2026.9.11

Curator Residency Program 2027 Application and Guidelines

1. Summary

The Mori Contemporary Art Foundation (MoriCAF) offers a residency program for curators with an interest in Japanese contemporary art. The program selects distinguished curators from outside Japan and provides opportunities for them to conduct research and interact with artists, researchers, museums, exhibitions and festivals, galleries, and alternative spaces in Japan, and so contribute to the international dissemination of Japanese contemporary art. Selected curators are provided with financial support to undertake research as well as assistance with coordinating their projects. Prior to the end of the residency, participants are expected to present the results of their research.

2. Eligibility

Eligibility:
• Residing outside Japan
• Five or more years of curatorial experience in the field of contemporary art
• Fluency in English or Japanese
• Able to live and work independently
• No age or nationality restrictions
• No engagement in commercial activities during the residency
• Active involvement in publicity
• Continual stay at the accommodation provided by MoriCAF during the residency
• Participants are required to obtain adequate travel and medical insurance before departure for the duration of their stay
• The residency must be between one and three months (90 days)

Not eligible:
• Applicants who wish to stay for less than one month.

Number of Residents:
• 3 to 4 residents per year

Other:
• Priority is given to research directly related to specific future exhibitions or projects, rather than to general research.

3. Provisions

• Accommodation (single room with kitchen facilities, breakfast included)
• Round-trip air fare (economy class, from closest airport to either Narita or Haneda; other travel-related expenses are not included)
• Research Project Expenses (up to JPY 200,000, tax included; for domestic transportation, accommodation, and other related expenses). *Participants are required to submit an itemized report of expenses via the provided Form, and any unused balance may be required to be returned.
• Insurance is not provided by the foundation; participants must obtain it independently.
• If a visa is required, participants are responsible for obtaining the visa and covering all associated costs. The Foundation will issue necessary documents for the application upon request.

4. Residency Period

Residencies may last from one to three months (Max.90 days) between April 2027 and March 2028.
Applicants may indicate up to two preferred residency periods at the time of application. The exact residency periods and durations will be determined in consultation with the selected recipients.

5. Application Method

Please download the application form, complete it with the required information, and submit it to residence@moricaf.jp.
For further details, please refer to the manual.

6. Necessary Documents

1. Application form (in English)
• Applicants should provide information about the theme of their project and the research they wish to conduct in Japan (within 500 words)
• Portfolio (Please include active web links to past projects in the application 3-3)

2. CV (PDF Format)

3. One Letter of recommendation (signed, English, A4, PDF)
•Two referees
(contact details for professionals and specialists to respond to inquiries from MoriCAF about the applicant)　*Please provide this information in the designated section of the form.

7. Application Deadline

Saturday, October 31, 2026, 6:00 p.m. (Japan Standard Time)

8. Selection Schedule

November 2026	Applicant selection will be taken by International Jury
December 2026	Applicants individually notified of selection results
January 2027	Results published on the website and Instagram and via press release

* Some applicants may be contacted for an interview via online with the MoriCAF office before the final decision.
* MoriCAF is unable to respond to inquiries about the selection process or results.

2027 International Jury

（In alphabetical order, except for the Chair）

Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath
Co-Directors, Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Berlin

Christophe Cherix
Director, The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Laurent Le Bon
President, Centre Pompidou, Paris

Suhanya Raffel
Museum Director, M+, Hong Kong

Eugene Tan
Director, The National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum

Kataoka Mami
Director, Mori Art Museum; Chair, International Jury

9. Accommodation and Facilities

• Location: “MORI LIVING” serviced apartment (within Tokyo’s 23 wards)
• One-bedroom, furnished, with breakfast included
• Facilities include kitchen, toilet, bathroom, refrigerator, air conditioning, tableware, bedding, and so on.
• 24-hour internet (Wi-Fi) access
https://www.moriliving.com/en/sa/index.html

10. Final Report

Participants are required to present the results of the residency and provide a written report to MoriCAF at the end of the program. The specific method of presentation will be determined in consultation with the MoriCAF secretariat after selection.