Photograph: Maan Limburg

AKIYA AIR – IWAMI Residency Programme

Set in the Iwami region of Japan, this programme transforms vacant houses (akiya)—a significant social issue in rural areas—into spaces for creative practice and living.

In addition to Yunotsu, participants may also stay in Gotsu and Omori, expanding the residency experience across multiple locations within the Iwami region. Each site offers distinct perspectives shaped by untouched natural landscapes, rich history, and deeply rooted craftsmanship. By extending the programme across these areas, participants gain access to a broader and more immersive creative environment.

This regional expansion has been made possible by the strong impact and positive outcomes of the previous two editions of AKIYA AIR. As a result, new communities—including Gotsu and Omori—have expressed a strong interest in hosting artists and contributing to the programme.

Participants will have the opportunity to live in akiya, experience daily life in fishing and rural communities, and explore diverse creative practices while engaging with local culture and contributing to regional revitalisation.

From 2026, the programme will be hosted by the Gotsu Future Education Design Institute, working in collaboration with local partners across the Iwami region.

While the realisation of a large-scale art festival in 2027 remains uncertain, one of the long-term ambitions of this programme is to cultivate opportunities for such a platform to emerge within the region in the future.

We invite you to join this evolving programme and take part in shaping new possibilities for Iwami.

ーAKIYAー
Living and workspace

Participants will stay and work in renovated akiya (vacant houses) located in both Yunotsu and Gotsu. Each residence, once an unused home, has been revitalised and now serves as accommodation and creative workspace for the programme.

Participants will be assigned a living and working space within their respective location, allowing them to develop their practice in close connection with the surrounding environment.

In Yunotsu, the house is situated in a nature-rich area, surrounded by mountains, greenery, and a tranquil landscape.

In Gotsu, the house is located in the historic centre of the city’s oldest district, within walking distance of cafés, local shops, and the train station, offering a comfortable and well-connected living environment.

All houses are equipped with essential amenities, including a shared kitchen, bathroom, toilet, and internet access. Living and working spaces feature traditional tatami rooms.

If additional space is required, or if multiple artists are selected, supplementary accommodation or workspace may be arranged in other vacant houses at either location. Participants will be informed in advance should this apply.

Programme Flow

  1. Orientation: Introduction to the Local Context

Upon arrival in either Yunotsu or Gotsu, participants will be welcomed by local hosts and community members. A welcome gathering will be organised to introduce the artists to key stakeholders and collaborators in the region.

Participants will then be guided through their living and working environments, including their accommodation (Akiya) and studio spaces. The orientation will also include visits to local studios, cultural sites, and other significant locations, offering insight into the history, culture, and daily life of the area.

2. Community Presentation & Dialogue

Participants will meet with local community members and the artist support team to introduce themselves, share their goals and artistic interests, and discuss expectations for their stay.

This initial exchange establishes a foundation for meaningful dialogue and collaboration throughout the residency.

3. Research & Studio Visits

Participants will engage in independent research in Yunotsu, Gotsu, and the broader Iwami region. This includes studio visits, field research, and exploration of local practices such as traditional craftsmanship, architecture, and regional history.

A visit to Iwami Ginzan, known for its distinctive natural and cultural heritage, will further inform and inspire each artist’s conceptual development.

Optional Stay in Omori

Participants may also choose to spend up to one week in Omori, a historic district in Oda City and part of the UNESCO-listed Iwami Ginzan area.

With its well-preserved townscape and small, close-knit community, Omori offers a unique environment for immersive research and daily life. Participants will have the opportunity to explore cultural sites, engage with local residents, and experience the layered history and contemporary activities of the area.

5. Future Presentations & International Exposure

Opportunities for further presentations—such as at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tokyo—as well as exhibition presentations in the Netherlands, are currently under consideration.

Details will be announced once confirmed.

4. Final Presentations & Exhibition in Japan

The programme will culminate in final presentations in both locations: in Gotsu on Friday, 27 November, and in Yunotsu on Saturday, 28 November.

In addition, a public exhibition of the residency outcomes is scheduled to take place over three days, from Friday, 27 November to Sunday, 29 November.

These presentations and the exhibition will provide opportunities to share the results of the residency with local communities, collaborators, and stakeholders, while fostering dialogue between artists and the regional context.

Resources and Facilities

Materials Available

From Satoyama

Rocks, stones, soil, wood, bamboo, straw, iron (steel), and more.

From Akiya

Old household items and discarded materials.

Beach Debris

From large debris, referred to as ‘continental debris’ to smaller items.

Facilities Available at MUJUN Workshop Yunotsu

Heavy Machinery

Excavators, forklifts, crane trucks, transport vehicles, light trucks, chain blocks, etc.

Blacksmith’s Workshop

Equipped with furnace, spring hammer, press, and hardening furnace.

Carpentry Workshop

Equipped with sawing machines, automatic planer, planer, table saw, drying machine, chainsaw, general tools, and blades.

Workspace 1

100 square meters of concrete floor adjacent to the blacksmith forge.

Workspace 2

Several rooms with tatami flooring in an old farmhouse.

Workspace 3

Abandoned farmland and mountain forest covering 170,000 square metres on-site.

Possibilities at MUJUN Workshop Yunotsu

Circular Craft Making in Satoyama

E.g.

  • Camping

  • Bonfires and hearth cooking

  • Mountain maintenance

    (wind and water flow management)

  • Timber processing

    (felling, transport, sawing, processing)

  • Bamboo cutting and processing.

  • Construction of mud walls using soil, straw, and bamboo

  • Charcoal production 

Sustainable Tool Making in Satoyama

E.g.

  • Collecting sand iron from beaches and rivers

  • Steelmaking from charcoal burning to steelmaking at the blacksmith’s workshop

  • Crafting tools and blades at the blacksmith’s workshop

  • Reprocessing old iron at the blacksmith’s workshop

  • Restoration of old tools

Relaxing Leisure Activities

E.g.

  • Hot springs, Kagura (traditional Shinto music and dance), and drinking sake.

  • Karaoke at Kirakuya or Tokitsufu

  • Zazen and shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) at a temple

  • Fasting and relaxation massages

  • Surfing in the Sea of Japan

  • Hiking on Mount Sanbe, followed by hot springs and Jingisukan (grilled lamb dish).

  • Fishing and snorkelling along sandy beaches

  • Various cafes and restaurants.

  • Watching the sunset on secluded beaches

Optional

Upon request and consultation with the local coordinator, residents can access the following services:

Cultural Exchange Support

Explore Yunotsu's rich food, nature, culture, and history, including its renowned ceramic tradition. With this support, participants will have the chance to engage in local activities, such as flower arranging and martial arts classes.

Additional Support

Tailored experiences such as:

  • Traditional Carpentry Culture (Daiku Bunka): Including architectural woodworking, traditional joinery, and shrine/temple construction techniques.

  • Plasterwork (Sakan): Focusing especially on historical kote-e (relief plaster art), with opportunities to investigate and reinterpret this fading local tradition.

  • Roof Tile Craft (Sekishu Kawara Industry): Research into the legacy and current practices of Sekishu-gawara, with potential access to disused industrial spaces and materials through local collaborators.

  • Washi making at Ishikawa Washi Workshop.

  • Tour of the Paper Cloth Workshop

  • Visit to Iwami Ginzan Tile Workshop

  • Pottery Studio Workshop

  • Tour and hands-on experience at the Iwami Kagura Mask Workshop

  • Visit to Hirata Family Residence, including a tour of the Tatara furnace, local history, valuable housing, and natural farming

  • Rental car service

  • Tour of local sake brewery

  • Visit to local fermentation workshop