Seto Art Residency at Salt Road Studio

Japan

Mediums Welcome

About This Residency

Seto Art Residency at Salt Road Studio is a three week international artist residency in Akō, Japan, a coastal city on the Seto Inland Sea. Hosted by Salt Road Studio and founded by New York artist Gina Keatley, the residency welcomes just three international artists for its inaugural 2027 program. Selected artists receive round trip airfare, accommodation, a $1,000 USD grant for food and local travel, shared studio space, and local support throughout their stay. The program combines focused creative time with opportunities to experience Akō, meet local artisans, share meals, and explore the Seto Inland Sea region.

Experience & Atmosphere

Daily life at Seto Art Residency is intentionally flexible. Artists have time to work independently in the shared studio, explore Akō and the Seto Inland Sea, visit local artisans, share meals, and experience everyday life in a smaller Japanese coastal city. The residency is based at Salt Road Studio, located in a former kimono shop with living spaces upstairs and a shared working studio downstairs. Rather than following a rigid institutional schedule, artists are encouraged to develop their own rhythm. Some days may be spent entirely in the studio, while others might include a train trip, a visit with a local maker, time along the coast, or a shared meal. Japanese language skills are not required, and local translation support is available.

Mission & Goals

Seto Art Residency was created to give artists time, space, and meaningful cultural exchange without requiring a predetermined creative outcome. We are interested in artists who are curious about place, willing to explore, and open to allowing a new environment to influence their practice. The residency supports contemporary practices including painting, mixed media, photography, film, sound, collage, cyanotype, printmaking, video, and experimental interdisciplinary work. Artists do not need to create work specifically about Japan, and there is no expectation that a finished project be produced during the residency. Our goal is simple: bring artists from different places together in Akō, give them meaningful time to create, and see what develops.