Artists-in-Residence Program for 2025

I. Program Objectives     

To provide artists with a quality environment and to foster art exchange between Tainan and the international community, the Tainan City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau offers professional space for creation at Soulangh Cultural Park(SCP). Through diverse workshops, performances, and exhibitions, the program nurtures the art appreciation population in Tainan by interacting with the residents. It provides opportunities for creative exchange between domestic and international artists, intending to cultivate exceptional artists. 

II. Organizing Units

Advisor: Ministry of Culture
Organizer: Tainan City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau
Executive Organizer: Soulangh Cultural Park , Taiwan

III. Program Description

A. 2025 Residency Theme:

The open-call theme for the 2025 Soulangh International Art Village is “Sugar.” The village’s predecessor was the first modern sugar factory established by Dai-Nippon Meiji Sugar in 1906. Later in 2005, Soulangh Cultural Park began operations, and in 2013, Soulangh International Arts Village was established. Sugar plays a significant cultural role at Soulangh International Art Village, carrying multiple historical symbols. It represents the legacy of Japanese colonial rule, the 17th-century prominence of Tainan as the center of the sugar industry under the Dutch East India Company(VOC), and its symbolic representation of wealth and power in Tainan's culinary culture during the Ming and Qing dynasties. This year's open call invites artists to explore "Sugar" as a symbol of colonial power in Tainan and to highlight its historical and contemporary roles in local cuisine through visual art.

B. Qualification:

1. Art Category: Open to all artistic disciplines.
2. Language Proficiency: Applicants must have basic communication skills in English and Chinese.
3. Project requirements: Applicants must submit a residency project plan based on the theme. Applicants are also encouraged to use Tainan's rich cultural assets and incorporate the environment of Soulangh in outdoor works.

C. Residency Location:

Soulangh Cultural Park (No. 130, Liu'an, Jiali District, Tainan City)

D. Schedules:

1. Application Period: From now to September 30, 2024 (Monday) 23:59 (Taiwan time)
2. Review Period: October 2024
3. Residency Period: March 1 to August 31, 2025 (tentative), each artist/group must reside for a minimum of 45 days and a maximum of 90 days.

E. Application Process:

1. Applications are accepted online only. Fill out the application form on the AIR in Tainan global online application website http://air-culture.tainan.gov.tw/. Please complete the application before the deadline.
2. Applicants must upload a personal resume, residency project plan, and recommendation letters for reference.

F. Selection Process:   

1. Open selection. The review committee, composed of experts and scholars appointed by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will conduct the selection process based on principles of objectivity and fairness. Review meetings are not open to the public to respect applicants' privacy.
2. Results will be announced in October 2024 on the official websites of both the Tainan City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau and Soulangh Cultural Park, and Soulangh Cultural Park’s Facebook page. Selected applicants will be notified via email. Individual feedback on the selection results will not be provided.

G. Program Regulations and Execution Plan:   

1. Artists can apply for residency living expenses and creation fees (including personal income tax ranging from 6% to 20% for foreigners and 2nd Generation NHI), the grant amount will be determined during the review committee meeting. The maximum grant per case is NT$30,000 per month, up to three months (totaling NT$90,000).
2. Since 2016, selected artists must pay an additional stamp duty (0.1% of the grant amount) in cash, which is not included in the grant amount.
3. Selected artists must hold one achievement exhibition of their work and (at least) one parent-child workshop or open studio day at Soulangh Cultural Park before the end of their residency. The maximum budget for creation and exhibition material costs is NT$150,000 (including taxes), covering materials, equipment, services, construction, publicity design, printing, translation, insurance, promotion, etc, excluding transportation costs for artwork. These expenditures will be handled by the executing organizers and not directly given to the artists.
4. Living expenses and creation fees will be paid in installments according to the contract. All payments must comply with government reimbursement procedures, which are subject to the accounting approval timeline. Artists are advised to prepare at least one month's living expenses in advance (approximately NT$15,000-20,000) to cover urgent needs.
5. Any questions about the content above should be raised during the application period or before signing the contract after selection.

H. Feedback:   

1. During the residency, artists must hold one achievement exhibition of their work and (at least) one parent-child workshop or open studio day.
2. Artists must complete a residency report (including project content and feedback) and a questionnaire.

I. Important Notes:

1. Application Period:
   1. If the applicant has already participated in other domestic or international residencies in the current year, they must disclose this at the time of application.
   2. Applicants must include at least one recommendation letter with a handwritten signature or signature image, from individuals, corporations, or groups, not necessarily government-registered.
   3. If the residency project requires assistants (anyone other than the applicant/team), this must be specified in the project plan (including reasons, number of assistants, and job description). If approved, the assistants' expenses (personnel, creation, transportation, and living costs) will be included in the grant amount, without additional funding.
   4. Selected artists can apply for accommodation. However, to ensure the safety, hygiene, and rights of other resident artists, the accommodation is for the artist only, not for companions, family members, assistants, or pets.
2. Residency Period:
   1. Artists must participate in AIR exchange activities arranged by the executing organizers. If there are special circumstances, please notify us in advance.
   2. Artists who do not reside for at least two-thirds of the residency period as per the contract will be disqualified.
   3. The ownership of works created during the residency belongs to the artist. However, the organizer can exhibit, publish, and promote the works for non-profit purposes. Artists must ensure that their works and project applications do not infringe on others' copyrights. If any infringement causes loss to the organizer, the artist is fully liable for compensation.
   4. If the created works require assembly or disassembly, the artist must provide an "assembly guide" (illustrating how to assemble and store the work) to facilitate flexible storage by the organizer.

J. Other Information:

1. Some woodwork, and audio/video equipment are available at Soulangh Cultural Park for resident artists (please confirm in advance if needed). Other necessary equipment must be brought by the artist.
2. Applicants should read the "Soulangh Cultural Park - Environment Introduction" and "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)" beforehand on the AIR in Tainan registration website(bilingual) during the application period. If you have any questions after reading this guideline, the "Environment Introduction," and the "FAQ," please contact:
   Phone: +886-6-7228488 / 7229910 ; Email: soulanghpark@gmail.com
   Soulangh Cultural Park Official Website: http://soulangh.tnc.gov.tw/ 
   Soulangh Cultural Park Facebook Page: Facebook
   Soulangh Cultural Park YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWqcXtU2DxflSyrmKmYmoSA  
   Tainan City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau: https://culture.tainan.gov.tw/

※The Tainan City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau reserves the right to amend the content of the guidelines and the final interpretation.※

For any further information, please contact us:

Soulangh Cultural Park
T: (+886) 6 722 8488 / 6 722 9910
Email: soulanghpark@gmail.com
Website: http://soulangh.tnc.gov.tw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulanghculturalpark
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWqcXtU2DxflSyrmKmYmoSA

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