, VR and print facilities, a library and gallery, and private apartment housing (no meals). Support includes 1-2 assistants, organized museum and gallery visits, exchange with local Chinese artists, a group exhibition, and media promotion. ELIGIBILITY: teaching or public-lecture/seminar experience at a university or art institution; an active artistic practice (priority to interdisciplinary media, digital art, easel painting or integrated media); ability to organize 1-2 public events (lectures or workshops) during the residency; fluent English presentation and strong cross-cultural communication skills. Selected artists must donate two artworks for SJTU's permanent collection (provide a list of at least five works), actively participate in ICCI activities, and fully commit to the residency period. Selection announced July 30, 2026. Working languages: English and Mandarin.
Core Echo 2027 is an international open call from Grandtek Art Center for a three-week on-site artist residency. SUPPORT PACKAGE: each selected artist receives an initial stipend of RMB 20,000, with round-trip travel, accommodation, and daily meals provided during the on-site residency. One piece from each artist's exhibited series will enter the permanent collection of the partner enterprise, with terms specified in a contract signed by the end of the on-site residency period. Dedicated co-creation studios are provided, and selected partner enterprises offer supplementary temporary creation zones; spatial requirements requested by artists will be met to the fullest extent possible. Weekly artist salons are held during the residency for peer exchange and exhibition planning. The call is announced via the organizer's WeChat channel; check the source for full details and the application form. Deadline: 15 July 2026, 15:59 UTC.
The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) is seeking an Artistic Director (individual or team) for the 14th Seoul Mediacity Biennale. Launched in 1996, the Biennale is the only one in Korea hosted by a museum and serves as SeMA's flagship international exhibition, a platform bringing together the rapidly changing media environment and the expanding city of Seoul. The 14th edition's exhibition is tentatively scheduled for 16 August to 14 November 2027 across SeMA venues (Seosomun Branch, parts of the Seo-Seoul Museum of Art, Paik Ground SeMA, and the Media Art Seoul Exhibition Platform). ROLE: establish the exhibition theme, develop the plan, select artists and works, oversee installation, texts, budget, related programs/publications, public relations and sponsorship, working with the Biennale team and SeMA departments. QUALIFICATIONS: demonstrated expertise in contemporary art and, within the past five years, experience as director or chief curator of an international Biennale-scale art project; ability to contribute to SeMA's networks; ability to visit and stay in Seoul for a sufficient period; and ability to work within SeMA's institutional systems. They seek a critical perspective on media and contemporary art grounded in the Biennale's identity, a future-oriented model reflecting Seoul's history and locality, and an original curatorial proposal not previously realized in Korea or internationally. COMPENSATION: about KRW 60 million (individual) / KRW 80 million (team); part-time with flexibility to go full-time, through December 2027. APPLY by email from 3 June to 15 July 2026 (midnight KST); shortlist announced around 21 August, interviews 27 August, final selection around 31 August. Inquiries: contact@mediacityseoul.kr.
Unruly Mirrors is an open call for artists based in Kazakhstan, Japan, South Korea, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, or Mongolia. The project examines beauty practices in East and Central Asia as spaces of norm reproduction, intimacy, and feminist resistance. Financial support and full eligibility criteria were not publicly confirmed at time of entry (the website was unreachable). Deadline: 15 July 2026. Apply or inquire at https://unrulymirrors.com. NOTE: verify financial support and full details directly before applying.
Four-week residency in Kyoto for artists, curators and writers from anywhere in the world, working in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, new media, installation, fiction and nonfiction writing, poetry, interdisciplinary or social practice. Open to all career stages, 21 and over. Selected participants notified by 1 September 2026.
The VH AWARD, hosted by Hyundai Motor Group, supports emerging media artists whose work engages with the context of Asia, through an online residency and exhibitions across global platforms. FIELD: audiovisual, screen-based artworks including video art, motion graphics, animation, games, films or newly explored areas; proposals must suit single-channel video presentation (no interactivity). ELIGIBILITY: individuals or collectives whose work engages with the context of Asia, including artists of Asian descent, those based in Asia, and the Asian diaspora. Five finalists are selected, each receiving a USD 30,000 production grant and a place in the Ars Electronica online residency program (masterclasses and 1:1 mentoring), with networking and exhibition opportunities; one Grand Prix recipient (announced 2027) receives an additional USD 30,000; a new Honorary Mention category recognises one or two further applicants with website features and selected residency components. APPLY: via the VH AWARD website Entry Portal with a video portfolio (max 3 min), CV and artist statement (max 3 pages), and a new artwork proposal (max 3 pages) with a reference video (max 1 min); all documents in English; proposed works must be original and unexhibited. Open call 26 May - 21 July 2026 (KST); finalists announced September 2026.
International Writers' Workshop (IWW) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), founded in 2004, has hosted over 150 writers from more than 60 countries. The 2027 Writers-in-Residence Programme runs 26 February to 25 March 2027 and culminates in the IWW Literary Festival on the theme 'Inheritance'. Writers are encouraged to share a piece of writing in conversation with the festival theme. ELIGIBILITY: have at least one published book; currently reside outside of Hong Kong; have a functional command of English or Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese). WHAT IWW PROVIDES: round-trip economy class airfare; accommodation on HKBU's campus for 4 weeks; a per diem. DEADLINE: 14 August 2026. APPLY via the IWW HKBU call for application (PDF).
The Hayama Artist Residency introduces visual artists from around the world to Japanese culture and offers them their first gallery exhibition in Japan. The four-week residency takes place in Hayama, a coastal town in Kanagawa Prefecture about 1.5 hours from Tokyo. Selected artists receive roundtrip airfare to Tokyo, shared accommodation with one other resident, and USD 800 for meals and local transportation. A core element is a group exhibition during the stay, hosted in partnership with KOKI ARTS, a contemporary gallery in the Bakurocho art district of Tokyo. The program is open to visual artists over 21 working in any medium, based anywhere in the world, and applications are reviewed by the director and an international selection committee. The June 2027 cycle has an application deadline of September 30, 2026, with notification by December 15, 2026.
Multidisciplinary international residency at the A4 Residency Art Center in Chengdu, China, a global exchange platform integrating creation, networking and resources, dedicated to fostering cross-cultural creative collisions and innovation through residency programmes while promoting deep integration of creative culture with commerce and communities. Residents initiate one to two participatory local activities to facilitate communication with the city and community; A4 also organises group activities, intimate sharing and exhibition opportunities to foster understanding among creators and connect them with local resources. AVAILABLE DATES: Spring 2028 (April - June) or Autumn 2028 (July - October). ELIGIBILITY: international applicants from any field; A4 welcomes applications from multidisciplinary artists (visual, performing, music, film, sound, architecture), curators, designers (product, fashion, spatial, interactive), and interdisciplinary creatives. PROGRAMME SUPPORT: studio and accommodation; round-trip economy airfare or 2nd-class train within a set budget; RMB 10,000 production grant per person/team (excluding living expenses). DEADLINE: 31 December 2026 (2028 cycles). APPLY via the A4 Residency Art Center latest-recruitment page.