Syllabus

GEIKO Long-term Studio Program 2026
- 藝港學藝員制度 / Creative Harbor Fellowship

1. Outline

“Curators Fostering a New Culture in the Port Town”

Curating the Future Culture of the Port Town

The Geikō Artist-in-Residence Program views the port town as a “Living Laboratory” and is a fellowship program in which participants plan and implement projects that span culture, tourism, and the local community while staying in the area for an extended period. Participants do not merely stay as artists-in-residence or researchers; rather, they act as “Gakugei-in”—practitioners who foster new culture through collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including local residents, universities, government agencies, and businesses, and who work to embed the results of their efforts within the community.

The term “Gakugei-in” here does not refer to those who preserve or exhibit culture, but rather to practitioners who nurture new culture within the community and connect people, places, and knowledge.

Under this program, through practices that treat the region as a studio, culture is viewed not as something to be “preserved and passed down,” but as an endeavor that is constantly emerging and being renewed within the local community. Spanning the fields of education, research, the arts, tourism, and business, the program aims to curate and implement the region’s unique cultural capital into new forms of value, disseminate these outcomes both domestically and internationally, and build a cultural ecosystem that can be passed on to future generations. Fellows are not merely temporary residents; they are expected to serve as partners who connect the region with the world and work together to cultivate the future culture of this port town.

2. Research Objectives

Role and Expectations of Fellows

A “Cultural Connector” who builds autonomous relationships with local residents, businesses, and government agencies and deepens collaboration

An “Implementer” who plans and implements tourism and cultural content, contributing to the local economic cycle

A “Communicator” who conveys the value of Tsuyazaki Arts Harbor to the outside world through documenting and sharing activities

A “Pioneer” who serves as a role model for future participants and the local community

3. Deliverables

Participants will implement one or more projects in the community during their stay.

Drawing on the knowledge and networks they have built through the short- or medium-term programs, participants will independently advance community-based cultural and tourism projects.

This program is designed to coordinate with the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “Japan Expo” initiative. Participants who perform or exhibit as part of that initiative will receive performance fees, production support funds, and travel expenses based on the project’s content and budget.

4. Oroganization & Support

Geiko LLC: We are responsible for program planning and management, community coordination, and implementation support, and we create practical opportunities that connect universities, local communities, guests, and participants.

5. Program Details

Content: Engaging in practical activities related to tourism and cultural creation while staying in the local community

Outputs: Business planning and management, establishment of cultural hubs, local projects, etc.

Duration: 1–2 months

Schedule and Frequency: January–February 2027; 1–2 sessions

Operational Structure: 1 community manager (shared across sessions), 1 mentor, and guest faculty providing advice and support as needed

Eligibility and Capacity: Primarily graduates of short- or medium-term programs; 1–2 participants per session

Participation Fee: Free (activity support funds provided)

Venues: Former Tamanoi Ryokan, former Tanaka Pharmacy, etc.

Accommodations (Proposed): Traditional houses within Tsuyazaki Sengen (e.g., Orga House)