Tokyo Biennale 2027: Social Dive Open Call
Organisation: Tokyo Biennale
Programme: Social Dive 2027
Opportunity type: Call for projects
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Application deadline: 30 September 2026, 23:59 JST
Project format: Residency-based art and curatorial projects
Support: Travel expenses up to JPY 300,000, accommodation in Tokyo, project development support up to JPY 200,000, and a JPY 100,000 honorarium
Tokyo Biennale invites artists, curators, researchers, collectives, and practitioners to propose art projects for “Social Dive 2027.”
“Social Dive” is an art project in which artists immerse themselves in neighborhoods across Tokyo to discover the traditions held by local residents and the new values emerging there. For Tokyo Biennale 2027, the programme will create spaces for cross-border encounters and dialogue under the theme “From ‘Me’ to ‘Us’.”
Selected projects will be developed across 11 locations, including historic temples, business districts, traditional back alleys, old wooden buildings, a train station, and entertainment and shopping areas.
Theme: From ‘Me’ to ‘Us’
Today, the world is in an age of conflict and division. One single “me” may not be able to build the future or overcome the anxieties and divisions of the world. Yet when “me” encounters others and reconnects relationships, a new consciousness of “us” begins to emerge.
Projects must take individual experiences, memories, bodies, perspectives, and inquiries as their starting point while opening themselves to others, local areas, society, the city, and communities.
Proposals should engage with the people, history, culture, daily life, and social issues of Tokyo. They must demonstrate originality, social relevance, an experimental spirit, and feasibility.
Eligibility
The open call is available to artists, curators, researchers, collectives, and practitioners in related fields based in Japan or abroad.
Applications may be submitted by individuals or groups. Group applications must designate a single representative. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and able to participate in research, residency-based production, collaboration, and the presentation of outcomes in Tokyo.
Each applicant may submit one project proposal.
Eligible Projects
Applications are invited for art projects or artist-in-residence production plans developed through research, residency-based production, and engagement with people in Tokyo.
Projects may include:
- Artwork creation
- Exhibitions
- Performances
- Video works
- Tours
- Workshops
- Participatory projects
- Research projects
- Curatorial projects
Projects must be capable of being presented or exhibited during Tokyo Biennale 2027. Proposals consisting only of existing works are not eligible.
Residency and Collaboration
Applicants must be available to undertake research, meetings, preparations, production, and implementation in Tokyo during the designated period.
Projects will be developed in consultation with the Tokyo Biennale Secretariat and the “Social Dive” team. Applicants should be able to respond flexibly to changes relating to project content, production methods, schedules, and venue conditions.
Projects should prioritise reciprocal and ethical relationships with local communities and remain sensitive to local history, culture, living environments, and social contexts. Plans must also consider safety, feasibility, accessibility, privacy, image rights, and personal information.
Presentation and Documentation
Selected applicants must publicly present or exhibit their project or its outcomes during Tokyo Biennale 2027.
Presentations may take the form of exhibitions, events, workshops, tours, performances, talks, film screenings, online releases, or documentation displays.
Applicants must document the residency or research process through photography, video, audio, or text and cooperate with the Biennale’s publicity, archiving, and reporting activities.
Support Offered
Selected applicants will receive:
- Round-trip travel expenses of up to JPY 300,000, including tax, for one person
- Accommodation in Tokyo
- Coordination of the project venue
- Project development support of up to JPY 200,000, including tax
- An honorarium of JPY 100,000, including tax
- Interpretation and translation support
- An invitation letter
Project Sites
Projects will take place across 11 sites:
- Toeizan Kaneiji Temple
- Yushima Seido
- Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho
- Kyobashi
- Nihonbashi
- Yaesu
- Kanda
- Ueno Station
- Tokyo Dome City
- Akihabara Electric Town
- Bakurocho and Higashi-Kanda
The sites encompass shrines, temples, business districts, back alleys, old wooden buildings, transport infrastructure, entertainment spaces, shopping areas, and wholesale districts.
Submission Materials
All application materials must be submitted in English or Japanese. Applicants should provide:
- Artist profile photograph
- Personal statement of up to 150 words
- Two key visuals
- Project summary of up to 150 words
- Purpose and background of the project, up to 150 words
- Relationship to the theme, up to 150 words
- Project details of up to 400 words
- Budget of up to 400 words
- Schedule of up to 150 words
- Biography, CV, or portfolio of up to five A4 pages
- Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or other reference links
For group applications, please submit the representative’s profile.
Selection Process
Selection will take place in two stages: preliminary screening and final selection.
Applications will be assessed according to their relationship to the theme “From ‘Me’ to ‘Us’,” originality, social relevance, connection to Tokyo, potential for collaboration with local communities, and feasibility as a residency-based project.
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to submit additional materials or participate in an online or in-person interview or presentation.
Rights and Responsibilities
Proposed projects must be the applicant’s original work. Applicants are responsible for securing permissions relating to copyright, intellectual property, portrait rights, personal information, and third-party materials.
Projects primarily intended for political, religious, or commercial promotion are not eligible.
Following selection, applicants must share production costs, schedules, installation and removal plans, operational structures, and publicity materials with the Secretariat.
Application Deadline
30 September 2026 at 23:59 JST.
How to Apply
Prepare the required materials and submit them through the online application form. A Google account is required to access and submit the form.
