2021 Call for AiR in Tainan, Taiwan

As the oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan is unique because of its profound historical context, traditional folk beliefs, the regeneration of old buildings, and the variety of art spaces. Tainan City Government has launched open calls for its Artist-In-Residence (AIR) program to select international and domestic artists to be placed in Tainan. For many artists, taking a residency is one method of exploring their art practice, while simultaneously discovering a different culture. Currently, there are two sites managed by the Tainan City Government, namely Siao-Long Cultural Park and Tsung-Yeh Arts and Cultural Center.

International artists participating in Residence Program of Siao-Long Cultural Park and Tsung-Yeh Arts and Cultural Center live in a vibrant community of artists and have the opportunity to exchange techniques and ideas with other artists; local and international, emerging and established. Artists live in close proximity to local craftsmen artisans and are encouraged to take the community and vibrant local culture as inspiration for their art works. Two parks have professional wheelchair accessible and air-conditioned modern studio spaces, galleries and theatres for exhibitions, workshops and performances.

AIR Theme for 2021:

• Siao-Long Cultural Park takes the concept of ‘Site-Specific Art’ as its theme for the AIR program in 2021. The artworks should respond to the park’s environment, including the warehouses, corridors, the railway landscape, the children’s museum, and either the indoor or the outdoor spaces. They should also engage with the locality’s natural and historical sites, and with local communities.
• Tsung-Yeh Arts and Cultural Center takes the concept of ‘Site-Specific Art’ as its theme for the AIR program in 2021. Artists shall create works before observing the following contexts: hydrology of Tseng-wen River (including river basin and water management system), physiography (archaeological studies, soil, meteorology, or topographical variations), ecology (aquatic, amphibian, and terrestrial fauna and flora in the area), humanities (indigenous, agricultural, river-related, or ecology-related culture).

Artists working in the following disciplines are invited to apply: Interdisciplinary; Visual art; Performance and Photography (Siao-Long only). The application is online with deadline 11th September 2020. The residency covers:

• Living and working expenses in Taiwan (including personal income-tax and insurance) - partly subsidized (NT$ 30,000 per month maximum). The total amount will be paid in installments. Artists will receive payment directly, excluding any tax.
• Presentation expenses - The maximum allocation is NT$ 100,000 (including tax), which will be paid directly to the relevant contractors. The above expenses include: providing a service or materials used in completing workshops, exhibitions and performances, flyer design and printing, translation fee, dissemination, and expenses for a press conference. Any transportation fees for works are excluded.

If you have any enquiries about the subsidy, you should notify SCP/TAC during the application process or before signing the contract.