u.s.-japan creative artist fellowship program

The U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Fellowship Program invites 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.