Multidisciplinary Residencies in China

A4 Residency Art Center

Chengdu, China

The A4 Residency Art Center, based in Chengdu’s Luxelakes Eco-City, is an interdisciplinary and community-driven residency dedicated to fostering boundary-crossing creative practices. Since its foundation as part of the A4 Art Museum, it has supported artists, scientists, designers, and other thinkers from over 23 countries through deep, localized engagements. A4 emphasizes sustainability, transdisciplinarity, and co-creation with the public and community. The program offers artists studio and accommodation space, round-trip travel, production support, and access to a unique “Super Agent” system—local residents who help artists integrate culturally and socially. Residents are expected to engage with the community through public events, collaborative workshops, and open studios. The residency fosters experimental, interdisciplinary projects that examine the relationships between people, place, and culture. Each session ends with a major public event such as RE-CREATE Art Season or the RE-SALON Residency Forum. A4 is a hub for international creators seeking to blend artistic innovation with social relevance in China’s rapidly evolving urban and ecological context.

BY ART MATTERS Residency is a non-profit program under the BY ART MATTERS contemporary art museum in Hangzhou, China, offering contemporary artists and researchers a dynamic space for living, working, showing, and sharing to foster international and domestic art exchange. It provides fully-equipped studios (50-100 sq. m each) with separate bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, accommodation for 7 days to 3 months, a living stipend, and opportunities for public presentations and artist talks. Initially aimed at overseas artists, it now focuses on Chinese artists due to travel restrictions, with plans to resume international residencies.

China Residencies

China Residencies is a web-based directory of over 50 different artist residencies in mainland China & Hong Kong., China

China Residencies is a web-based nonprofit directory listing over 50 artist residencies across mainland China and Hong Kong, helping artists discover opportunities since . It also runs a fiscal sponsorship program supporting projects, collectives, and individuals aligned with its mission. The platform serves as a comprehensive resource for residencies in various cities, catering to multiple disciplines without hosting artists itself.

Chongqing Dimensions Art Center (DAC)

Chongqing, China

Chongqing Dimensions Art Center (DAC) in Chongqing, China, offers artist residencies through programs like the Regular Residency Program for contemporary artists, curators, and designers worldwide, and the Emerging Artists Residency Program for those under 35, emphasizing cross-disciplinary research, creation, and symbiosis of art and society. Residencies provide free opportunities with facilities including studios for photography, wood, fabric, music, exhibition halls, and support for public activities like exhibitions, lectures, and workshops. Applications are open via email to info@chongqingdac.org, with durations from half a month to several months, including comfortable housing and workspaces in downtown Chongqing.

Galerie Urs Meile

Beijing, China

The artist-in-residence program at Galerie Urs Meile in Beijing offers visiting artists, particularly emerging and established Western artists, the opportunity to live and work in the city's vibrant art scene for periods typically ranging from one to six months. It provides a 200 m² residential and working space within an Ai Weiwei-designed complex in the Caochangdi art district, fostering networking, critical discussions, and the development of site-specific projects. The program stimulates new artistic perceptions through immersion in China's cultural environment.

ICCI

Shanghai, China

The ICCI ART VALLEY PROGRAM, organized by the USC-SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, offers a residency for international artists and scholars. This program focuses on the integration of “Art plus Technology” and encourages cross-media practice and cultural exchange. The residency includes rent-free accommodation, a stipend, and opportunities for exhibitions and public engagements. The program is open to artists from various disciplines, with a preference for those engaged in interdisciplinary and digital art.

Institute for Provocation

Beijing, China

The Institute for Provocation (IFP) is a Beijing-based independent art workspace, think tank, and curatorial platform that hosts artist residencies focused on the thinking and research process before artwork creation, emphasizing cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural provocations. It supports research, workshops, lectures, and experiments stretching borders between art, architecture, design, and other fields, introducing international artists to local networks since . Residencies provide shared studios and housing in central Beijing's Dongcheng district.

Lijiang Studio is an artist residency program located on a farm in a valley near Lashihai, outside Lijiang Old Town in Yunnan, China, encouraging longer stays for artists to immerse in rural life, incorporate the land, and engage the local Naxi community. It provides housing, food, basic materials, studios, and facilities like showers and wifi, with no fees or stipends required from artists, who cover their own travel. The program supports interdisciplinary practices benefiting local culture and connecting international artists with rural China.

Mil Gotas

China

Mil Gotas is an artist residency program located in Songzhuang, China, a vibrant arts district known for artistic exchange, offering a unique one-month immersive experience. It collaborates with Dimensions Art Center (DAC) and Jiezishan Art Center on the Chongqing Art Residency, providing independent studios with integrated living and workspaces, shared bathrooms, kitchens, bookstores, and exhibition halls in downtown Chongqing. The program supports artists, writers, video creators, and others worldwide with durations from half a month to several months, focusing on urban culture, scenic tours, and cultural exchange.

Pantocrator Gallery

Suzhou, China

Pantocrator Gallery in Suzhou is a nomadic space for production, exhibition, and residency of contemporary art by emerging international artists, bridging Asia and the West with programs like La Pan Stage (1-2 months).

Platform China Contemporary Art Institute, established in in Beijing's Caochangdi Art District, is a non-profit art experimental space dedicated to creating a platform for artistic communication and dialogue between China and the international community. The residency provides artists, curators, writers, designers, researchers, and academics with opportunities to live and work in China, with five fully equipped studios (50-70 sqm) located in emerging art districts. Participants have the possibility of exhibiting at BIAP gallery during or by the end of their residency at no charge, with staff assistance in contacting other exhibition venues across Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities.

Sixi Museum

Nanjing, China

The Sixi Museum in Nanjing, China, offers the Sixi International Artist-in-Residence Project, a program designed to support emerging artists from diverse disciplines. The residency fosters cross-cultural exchange, creative breakthroughs, and personal growth by providing living accommodations, a dedicated studio space, and financial and logistical assistance. Participants stay in a city-center apartment and work in a loft studio on the outskirts of Nanjing, benefiting from technical resources and connections with the local art scene. The residency concludes with an exhibition showcasing the artists’ outcomes. Nanjing, a city known for its fusion of traditional and contemporary culture, provides a rich backdrop for creative exploration. The residency aims to contribute to Nanjing’s vibrant art ecology and international cultural exchanges, supporting the development of contemporary art in China.

Swatch Art Peace Hotel

Shanghai, China

The Swatch Art Peace Hotel artist residency in Shanghai is a unique cultural initiative that combines artistic creation with the vibrant energy of the city. Established by Chema Alvargonzalez and supported by Memoria Artística Chema Alvargonzalez, it focuses on creative exchange among international artists. The residency is situated in a historic modernist-style building, fostering an inspiring environment for artists. The program invites a diverse range of contemporary artists, including dancers, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, and writers, to live and work in the heart of Shanghai. During their stay, artists contribute an artistic "trace," enriching the residency's legacy. The Swatch Art Peace Hotel embraces artistic freedom and encourages artists to explore new ideas and collaborations. This residency is known for its strong connection to the global art scene and its commitment to supporting artistic development in a dynamic urban setting.

WilderHaven

Chengdu, China

WilderHaven is an artist-founded initiative based in Southwest China that fosters cross-cultural dialogue and interdisciplinary creation in deeply immersive rural settings. Founded in 2024, it offers artist and writer residencies in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou, engaging directly with the region’s diverse landscapes and minority cultures. The residency supports visual artists, writers, musicians, performers, and designers through flexible programs designed to bridge global practices with local traditions. With small cohorts and a balance of solitude and community, WilderHaven emphasizes experimentation, collaboration, and critical inquiry. Participants have access to studios, cultural excursions, and local engagement opportunities with ethnic Yi and Lisú communities. Group and pop-up exhibitions offer residents ways to showcase work locally and in major Chinese cities. Family-friendly accommodations, bilingual support, and curated events make it accessible to a broad range of creatives. The program is primarily self-funded but offers merit-based stipends to reduce participation costs for selected artists.