About us
Who we are What we do, and What Artists in Residence is What people and artists do Introduction of the facility Facility Map
Who we are
Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio is a cultural and arts facility in Sapporo City at the former Sapporo Tenjinyama International House, a medium-term accommodation facility owned by Sapporo City. The facility was refurbished and relaunched after changing its purpose from an “accommodation facility for guests of Sapporo City” to a “base for international artists in residence (*2) (“AIR”)” that supports people carrying out creative activities (*1).
What we do, and What Artists in Residence is
Available to: Artists and Art Professionals
As an AIR base, Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio supports people from both Japan and overseas who are involved in creative activities at the following three stages: (1) research and building ideas; (2) production/creation; and (3) announcements/presentations. By allowing AIR to stay in Sapporo, Hokkaido on medium to long-term stays while carrying out independent activities and producing meaningful results through the “place, time and opportunities” provided by Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio, we are able to offer a broad range of services as below:
1) economic support through use of the facility;
2) provision of specialist advice and information for correctly accessing the diverse resources available in Sapporo and Hokkaido;
3) exchanges between the artists carrying out creative activities at the residence;
4) support for everyday living during their stay.
* If you wish to receive support for any of 2) to 4), please make a meeting appointment at Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio during your stay.
* Interpreting and translation support are not available by default.
Furthermore, the details of support differ depending on the three types of program.
The vast majority of participants staying at Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio and carrying out creative activities are on the Self-Funding Program. The cost of using the Studio Apartments, public transportation, activities during their stay, and living costs are paid for by the program resident, but the program does allow participants to freely plan the timing and duration of their stay (24 hours per day, up to 90 days). Participants must be seeking a base for production or research activities in Japan, Hokkaido and Sapporo, and include the following:
- people looking for somewhere to concentrate and work on production activities in a different environment or cultural setting;
- people seeking exchanges with other artists staying at the facility, or with the wider region or local community;
- people seeking a place for a sabbatical;
- people seeking a place to stay in the medium to long term for the purposes of an exhibition or performance etc. being hosted in Sapporo City;
- people taking part in cultural or artistic projects being hosted in Sapporo City.
and more
On this program, participants carry out residential production activities for a fixed period and announce their results upon completion. Invited artists are chosen by the selection committee (internationally active artists and curators) from among the applicants.
There are changes every year in the free provision of Studio Apartments, grants for certain residential production costs, and the duration, conditions and other details.
The number of invited artists is around two or three each year.
The Networking Program aims to build independent collaborative relationships with the goal of promoting mutual exchange between Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio and other cultural and artistic institutions from both Japan and overseas.
So far, we have accepted around three groups each year from a variety of countries to carry out residential production.
What people and artists do
Available to: users of Tenjinyama Park, members of the general public
Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio is located in a quiet park environment in the rich natural setting of Tenjinyama Park. There are 13 “Studio Apartments” (*3) used by Japanese and overseas artists, as well as researchers on culture and art (*2). These are available to carry out production, surveys and research while staying at the facility. In addition to the Studio Apartments, there are also “Multipurpose studios (charges payable)” available for activities by local residents. In addition, the lobby on the ground floor of the facility is always available as a free rest area of the park, and anybody is welcome to call by.
This creates opportunities for chance encounters with the creative activities or the everyday lives of the artists staying at the facility. This area is free to use for people who are taking a rest during a walk, studying, working, reading or spending time.
*1 People carrying out creative activities
Anybody involved in cultural or artistic fields as artists or researchers, irrespective of the field
*2 Artists in Residence/AIR
This refers to artists who relocate from their own base to carry out creative activities during a temporary residence. The system also supports stages of the artists’ activities that might require relocation prior to “exhibitions/presentations”.
In other words, it supports the “construction of research/ideas or plans” and “production/creation” stages. For this reason, the basic approach to AIR is for the artists to have personal responsibility for autonomous and self-directed activities, rather than being restricted in their creative activities.
This is very different to the purpose (or the aims, mission, or performance measures) of art museums and halls, etc., which take responsibility for the “exhibition/presentation” stage and aim to share the value of completed work with society.
For this reason, AIR provision could be seen as playing a general infrastructure role in the field of culture and arts. In recent years, there have been several examples of processes in cultural and artistic projects/bases with a weaker distinction between these two roles.
(October 2019/written by: Art and Research Center)
Introduction of the facility
| Opening hours | 8:45 to 21:00 |
|---|---|
| Holidays | every Monday (open whenever Monday is a public holiday; in this case, the studio will be closed the following Tuesday) and the year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 to January 3) |
| Building | three-story reinforced concrete |
| Dedicated car park | none (please come on public transportation) |
Facility Map
＜Common areas＞ Meeting Room A; Atrium (Common Lounge); Exhibition Space
The common areas are used for exchange programs planned by Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio, including events and workshops, as well for the exhibition of artwork, presentations of research results, and public productions, etc. carried out by residents in the course of their creative activities.
The areas are also available for use as a rest-stop for people walking through Tenjinyama Park, or as a venue for friends to gather (free of charge).
Meeting Room A is a resting space with a large window overlooking trees in the park. It is also used as a dining room by the resident artists.
The Atrium is available to all as a place of relaxation. The common space has books and catalogues about Sapporo, Hokkaido, and art available to read, and can be used for “private study”, such as homework or reading.
One corner of the Atrium has children’s books, toys and musical instruments and a space where everyone from young children through to the elderly can lie down and relax. This space is sometimes used by artists as a venue for hosting programs, such as public productions, meetings, workshops and events.
The Exhibition Space is used by residents involved in creative activities for the exhibition of artwork, presentations of research results, and activities reports, etc. (*The space is not available for rent.)
The kitchen can be used by residents of the Studio Apartments.
Second Floor: Used by residents involved in creative activities
Entry to the Second Floor and higher is not permitted as a general rule by people who are not residents of the Studio Apartments.
The Resident Lounge is a space for people involved in creative activities at Tenjinyama Art Studio to meet up and talk.
The Laundry can be used by residents of the Studio Apartments.
Spaces for Rent
As a general rule, the multipurpose studios are available for the production of artwork, and holding meetings, etc.
These are available for long-term residencies for the purposes of production and research, etc.