The 2025-26 application process is now open!
Please Note, this is an electronic submission process and there are two application deadlines for the 2025 program:
- First deadline is March 1, 2025 11:59 pm ET: The fillable cover sheet PDF must be submitted, as an attachment to an email, to: JUSFC.creativeartist@arts.gov by 11:59 pm on March 1, 2025.
*March 17, 2025: Receive Login information to begin submission of narrative application and work samples.
- Second Deadline is March 21, 2025, 11:59 pm: Deadline for the complete submission of the narrative application and work samples. This is a firm deadline and applications submitted after midnight on March 21 will not be considered.
Guidelines and Review Criteria:
Longtime partners, the Japan U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) extend an invitation to contemporary and traditional artists from the United States to apply for a unique artistic residency—the U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Program. JUSFC and the NEA are committed to supporting and selecting up to five projects involving diverse artists from the United States, representing a wide range of artistic genres and regions. By intentionally engaging artists who have been historically marginalized and who can bring a wider, more diverse range of creative inquiries and perspectives, the program aims to stimulate new and critical conversations and to lay the foundations for important and necessary cultural exchange.
Cultural understanding is at the heart of this program. Artists participate as seekers, as cultural visionaries, and as living liaisons to the traditional and contemporary cultural life of Japan. They also serve as connectors who share knowledge and bring back knowledge. By living and working in Japan for at least 3-5 months, their interaction with the Japanese public and the outlook they bring home provide exceptional opportunities to promote cultural understanding between the United States and Japan.
Artists should have compelling reasons for wanting to work in Japan, and they should do preliminary research to identify contacts there. JUSFC and NEA encourage artists to consider collaboration with Japanese colleagues, as appropriate for their artistic field. Artists are free to interact with artists anywhere in Japan.
While many artists chose to remain in Tokyo, others have undertaken their residencies in Kyoto or other cities, and still others have worked in rural settings or have visited several sites relevant to their work.
Upon their arrival in Tokyo, artists will be predominantly on their own during the three-to-five-month residency period; however, the International House of Japan provides in-depth orientation materials, expert advice and professional contacts, as well as some logistical support during the residency period.
The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission sponsors this program with financial and administrative assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Grant Award:
- A grant award of $20,000 for a minimum of three months with $4,000 for each additional month up to five months will be provided to each artist to cover housing, living, and professional expenses. Artists will be responsible for converting their dollar award into Japanese yen. Disbursement of the grant and financial responsibilities of the grantee will be outlined when awards are made.
- Up to $2,500 for round-trip travel will also be provided as reimbursement.
Due to the limited number of awards, U.S. artists who are supported as a collaborative team will receive one award of $20,000 for three months, with $4,000 for each additional month up to five months, and a maximum of $2,500 for travel for the team. In addition, while artists may wish to apply for other grants concurrently with the application to this program, selected artists may not hold a second award for financial assistance during the period of support of the U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Fellowship Program.
Please visit https://www.jusfc.gov/creative-artists-programs/ for application guidance.
