Staging Silk Road Dunhuang International Artist-in-Residence (SSR AIR 2026)
Program Categories
We sincerely welcome artistic and research-based residency projects, including:
Artistic Projects (15 positions in total)
Painting, Installation, Sculpture, Video, Digital & New Media Art, Public Art, and related practices.
Research Projects (2 positions)
Curatorial Practice and Academic Research.
Artist Eligibility & Application Requirements
1. Age Requirement: Applicants must be 25 years old or above.
2. Nationality: Open to applicants of all nationalities.
3. Application Materials:
l Latest CV
l Portfolio of recent works
l For time-based or video works, please provide online viewing links
4. Application Form:
l Download the SSR AIR Application Form from
www.dunhuangartmuseum.com, or scan the QR code provided
l Complete the form carefully and submit all materials via email to:
air@dunhuangartmuseum.com
l Email subject line must read: “SSR AIR + Applicant Name”
5. Residency project proposals may be submitted in PDF, video, or other multimedia formats.
6. Physical submissions are not accepted. If physical materials are sent without request, the organizing committee will not be responsible for their return.
7. Applicants must comply with local laws and regulations during the residency period.
8. Resident artists are required to donate one artwork created during the residency. The donated work will be mutually agreed upon by the artist and the residency organizers.
9. Selected works will be exhibited in the museum’s new exhibition in May following the residency.
Timeline
Application Deadline: From now until January 15, 2026, at 24:00 (midnight)
Selection Announcement: January 30, 2026
Final shortlisted artists will be notified via email
Residency Period: February 1 – March 30, 2026
(Chinese New Year holiday excluded)
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by the Residency Program Committee invited by the Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum.
Program Support
Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum will provide the selected artist with:
1. One Round-trip transportation to Dunhuang (Domestic travel reimbursement: up to RMB 2,000, International travel reimbursement: up to RMB 5,000, Original receipts required).
2. 2.Production Grant: The support for material cost shall not exceed MB 20,000. Applicants must submit a de. tailed budget, implementation plan, and cost breakdown.
3. Hotel Accommodation and Airport Transfers
4. Studio Workspace
5. Project Promotion and Publicity
6. Opportunities to Exhibit at Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum and partner institutions
7. Access to Local Cultural and Tourism Resources to support artistic creation
8. Academic Visits with Dunhuang Studies Scholars
9. Opportunities for Inclusion in Residency-Related Publications
Special Statement
1. Originality Declaration: Applicants guarantee that all submitted works and proposals are original, do not infringe upon third-party rights, and have not been previously submitted to other exhibitions or commercial platforms. The organizing committee reserves the right to disqualify applicants and pursue legal responsibility if violations occur.
2. Intellectual Property Rights: Full copyright of all submitted proposals remains with the applicant. Exhibition and publication rights of residency outcomes are jointly owned by the applicant and the residency program.
3. Publicity Rights: Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum and its partner organizations retain the right to use selected and shortlisted projects for online promotion and publicity.
4. Official Information Channels: Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum (www.dunhuangartmuseum.com) and WeChat service account, Official Account, REDnote, and other online official media are the designated information release channels for this activity.
About Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum
Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum (DCAM), established in November 2024, is located in Changyang Campus, Yangpu District, Shanghai. Rooted in Dunhuang culture, the museum engages in the academic collection, exhibition, research, publication, education, digital transformation, and public programs of modern and contemporary art, presenting the richness and diversity of human artistic and intellectual worlds. By linking classical and modern knowledge traditions, the museum seeks to explore the contemporary translation of traditional culture and the historical logic of modern Chinese art. With an open and global perspective, it aims to establish an international platform for artistic practice and theoretical research grounded in China.
"Pastoral Light Project" Artist Zheng Jing Yumenguan 2022About Staging Silk Road
Staging Silk Road (境象丝路) is an initiative launched by Jingli Culture, dedicated to the cultural revitalization and research of heritage sites along the Silk Road.
In 2026, Staging Silk Road will take place across Gansu, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia, inviting artists, designers, and curators to jointly explore the cultural traces and civilizational legacies of the Silk Road through on-site research and creative practice.
Crescent Lake