2026-2027 International Residency Program – Open Call

About the Open Call

The A4 Residency Art Center, located in Chengdu, China, is a multidisciplinary global exchange platform that integrates creation, networking, and resources. It is dedicated to fostering cross-cultural creative collisions and innovation through residency programs while promoting the deep integration of creative culture with commerce and communities. Since its establishment in 2011, A4 has collaborated with 192 creators from 36 countries and regions, spanning diverse fields including artists, scientists, writers, poets, scholars, musicians, architects, designers, brand founders and beyond. The residency provides interdisciplinary creative support and facilitates meaningful connections between resources, fostering opportunities for transformation and collaboration. As an active advocate for social responsibility, A4 continues to explore innovative intersections between communities and creative culture, shaping new lifestyle experiences for the public while driving commercial innovation. Through the organic integration of creativity and business, A4 offers creators an expanded platform for visibility and collaboration, cultivating a sustainable ecosystem for business and creative collaboration.Resident artists will be participating in a unique context comprised of the art center, the community and the characteristics of the city, which includes the development of a rapidly changing and evolving southern side of a tranquil city as well as the tension between its long history and fractured modernization. The residency’s working ecosystem also engages with diverse themes, spanning the individual and the emotional, the local and the external, the localization and the globalisation, as well as an extensive array of social groups and community practices in China. All of these elements contribute to a layered, dynamic ecosystem for resident artists, offering rich inspiration and interactive space.A4 Residency Art Center respects creative outcomes in various forms and disciplines, encouraging artists to use diverse media and approaches to forge connections and collaborations with the local environment, with a focus on interdisciplinary integration and innovation. At the same time, the residency will offer multiple public platforms for showcasing creative works and actively seeks to create opportunities for resource networking and promotion, enabling artists to gain broader exposure and support for their work.The residency program strives to achieve localization, openness, collaboration, and participation, and expects resident artists to approach the program with the same mindset, engaging actively with the community and urban life, sharing collaborative methods, utilizing tools and expertise, and growing alongside the team and external participants. The residency team will fully support artists’ work, offering access to the center’s resource library and assisting with connections to local resources. Meanwhile, through the unique “Super Agent” system, artists will be paired with local residents to gain authentic perspectives on daily life, helping them quickly understand the area, integrate into the community, and establish their creative direction.The residency program has established a comprehensive documentation and research system, involving multiple interviews and discussions throughout the project, with creative outcomes recorded and summarized. Additionally, the Art Center’s “Super Agent” system and “RE Expansion Program” will launch two levels of cooperation to build a deeper relational network: on one level, involving residents to enrich the diversity of local life; and on the other, sharing documentation with external scholars to enable observation and discussion on a broader scale and from a wider perspective.The program welcomes applications from multidisciplinary artists (including but not limited to visual arts, performing arts, music, film, sound, and architecture), curators (engaged in cross-disciplinary exhibition-making, curation, and project development), designers (spanning product design, fashion design, spatial design, interactive design, and related fields), and other creatives with interdisciplinary backgrounds capable of integrating art, business, and cultural sectors.During the residency, creators are required to initiate one to two participatory local activities to facilitate communication with the city and community. Concurrently, A4 Residency Art Center will organize a plethora of group activities and intimate sharing and exhibition opportunities to foster understanding among creators, encourage integration and co-creation, and facilitate links and cooperation with local resources.The residency duration is 8 to 10 weeks, with a minimum commitment of 8 weeks. Possible residency outcomes include public artworks (temporary/permanent), display of artworks or projects, large-scale public activities or performance, or literature research outputs or publications.Selection criteria include: Creativity & Innovation (uniqueness and originality of the proposed project), Cross-disciplinary Collaboration (ability to engage with local communities and commercial brands), Feasibility & Execution (efficient project execution), and Social & Cultural Impact (potential contributions to the local community and cultural landscape).

What is Offered

Access to a dedicated creative workspace and living quarters. Round-trip airfare (economy class) or train ticket (second class) within a set budget. RMB 10,000 per person/team for creative production and material costs (excluding living expenses). Engagement with local communities, commercial brands, and cultural institutions. Exclusive guided experiences exploring Chengdu’s cultural landscape. Promotional support via official online platforms. Participation in salons, talks, and open studio events. Showcasing residency outcomes through exhibitions, performances, publications, and public art projects.

Requirements

Personal Resume and Portfolio (including various relevant art practice cases and examples of participation in collaborations). Project Proposal (a detailed plan outlining the intended project, objectives, methodology, and how it will engage with local communities or commercial partners).

How to Apply

Applicants must submit all materials in both English and Chinese, including: Personal photo, Portfolio, CV, Project Proposal. Please email your application to: a4residency@a4am.cn with the subject “A4 International Residency Application – [Your Name]”. The application form can be downloaded from: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zktuhs81ku26yf08sfx1e/Application-Form-2026.pdf?rlkey=heou7mxxdkxxjur99q60bvj3d&st=y5g8nzy8&dl=0