During the two-week research residency, five UK artists will take part in a programme which includes: visits to hidden parts of Ise Shrine which are not generally opened to the public; travel to other cultural heritage sites and meetings with Japanese Shinto priests, craft makers, local residents as well as Japanese contemporary artists. The full schedule will be set in advance of the visit and the selected artists will have the opportunity to input into the programme.

The residency has been developed by the British Council in collaboration with Ise City and will coincide with an exciting year of UK-Japan exchange titled “UK in Japan 2019-20” jointly organised by the British Council and British Embassy Tokyo.

While Japan will attract the global attention with these key moments, the residency will provide the UK artists a unique experience to encounter the beauty of Japanese culture and its tradition, explore its relevance to the 21st century and build new cultural relationships with Japan.

The fully funded research residency will take place over 14 days (including travel). We will also cover access costs and support with any access requirements.

To find out more about the residency programme, eligibility, the application process including how to apply, please visit our website

The deadline is Tuesday 07 May 2019 at 16:00.