[ for activities, April 2022 – March 2023 ]
The Saison Foundation is a grant-making foundation established in July 1987 that supports projects and activities related to contemporary Japanese theater and dance. In order to increase the visibility of contemporary Japanese performing arts on a worldwide level, The Saison Foundation awards grants and priority use of its rehearsal/workshop and residence facilities at Morishita Studio in Tokyo.
The Saison Foundation owns a building in Tokyo called Morishita Studio, which houses four studios and three guest rooms (accommodation) that only our grantees may rent for rehearsals, workshops, creative work, work-in-progress showings, etc., at reasonable rates just to cover basic running costs. Each studio is furnished with lauan plywood floors (dance mats to cover the wooden floors are available upon request), mirrors and lesson bars. For further details on Morishita Studio, please see here.
*Open call for Saison Artist in Residence 2023 will be announced once all details are confirmed.
This program offers grants and/or priority use of space at Morishita Studio in Tokyo (studios and guest rooms) for international theater and dance collaboration projects with not-for-profit contemporary Japanese performing artists and/or companies, including creative workshops and rehearsals held during the working process. Priority will be given to projects that will advance through continuous working processes, based on sufficient mutual understanding between artistic partners.
To get further information and make sure that you are eligible to apply for, please download 2023 International Program Guidelines.
Timeframe for 2023 Awards
Grants and studio awards for 2023 will be given to projects and activities scheduled to begin at any time during the year from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. Please note that Morishita Studio will be offered from April 2 to December 28, 2023 and from January 4 to March 31, 2024.
To apply for International Projects Support Program, please request an application form no later than Thursday, October 6, 2022 (Japan Standard Time). For details, please see the following page.
Saison AIR Partnership
This program aims to develop exchange residency programs with international partners, such as theaters, dance houses, festivals, artist-in-residence organizations, theater companies, dance companies, and grant-making organizations. The international partners are expected to invite Japanese artists to their residency program and to send artists to the Saison Foundation’s residency program. Those who wish to start collaboration projects between an overseas artist and a Japanese artist through artist-in-residence programs are also eligible to apply.
Visiting Fellows
This program aims to build up an international network for contemporary performing arts and to enhance mutual understanding and gives opportunities for artists and arts managers to research the contemporary performing arts scene in Japan. The program supports research visits to Japan for those who are expected to play an important role in the international performing arts scene.
Online Research Residency
This program supports creative research for international dance/performance/interdisciplinary artists who are expected to play an important role in the international performing arts scene, with aims to build an international network for contemporary performing arts and to enhance mutual understanding. Online Research Residency offers artistic development opportunities to research and spend time building links with the other participating artists.
Timeframe for 2021 Awards
Saison AIR Partnership offers residencies from April 6 to December 28, 2021 and from January 4 to March 31, 2022.
To apply for our Saison AIR Partnership, please request an application form no later than Thursday, October 15, 2020 (Japan Standard Time).
Online Research Residency offers online residencies from November 10, 2021, to February 10, 2022.
To apply for our Saison AIR Partnership, please request an application form no later than Thursday, August 26, 2021 (Japan Standard Time). For details, please see the following page.
・2021 Online Research Residency Program Guidelines
Please read our guidelines and find out if your project is eligible to apply for our program. To apply for the program, please follow the procedure below.
To request an application form
Please request an application form including the following information in the body of the email message and send it to apply23@saison.or.jp no later than Thursday, October 6, 2022 (Japan Standard Time). Alternatively, applicants may submit a request letter by fax, post or courier.
To send the Application package
To make a full application, applicants must submit a package including the completed application form [Word and PDF] and a set of supplementary materials [PDF]. Please send it by email or post it so that it reaches us by no later than Thursday, October 20, 2022(Japan Standard Time).
Deadline: Thursday, October 20, 2022
[International Project Support Program]
by email/post
The selections of grant and award recipients are officially approved at the Foundation’s Board of Directors meeting each year. The results for 2023 will be sent to the applicant (administrative contact person) at the beginning of February 2023.
Contact Information
The Saison Foundation Kyobashi Office
Kyobashi Yamamoto Building, 4th Floor
3-12-7 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku,
Tokyo 104-0031, Japan
TEL: +81 3 (3535) 5566 FAX: +81 3 (3535) 5565
apply23@saison.or.jp
Each application will be assessed regarding the Foundation’s following criteria:
・2023 International Program Guidelines
If you would like to have our email newsletter including application information, please register from the following link,
The Saison Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to the following Legal Entity Support members and for their generous contributions (as of March 2022/in alphabetical order):