SIXI AiR Open Call 2027

Sixi Museum, a non-profit art institution in Nanjing combining collection, exhibition, academic research and public education, runs the Sixi International Artist-in-Residence Project to support emerging artists. The program invites interdisciplinary explorations spanning literature, linguistics, music and sound, and visual art, encouraging artists to break traditional boundaries between mediums.

Sixi International Artist-in-Residence Project is recruiting 4 artists for a three-month residency in Nanjing, China, scheduled for the spring and autumn of 2027.

This open call features two themes. Applications may address either theme.

1. Flux and Imprints: Contemporary Echoes of Migration History This theme focuses on cross-regional mobility, cultural reconstruction, and memory. We welcome research and artistic projects that explore topics such as the family histories of overseas Chinese, the legacy of colonialism in Asia, and identity formation within global geopolitical frameworks. Artists are encouraged to examine the tension between historical archives, oral histories, personal memories, and grand narratives, redefining these historical imprints within a contemporary context.

2. Folds of Text: Cross-Media Intertextuality and Intervention This theme conceptualizes "text" as a fluid, dynamic medium extending far beyond literal signs. We invite interdisciplinary explorations that span literature, linguistics, music/sound, and the visual arts. By deconstructing, rearranging, or translating varied medium languages, artists are expected to break traditional boundaries, uncovering hidden narrative possibilities and sensory experiences within the "folds of text".

Duration of residency

Three months for each residency.

For both 2027 Spring (March – May) and 2027 Autumn (September – November). The specific dates of the residency will be finalized based on the selected artists' preferences and the schedule of Sixi Residency Project.

Accommodation

One private studio or private apartment.

Disciplines, work equipment and assistance

The Sixi AiR program welcomes applications from artists of all disciplines and cultural backgrounds. Capable of accommodating two artists concurrently, the program provides living and studio spaces, staff assistance, and financial support for production based on the specific characteristics of each project, catering to diverse creative and research needs.

Fees and support

Sixi AiR Project runs on a non-profit basis, and will cover fees of visa application, travel expenses (round-trip flights), insurance for the duration of the stay, accommodation (one private apartment or one private loft studio), residency personnel assistance, technical assistance, and material allowance.

Expectations towards the artist

Upon receipt of an application, documents will be assessed by the Sixi AiR Committee. A video interview may be conducted if necessary. Applicants will receive a final response no later than mid-February 2027.