Concept and mission
The Mayu 繭 residency
mayu 繭 means cocoon
We want to support artists from around the world in bringing their creativity to life in our community in Odawara, Japan, by providing a cosy space where they can cocoon themselves in art and culture.
We welcome any kind of creative discipline, not just visual artists, but musicians, dancers, programmers, researchers and many more.
Residencies are seasonal; one in each of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Residency vision
Once a year, we provide 1 selected artist with a scholarship offering a complete residency placement, covering up to 3 months stay and including almost all the optional programming, free of charge.
Our long-term vision is to expand access to funded residencies through scholarships and external arts funding, so that more artists can benefit from the experience without financial barriers. In the meantime, several artist funded residency placements are also available.
Space to create
We have a beautiful private room for artists, featuring a contemplative reading nook and library full of art books and manga to help you relax and become inspired to create.
All placements are a minimum of four weeks, featuring an exhibition at the end, so artists will emerge on the other side of their stay with creative fruits to show for it.
Connecting locally
We love our town of Odawara, and think artists will too.
Included with every stay is the artist concierge service, which you can use to help connect you with local experiences even if you’re a bit shy, don’t speak Japanese or don’t know where to begin. If there is any activity you’d like to engage in, or person you’d like to meet, we will do our best to make that happen for you. For example, if you’d like to try a tea ceremony, meet a local artisan, try a martial art, or source traditional or local products, we will arrange this for you.
※Please note some activities may require additional payments, which will be the responsibility of the resident.
Even if you cocoon yourself for most of your stay, we require all artists to give a 2 day exhibition of works, presentation of WIPs or a workshop to the general public at the end of their stay, giving back to the community that has creatively nourished you.
Supporting your creative journey
We want your time at Mayu to have a long-lasting impact on your creative life, well after you leave us.
Your hosts can be very hands on to ensure you make the most of your time, meeting other local artists, learning the language if you choose to, and helping prepare for your closing exhibition.
We offer a variety of optional paid services, such as:
・Intensive daily Japanese classes: learn the language or connect with locals more directly.
・Professional video services: we can produce a short documentary profile of you as an artist, and your time at Mayu. You can take this with you to help promote your work online, or perhaps to use in applications for further residency opportunities.
・Fine art printing services: you could leave Mayu with a complete and physical body of work, ready to exhibit or sell in your home country.
