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. Morishita Studio, owned by The Saison Foundation, has four studios and three guest rooms (accommodation). The grantees are able to rent the studio for rehearsals, workshops, creative work, work-in-progress showings, residencies, etc., at reasonable rates.

The Saison Foundation’s International Program offers the following two types of support:
Ⅰ International Project Support Program
Ⅱ Saison Artist in Residence
・ Saison AIR Partnership
・ AIR for Collaboration Projects

Ⅰ International Project Support Program

For medium to long-term artistic collaboration projects
This program offers grants and priority use of space at Morishita Studio in Tokyo for international theater and dance collaboration projects with not-for-profit contemporary Japanese performing artists and/or companies, including creative workshops, research 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.

The amount of support sought to the Foundation should not exceed the deficit in the proposed project’s budget. There will be no restrictions on the purpose of spending money.

Saison AIR Partnership
Saison Artist in Residence aims to stimulate two-way international cultural exchanges with artists and arts organizations overseas through artist-in-residence programs. This program seeks international partners who wish to form a partnership with the Saison Foundation in order to conduct an exchange residency program. The international partners are expected to invite a Japanese artist to their residency program and to send an artist to the Saison Foundation’s residency program.

The Saison Foundation will pay for one round-trip Economy-class tickets and/or living expenses (4,000 yen per day excluding the days of arrival and departure) and/or research & activities costs (up to 5,000 yen per day excluding the days of arrival and departure) either for an artist from overseas or for an Japanese artist.

AIR for collaboration projects

This program offers artistic development opportunities for collaboration projects between overseas artists and Japanese artists through artist-in-residence programs. Those who wish to start the collaboration projects with contemporary theater and dance communities in Japan are able to use Morishita Studio for rehearsals, workshops, or work-in-progress showings upon requests. Please obtain consent from the Japanese collaborating artists before applying for this program.

The Saison Foundation will pay for one round-trip Economy-class tickets and/or living expenses (4,000 yen per day excluding the days of arrival and departure) and/or research & activities costs (up to 5,000 yen per day excluding the days of arrival and departure) either for a maximum of two artists from overseas or for a maximum of two Japanese artists.

Deadline (to request an application form): 5 October 2017