FAQ


This FAQ addresses points applicable to both the Residency Program and Creative Stay.
Please make sure to read the relevant program's description and application guidelines thoroughly beforehand.


How We Work
Applying & Selection
Payment
At the residency & Facilities



COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT HOW WE WORK

What is your approach?
We understand our role primarily in terms of facilitation rather than curation. We connect creators with the local community and with the specific dimensions of their field of interest. 
Our approach is oriented toward the personal and the specific: supporting each project's own internal coherence and helping to express its intention.

Why is the open call scope for residency so wide?
For us, MiSHŌ residency is a creative experiment. Every practitioner interacts with the setting and the idea of the residency in a unique way. 
Keeping the scope broad enables us to expand our understanding of the environment, learn how to collaborate across diverse mediums, 
and discover unexpected perspectives.
The same openness applies to working with people at different points in their creative practice and work development stage. We have supported professional artists and researchers with dedicated, focused projects in development, those who explore their creativity, and those who use their time at the residency for site-specific work. Our independence allows us to welcome creators without an administrative framework defining the choice.
With all that said, this reflects MiSHŌ's present orientation rather than a fixed position- as mentioned, this is a creative experiment. The residency may, over time, focus on specific themes or disciplines.


APPLYING & SELECTION

Who selects and reviews work/selection process?
There is no external jury, applications are reviewed directly by us. Our residency team is two people small.
We both have studied, created, and worked within cultural organizations over the years.

The main selection criteria is very simple:
1. The potential benefit and resonance gained from the work to be carried out in the Fujino setting
2. Our capacity and resources to meet the requirements specified in the project proposal.
Once selected, we arrange an online chat with each candidate to confirm that our type of residency and working methods align with their creative needs.

(Creative Stay specific) Why do you still select candidates if it's 'open to everyone'?
It's open to everyone in the sense that creativity is a broad umbrella. We wish to ensure how you plan to use the space aligns with the residency's purpose, that our house is suitable for your kind of work, and that it stays comfortable for other creators who may be sharing the space at the same time. We also check in to advise whether the project is suited for Creative Stay or the Residency Program.

What is the selection schedule?
Newly announced open calls have an initial deadline, and we aim to get back to selected candidates within two weeks to a month of that date.
For spaces not yet filled, applications remain open on a rolling basis, which means the end date isn't well defined. 
We recognize this can cause inconvenience and uncertainty and are working to improve this process for applications from 2027 onward. 
Thank you for your time to apply and for your patience.

Why didn't I get a reply about my application?
Our small team makes it difficult to respond to every applicant individually, so we tend to contact only selected candidates. A generic, automated rejection didn't feel honest to us, but we recognize that no reply isn't better either. We're now adding an option to the application form: if you'd like to be informed of a rejection, please indicate this, and we'll send a brief notice (unfortunately, not individual feedback).

Can I apply for an irregular duration or different dates?
There is a certain amount of flexibility in the schedule. If you would like to enquire about a different duration or alternative dates, do get in touch.

Can I extend my stay once I am there?
This is not an option for the Residency Program, but you can extend a Creative Stay period, subject to space availability.





PAYMENT

What is the fee for?
Our residency doesn’t receive external funding or institutional backing. The residency fee enables us to focus fully on residents and to cover running costs.Independence from external funding gives us consistency: the conditions we offer stay stable and do not shift with funding cycles. Meanwhile, we are also developing other ways to sustain the residency and hope this will enable flexibility in our fees over time.

Do you provide stipends or scholarships?
No, we're unable to provide stipends, scholarships, or travel grants. Once we confirm the participation, we're glad to provide a formal letter of invitation 
to support your own applications for grants and artist stipends in the country of your residence. 



AT THE RESIDENCY & FACILITIES

What kind of workspace do you have?
The residency combines accommodation and workspace. We aim to assign a room suitable for living and working. There is also shared tatami-floor studio on the ground floor and access to a spacious garden. For large-scale work or projects requiring working with heavy-duty equipment and materials, please get in touch to discuss options.

Do you have facilities for X/Y (ceramics, glass, etc.)?
We do not have any specialized facilities.

Do you have X/Y tools/equipment (easel, etc.)?
We do not have specialist tools, but we aim to accommodate the requirements while growing a shared selection of tools for everyone to use. 
Please let us know what you need so we can see if it is something we can source.

Can I invite visitors or collaborators?
For daytime visitors, please check in with your fellow residents. To maintain privacy and for safety reasons, overnight visitors are not permitted unless agreed with fellow residents and confirmed with us. Please also keep in mind that an additional fee applies for overnight stays.

Do you provide catering?
MiSHŌ is entirely self-catered.

Do you have accessibility accommodations (mobility, dietary restrictions)?
The house is not equipped for mobility issues. However, we can advise on navigating dietary restrictions in daily life in Japan and guide you toward local options.

Is there space or support for residents with families or children?
Please get in touch with us directly to discuss options.