Tokyo Biennale invites artists, curators, researchers and collectives worldwide to develop socially engaged projects across eleven sites in Tokyo under the theme “From ‘Me’ to ‘Us’.”
27 August 2026
Open Call:
SOCIAL DIVE has launched an international open call for projects to be realised as part of Tokyo Biennale 2027. The programme invites proposals that engage directly with Tokyo, its communities, histories and social contexts through research, residency-based production and collaboration.
Responding to the Biennale’s 2027 theme, “From ‘Me’ to ‘Us’,” applicants are encouraged to consider how individual experiences, memories and perspectives can open into dialogue with others, communities and the public sphere. Projects will be developed across eleven designated sites in Tokyo, ranging from historic temples and business districts to back alleys, wooden architecture, Ueno Station, Tokyo Dome City, Akihabara Electric Town and the wholesale district of Bakurocho and Higashi-Kanda.
Institutional Context:
SOCIAL DIVE is an art project connected to Tokyo Biennale, an international art festival that develops projects through engagement with the city and its communities. SOCIAL DIVE centres on artists and practitioners immersing themselves in different areas of Tokyo to encounter both longstanding local traditions and emerging values.
For Tokyo Biennale 2027, the programme seeks to create spaces for cross-border encounters and dialogue. The theme “From ‘Me’ to ‘Us’” responds to a contemporary climate shaped by conflict and division, positioning artistic practice as a way to reconnect people with places, memories, and one another.
Eligibility and Criteria:
The open call is available to artists, curators, researchers, collectives and practitioners in related fields, both in Japan and internationally. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. There are no restrictions on nationality; individuals or groups may submit based on place of residence or professional base.
Proposals may include artwork production, exhibitions, performances, video, tours, workshops, participatory initiatives, research or curatorial projects. Existing works presented without further development are not eligible. Projects must instead emerge through research, residency-based production and engagement with people and places in Tokyo.
Applicants must be able to participate in on-site research, production, meetings and collaboration in Tokyo. Projects should demonstrate a meaningful relationship to the theme “From ‘Me’ to ‘Us’”. Applicants will be considered based on originality, social relevance, connection to Tokyo, potential for community collaboration, and feasibility. Each applicant may submit one project proposal.
Evaluation Process:
Selection will take place in two stages, comprising a preliminary screening followed by final selection. The initial assessment will consider submitted application documents, portfolios, project proposals and residency production plans.
Shortlisted applicants may be asked to provide additional materials or participate in online or in-person interviews and presentations. The committee will assess final projects based on their response to the Biennale theme, originality, social relevance, connection to Tokyo, collaborative potential, and feasibility as residency-based projects.
The selection committee comprises contemporary art specialist and curator Miwa Kutsuna, artist and fashion practitioner Yoshinari Nishio, and artist and Tokyo Biennale 2027 General Producer Masato Nakamura.
Practical Information:
Selected participants will receive support including round-trip travel expenses of up to JPY 300,000 (including tax) for one person, as well as accommodation in Tokyo. SOCIAL DIVE will also provide venue coordination, a project development budget of up to JPY 200,000, an honorarium of JPY 100,000, interpretation and translation assistance, and an invitation letter where required.
Applications must include a profile photograph, personal statement, two key visuals, project summary, project background and purpose, an explanation of its relationship to “From ‘Me’ to ‘Us’,” a detailed project plan, budget, schedule, and a biography, CV, or portfolio. Relevant website and social media links may also be submitted. We accept materials in English or Japanese only.
Applications and Queries:
The application deadline is 30 September 2026 at 23:59 JST.
Submit applications through the official online application form, which requires a Google account. Applicants should consult the SOCIAL DIVE website for the complete application guidelines, details of the eleven project sites and submission requirements.
Deadline: 30 September 2026, 23:59 JST
Programme: SOCIAL DIVE 2027, Tokyo Biennale 2027
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Eligibility: International, applicants aged 18 and over
Application languages: English or Japanese
For more information, visit the Tokyo Biennale Website.
