The Shelburne Craft School and Nishiawakura, Japan community were awarded a Japan Foundation grant entitled: Developing and sustaining visual cross-cultural networking between villages in Japan and USA. There are many parts of this grant project that include webinars, workshops, presentations, and children’s art exchange. This grant also supports the organizing of a residency for members of the Shelburne Craft School and partners Shelburne Farms and Shelburne Community School to spend 2 weeks in Nishawakura. Nishiawakura is a traditional Japanese village in Okayama prefecture nestled in the mountains with a commitment of creating sustainability through traditional crafts, architecture, education, forest management, and partnerships in industries.

The Developing and sustaining visual cross-cultural networking between villages in Japan and USA fall, 2025 residency program is a selective program. Although the village is rich in cultural vitality it is a small community with limited options for residencies with master artists (fiber, clay, wood/metal), architects, environmentalists, and educators. Depending on the medium there will be 6 days of hands-on experience in a studio in Nishiawakura spread over the two weeks. The remaining days will focus on the aesthetics and culture of the region with an emphasis on linking nature and art. These will include visits to artist/craft studios, sustainability sites, participation in workshops and community forums, and trip to the UNESCO Geopark in Tottori. A celebration exhibition will culminate the residency.

There will be two separate sessions: Mid-October and Late November (Projected dates: October 12-October 25 and November 19- December 2). The program is designed to maximize the experience for six members in each session. Prospective participants need to understand they will be living in a small community, working collaboratively in someone else’s space, and being invited as guests to cultural/agricultural/artistic sites. Therefore, participants need to be open to new professional and personal discoveries as well as unexpected and challenging circumstances. All applications will be reviewed by a committee that includes members of the Shelburne Craft School and Shelburne Farms.

Estimated Cost (which will include time working with an artist, environmentalist, or educator -depending on your focus- accommodations, meals, local transfers and transportation, and some on-site program activities)

$2985 + airfare

Projected dates: October 12-October 25 and November 19-December 2

Please find the application on the right hand side.