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Art Open Calls in Japan

Active grants, residencies, and exhibitions for artists in Japan.

15 active · refreshed daily

15 active opportunities linked to Japan — from local foundations to international programs accepting artists based in or targeting this region. Resolved from location fields, organizers, and verified metadata. Sign in free for interactive maps, AI search, and calendar integration.

Tokyo International Photo Awards (TIFA) 2026COMPETITION

Tokyo International Photo Awards (TIFA) 2026

Farmani Group / Tokyo International Foto Awards

The TIFA Trophy, massive international press exposure, and a physical exhibition in Tokyo scheduled for early 2027. The Discovery of the Year winner receives $2,000.

Aug 5, 2026$3,000Tokyo, Japan / Online
60th Canon Photo Contest (Japan)COMPETITIONPartial Funding

60th Canon Photo Contest (Japan)

Canon Marketing Japan

Canon Marketing Japan's 60th annual photo contest — a long-running amateur competition with a ¥500,000 grand prize plus camera kits, judged by a panel including Yoshihiro Tatsuki and Ayano Sudo. Results announced December 1, 2026.

Aug 31, 2026Grand Prize ¥500,000 + EOS R5 Mark II kit; category Gold awards (¥100,000–¥200,000 + camera kits); plus Silver, Bronze, Honorable MentionsJapan
MOYA Creative Residence Program 2026RESIDENCY

MOYA Creative Residence Program 2026

MOYA Kaneyama

Access to rural studio space and accommodation in the deep northern mountains of the Tohoku region. Facilitates integration with local rural rhythms and extreme natural environments.

Sep 30, 2026No direct fundingKaneyama, Yamagata, Japan
24th Kira-tto Otsu Landscape Painting ExhibitionCOMPETITIONPartial Funding

24th Kira-tto Otsu Landscape Painting Exhibition

Otsu City

Otsu City's 24th landscape painting exhibition invites work celebrating the city's natural and historic scenery around Lake Biwa, with awards announced mid-November and a winners' show at Branch Otsukyo in December.

Sep 11, 2026Mayor of Otsu Prize, Selection Committee Chair Prize, Landscape Council Prize, Excellence and Honorable Mention awards plus participation giftsOtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
4th Soka Matsubara National Painting Exhibition 2026COMPETITIONPartial Funding

4th Soka Matsubara National Painting Exhibition 2026

Soka City

Soka City's 4th national painting exhibition celebrating 'Soka Matsubara' — the nationally designated scenic pine grove on the Oku no Hosomichi route. Fall 2026 exhibition at the Acos Gallery, with a ¥300,000 grand prize.

Oct 11, 2026Grand Prize ¥300,000; three Excellence Prizes ¥50,000; five Honorable Mentions ¥20,000 (with certificates)Soka, Saitama, Japan (Acos Gallery)
EU–Japan Fest — Mobility Funding 2026/27GRANTFully Funded

EU–Japan Fest — Mobility Funding 2026/27

EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee

Second-semester applications open July 2026; priority for European Capitals of Culture links.

Aug 15, 202650,000–150,000 JPY travel supportJapan / Europe
2026 Startup Grant (Part 2)GRANTPartial Funding

2026 Startup Grant (Part 2)

Arts Council Tokyo

Financial support enabling production costs, venue rentals, and exhibition logistics to bypass the prohibitive costs of Tokyo's rental gallery system.

Sep 24, 2026Up to 1,000,000 JPY for collective organizations and up to 300,000 JPY for individual artistsTokyo, Japan

FAQ

How is country matching done?

We combine physical venue location, organizer country, city references, and program eligibility (not just keyword searches in titles) to give you the most accurate pool.

Do I need to speak the local language of Japan?

In 90% of international programs, English is sufficient. If the organizers require local language skills, we list this clearly in the requirements section.

Do grants in Japan cover visa and travel costs?

This varies. Fully funded opportunities and residencies often cover travel expenses or provide travel grants, while others only fund local accommodation.

Can artists from any country apply to programs in Japan?

Most listed opportunities are open internationally. Any citizenship or residency restrictions are structured and highlighted on the program card.

Which art organizations in Japan are most active?

We aggregate programs from leading art academies, museums, private galleries, and non-profit spaces. You can filter by organization type in your dashboard.