- Is the closest town to Tokyo among the 12 cities and towns in the Hamadori region
- Accommodation is right in front of Hirono Station.
- Entire town supports the Artist-in-Residence program
- Treats contemporary artists of all genres and backgrounds equally
- Complies with international standards of contemporary art open calls
- Overwhelming web promotion power
- Network of artists steadily growing through connections via Hirono Town
Is the closest town to Tokyo among the 12 cities and towns in the Hamadori region
Hirono Town is the southernmost of the 12 cities and towns in the Hamadori region. It’s the closest to Tokyo. It’s 2 hours and 37 minutes from Ueno Station on the Hitachi Limited Express. Hirono is an express stop, so you can get to the artist-in-residence field in one train without having to transfer!
Accommodation is right in front of Hirono Station.
The main accommodation for the Hirono Artist-in-Residence is the Hatago Inn Fukushima Hirono, a hotel in front of Hirono Station. This stylish, homey business hotel was branded by Seitaro Design, led by contemporary artist Seitaro Yamazaki. All staff members are well-versed in the artist-in-residence and Marginal Art Fair program and provide the utmost hospitality to support the artists.
Entire town supports the Artist-in-Residence program
In addition to Hirono Town Hall stuff and Hatago Inn Fukushima Hirono, the entire town supports the artists who come to Hirono for the Artist-in-Residence program, including the Hirono Town Promotion Corporation, Platt At (Cummunity space NPO in front of Hirono Station), the Hirono Town Tourism Association, the Hirono Town Chamber of Commerce, the Prefectural Futaba Future Academy Art Club, and AEON Hirono.
One of the greatest attractions of the Hirono Artist-in-Residence program is the warm and welcoming atmosphere that welcomes artists everywhere, not only during their residency but also after their residency ends.
The secret to the Hirono Artist-in-Residence’s proud hospitality lies in its very unique judging system, which is primarily comprised of people who live, work, and study in Hirono Town. The final judging panel includes curators from contemporary art spaces in the town, artists who have previously participated in the Hirono Artist-in-Residence program, members of the town’s high school art club, and volunteers from the town hall. The people who know Hirono Town inside and out decide who to invite, which is why the Hirono Artist in Residence brings the artists and the people of the town closer together.
Treats contemporary artists of all genres and backgrounds equally
The Hirono Artist-in-Residence program is committed to thorough information disclosure and fairness. Application forms do not require applicants to indicate their gender or age, and no photographs are required. The first round of judging (document review) utilizes AI to eliminate human bias and prejudice, while the final round is conducted anonymously using only three documents: the artist statement, portfolio, and residency project. This system has enabled artists from a wide variety of backgrounds and genres to be invited to the Hirono Artist-in-Residence program.
The artists invited to date have specialized in a wide range of fields, including sculpture, acrylic painting, street art, textile art, and photography and mixed media, and all graduated from different schools. Minori Aoki, who specialized in acrylic painting before coming to Hirono, was influenced by her fellow Nadine Baldaw and began creating large-scale sculptures. The artists who connected through the Hirono Artist-in-Residence program continue to keep in touch and inspire each other.
Hirono Artist-in-Residence was also one of the first to introduce a system that gives extra points to caregivers (those with experience of pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, or elderly care) in the selection process and allows for family stays in Japan.
Complies with international standards of contemporary art open calls
While the selection process is led by the local community, the application process is truly globally standard. An artist statement, which is often omitted in Japanese domestic open calls, is required, and a template resume format that complies with global standard artist CV is distributed. Therefore, with a little modification, the documents you prepare for your Hirono Artist-in-Residence application can be submitted to any other application anywhere in the world.
Of course, the application guidelines are posted in both Japanese and English, and application documents are accepted in both Japanese and English.
Overwhelming web promotion power
The Hirono Artist-in-Residence actively disseminates information in both Japanese and English via various social media platforms and its official website. Its activities have also attracted attention outside of Japan; in January 2025, a renowned curator Kim Wide MBE even traveled all the way from the UK to visit Hirono.
Furthermore, even after your Artist-in-Residence program ends, the program will continue to provide updates on the artists.
Network of artists steadily growing through connections via Hirono Town
Launched in 2024, the “Marginal Art Fair Fukushima Hirono” and the Hirono Artist-in-Residence are contemporary art projects that regularly host the Hatago Inn Fukushima Hirono. The two events overlap, and autumn and winter in Hirono are beginning to be seen as the seasons of contemporary art in Hamadori.
The Hirono Artist-in-Residence is also proud of its opportunity to interact with dozens of contemporary artists from Japan and abroad at the Marginal Art Fair Fukushima Hirono. Furthermore, the Marginal Art Fair Fukushima Hirono offers exhibiting opportunities for former Hirono Artist-in-Residence participants, so please feel free to return to Hirono as an exhibiting artist after your residency.
