Program Overview
The 2025 ICCI ART VALLEY PROGRAM – International Visiting Artists/Scholars invites artists from around the world to engage in a residency-based project focused on interdisciplinary and innovative practice. Through immersive creative exploration, the program fosters a meaningful dialogue between traditional cultural knowledge and cutting-edge technologies.
Set within the contexts of artificial intelligence, the metaverse, and spatial computing, the program encourages artists to investigate the interplay between digital and physical, algorithmic and handcrafted, virtual and material realms. Artists will reshape the narrative of art and technology through cross-media experimentation, offering fresh perspectives on urban culture and articulating the complex relationship between humanity, nature, and society.
ICCI is now publicly recruiting five international visiting artists/scholars to participate in the 2025 ART VALLEY PROGRAM. The residency period will run from November 1 to December 15, 2025. Selected artists will exhibit their works in renowned venues throughout Shanghai, including art museums, virtual spaces, and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University History Museum.
Expectations for Visiting Artists/Scholars
1. Have teaching experience at a university or art institution, or experience organizing public lectures and academic seminars；
2. Have long-term experience in artistic creation, with a diverse background in artistic genres or cultural perspectives. Priority will be given to artists working in interdisciplinary media, digital art, easel painting, or other integrated media practices;
3. Conduct 1–2 public events, such as lectures or workshops, during the residency. Please include a brief proposal or concept for public programming in your application;
4. Demonstrate fluent English public speaking skills and cross-cultural communication competence;
5. Donate 2 artworks for permanent collection at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (please submit a list of at least 5 pieces for the committee’s selection);
6. Actively participate in all scheduled activities organized by ICCI, including tours, lectures, workshops, and exhibitions;
7. Fully commit to the residency (November 1 – December 15, 2025) and ensure a consistent studio presence on workdays throughout the program.
What You Will Receive
Applicants approved by the organizing committee will receive a minimum project grant of RMB 8,000 to cover materials for artistic creation and public programming during the residency.
Additional support includes:
a. Round-trip airfare (economy class) from the artist’s departure city to Shanghai;
b. Accommodation throughout the residency;
c. Exhibition setup and installation costs for the group show;
d. Opportunities to engage in collaborative exchange with local Chinese artists;
e. Insightful dialogue with Chinese artists and exposure to Chinese cultural perspectives;
f. Organized visits to top art museums, galleries, and exhibitions in Shanghai;
g. Feature and promotion of personal works on ICCI’s virtual space, official ART VALLEY website, and affiliated media platforms;
h. Permanent exhibition of donated works at Shanghai Jiao Tong University;
i. Comprehensive promotion and media coverage of artistic practice in China;
j. Support from 1–2 ICCI student assistants for assistance with lectures, exhibition preparations, and related affairs.
Notes
Visiting artists/scholars are strongly encouraged to arrange personal insurance based on their individual needs.
How to Apply
Please submit your application materials to icci-pr@sjtu.edu.cn (Email subject: Visiting Artist/Scholar Application + Your Name).
Application materials must include:
● CV including: a portrait, artistic philosophy, educational background, experience in art creation and practice, residency work plan, representative works, and donation list;
● Records of teaching experience in higher education institutions;
● Academic and artistic practices, exhibition history, and existing collections of artworks.
Collaboration & Sponsorship
We sincerely welcome universities, art academies, art institutions, and brands from around the world to collaborate with the ICCI ART VALLEY PROGRAM. If you are interested in partnering with us, please contact: icci-pr@sjtu.edu.cn
About the ICCI ART VALLEY PROGRAM
Founded in 2015, the USC-SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry (ICCI) is an internationally oriented school of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU).
The ICCI ART VALLEY PROGRAM aims to enrich art education through creative industry thinking, foster innovative talent development models in arts and management within comprehensive universities, elevate public artistic literacy, and build an art ecosystem characterized by the integration of cultural industry and education.
The program brings together outstanding artists from diverse fields, including painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, new media, installation, and architecture. Since its inception, more than 100 artists and researchers from around the globe have joined the program, contributing to the ongoing exchange of ideas and deep integration of art with education.
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