介绍
The A4 International Residency Program is officially open open to creators from all fields, the 8-10 week residency sessions in 2026-2027 invite collaboration across disciplines, welcoming not only artists but also scientists, writers, poets, scholars, musicians, architects, designers, brand owners, and other creators and explorers. A4 will select participants based on submitted applications and provide support, including round-trip airfare, accommodation, workspace, material fees, a “Super Agent” connection system, and project promotion to foster interaction between residents and the community, the city, and each other.
//One.
Resident artists will be participating in a unique context comprised of the art center, the community and the characteristics of the city, which includes the development of a rapidly changing and evolving southern side of a tranquil city as well as the tension between its long history and fractured modernization. The residency’s working ecosystem also engages with diverse themes, spanning the individual and the emotional, the local and the external, the localization and the globalisation, as well as an extensive array of social groups and community practices in China. All of these elements contribute to a layered, dynamic ecosystem for resident artists, offering rich inspiration and interactive space.
// Two.
A4 Residency Art Center respects creative outcomes in various forms and disciplines, encouraging artists to use diverse media and approaches to forge connections and collaborations with the local environment, with a focus on interdisciplinary integration and innovation. At the same time, the residency will offer multiple public platforms for showcasing creative works and actively seeks to create opportunities for resource networking and promotion, enabling artists to gain broader exposure and support for their work.
//Three.
The residency program the residency strives to achieve localization, openness, collaboration, and participation, and expects resident artists to approach the program with the same mindset, engaging actively with the community and urban life, sharing collaborative methods, utilizing tools and expertise, and growing alongside the team and external participants. The residency team will fully support artists’ work, offering access to the center’s resource library and assisting with connections to local resources. Meanwhile, through the unique “Super Agent” system, artists will be paired with local residents to gain authentic perspectives on daily life, helping them quickly understand the area, integrate into the community, and establish their creative direction.
//Four.
The residency program has established a comprehensive documentation and research system,involving multiple interviews and discussions throughout the project, with creative outcomes recorded and summarized. Additionally, the Art Center’s “Super Agent” system and “RE Expansion Program”will launch two levels of cooperation to build a deeper relational network: on one level, involving residents to enrich the diversity of local life; and on the other, sharing documentation with external scholars to enable observation and discussion on a broader scale and from a wider perspective.
[History]
From experimental exploration of contemporary art to community-based interdisciplinary co-creation, we have initiated in-depth exchanges and collaborations with 156 artists/groups, curators, and scholars from more than 23 countries and regions, and have continuously adjusted our systematic structure and goals in the course of more than ten years of exploration.
In 2011, as part of the A4 Art Museum’s development strategy, the A4 Artist in Residence International Exchange Program (ARIE) was officially launched. The program is committed to promoting annual exchanges of contemporary art and culture around the globe, encouraging artists or art groups with unique creative ideas and notable accomplishments in art research to create, communicate, and exhibit based on local culture, and further promoting cultural interactions within their regions. Throughout this process, the participants would embark on distinctive experimental endeavors, propelled by the engines of cultural differences and local connections. ARIE is not only built on the remarkable creativity and curiosity of the artists themselves but also on the cross-cultural institutional and social networks, as well as the creators’ aspirations. A profound sense of self-worth motivates us to provide local spaces and planning services for artists and researchers from different countries and regions.
In October 2019, upon completion of the A4 Residency Art Center, it connected surrounding public spaces and outdoor areas with itself. The establishment of the Residency Art Center opened new opportunities for artist exhibitions, public art projects, cultural events, regional interactions, and symbiotic innovation. We have also fostered extensive exchanges and collaborations with the surrounding community and businesses, connecting different people and institutions. An important feature of this phase is the transformation from individual experimentation and creativity towards communication and cooperation with the local context. Through this process, we have continuously reflected on the significance of linking to understand the essence of communication better.
In 2023, A4 Residency Art Center embarked on a new beginning as a more independent and interdisciplinary cultural institution, committed to serving the public. Aligned with our new goals and mission, we are determined to present ourselves to the public through a more proactive, collaborative, and community-oriented approach, and we are prepared for public inquiries and discussions.
可以申请：
1. The A4 International Residency Program is designed for individuals or groups with at least 3 years of professional practice, independent thinking and groundbreaking work, including and not limited to artists, scientists, writers, poets, scholars, musicians, architects, designers, brand managers, and other creators and explorers of different identities.
2. Any field of specialization, any medium of creation.
3. Possess the values of localization, collaboration, and extensive communication, respect and support multiculturalism, and possess the willingness and spirit of trans-science.
申请过程
Required materials for application:
1. Resume in both Chinese (if possible) and English, of which the accuracy of the content should be guaranteed.
2. Personal photo, about 1M.
3. Portfolio of works/Project manuals, mainly representative works and projects in the course of practice that are rich in their professional characteristics and fully reflect their practice and thinking, of which all texts should be in both Chinese (if possible) and English.
4. Project plan for the residence, it is mainly a preliminary draft of the creator's creation/practice plan, which may include the idea, the general plan, and the potential needs for material, space, personnel, etc. related to the implementation of the project to help us better understand the expectation and overall vision of the project of the creator.
5. Application form for the residency, which could be downloaded in the latest OPEN CALL presentation of A4 residency's website, with all contents filled in both English and Chinese (if possible).
Way of submission:
All required materials should be sent to the official email address of A4 Residency Art Center: a4residency@a4am.cn, with the subject line “2026 A4 International Residency Program + Applicant's name”.
地方&设备
The art center includes a common living room, kitchen, terrace, office, woodshop, and 7 separate studios. It also has access to the museum's ancillary facilities, including a lecture hall, small theater, workshop space, and other parts of the gallery.
About accommodation, now we can accept 10 more artists work in A4 at the same time, they can share a living room to communicate in the apartment and also have an independent room to live.
项目费用
1. Studio & Accommodation: Access to a dedicated creative workspace and living quarters.
2. Travel Support: Round-trip airfare (economy class) or train ticket (second class) within a set budget.
3. Production Grant: RMB 10,000 per person/team for creative production and material costs (excluding living expenses).
4. Resource Network: Engagement with local communities, commercial brands, and cultural institutions.
5. Cultural Immersion: Exclusive guided experiences exploring Chengdu’s cultural landscape.
6. Media Exposure: Promotional support via official online platforms.
7. Events & Networking: Participation in salons, talks, and open studio events.
8. Presentation Opportunities: Showcasing residency outcomes through exhibitions, performances, publications, and public art projects.
更多
A4 Residency Art Center official website http://en.a4residency.com/about-residency/
If you have any questions you can send us an email or contact us via Instagram.
Email: a4residency@a4am.cn
Instagram: a4_residency_art_center