Join our working visit to TPAM 2020 (Japan) – open call for artists and performing arts workers

TPAM (Performing Arts Meeting Yokohama) is one of the most important networking platforms for the contemporary performing arts in Japan and Asia. Every year, around 700 international professionals visit the platform. It is therefore a good opportunity to size up the latest developments in contemporary performing arts in Asia, to develop contacts with professionals in Japan and by extension Asia, and to examine the possibility of entering into specific partnerships.

Kunstenpunt / Flanders Arts Institute and Arts Flanders Japan would like to give up to three performing arts workers or artists (active in dance, theatre or performance) the possibility to participate in TPAM and thus forge connections with Japanese/Asian partners. In return, the participants will be asked to write a report. The material will be used to inform other interested parties in the field and will be shared by Kunstenpunt.    

For individual artists, independent programmers/producers and employees of structurally subsidized organizations under €300.000, Kunstenpunt provides the following expenses: registration for TPAM, travel, accommodation, local transport and living expenses (with a maximum of €2000). For employees of subsidised organisations over €300.000, Kunstenpunt provides the travel expenses (with a maximum of €1000). All other costs are on the participants’ expense. Participants are responsible for organizing their own trip.

Who can apply?

Interested candidates:

• must have been actively involved in the Flanders/Brussels performing arts scene for at least three years.
• have a clear motivation and vision of the future concerning exchange with Japan or Asia.
• are available for a week between 8 to 16 February 2020 (participants agree to stay at least 6 nights).
• agree to write a report on their visit of TPAM through which they share their knowledge and contacts with Flanders Arts Institute and the arts field in general.
• agree to share contacts and knowledge, also with other artists/arts organisations in Flanders and Brussels.                                                  

Participation and selection

Apply until 24 November 2019 by filling in this form (in English). 

All applications will be assessed by Bernard Catrysse (Ars Flanders Japan), Makiko Yamaguchi (Japan Foundation Asia Centre) and Marijke De Moor (Kunstenpunt).  

Why are we doing this?

There is a great interest from the Flemish performing arts field in developing relationships with Japan. Arts Flanders Japan is the cultural liaison office in Tokyo that has the task of nurturing cultural relations between Flanders and Japan. In addition, TOKAS (Tokyo) became an official residency of the Flemish Community. In 2018, a delegation was organised by the former Minister of Culture, Sven Gatz, in the presence of a number of art professionals. The purpose of this delegation was to strengthen the cultural relations between Flanders and Japan. The visit was followed by an open call for cooperation projects, for which 6 projects were selected. In 2019 Kunstenpunt participated for the first time in TPAM, within the framework of a European delegation in collaboration with ONDA and Artsadmin.

Kunstenpunt wants to stimulate knowledge sharing and cooperation across national borders. In this way we want to support artists and art professionals in broadening their vision, the development of their practice and the expansion of their international network. This visit is part of the broader mission of Kunstenpunt to provide support to artists and art professionals.