FUQIAO invites contemporary artists to develop a proposal that engages with the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, with a view to the call for projects for the 2028 Triennial. Let’s discuss the location, the artistic form and the conditions for realisation.
Call for artists
Triennal Setouchi 2028
Develop a proposal for the Setouchi Triennale
FUQIAO offers independent support, tailored to each artist. Applications must be submitted via the official website only; the organising committee reserves the right to select participants.
Project type
ExhibitionOutreach programme
Status
In development
Year
2026
Location
Setouchi - Japon
Geographic Reach
International
02
An idea for Setouchi begins with a place, an encounter and a question. FUQIAO supports artists who wish to turn this exploration into a viable proposal for the 2028 call for entries.
Opening
Statement
Statement
A work set on an island cannot be reduced to an image superimposed upon a landscape. It is shaped by the places themselves, their uses, the voices that inhabit them, and the time required to understand them. With a view to the Setouchi Triennale 2028, FUQIAO invites contemporary artists to share an intuition, a question or a practice that could become a site-specific proposal. Together, we can examine its artistic relevance, its relationship to the site and the practical conditions for its realisation.
A proposal for Setouchi is built around a place, not just for a place
Event Context
Setouchi Triennale 2028
Event Type
Exhibition
Event Date
Spring from 14 April to 28 May, summer from 25 July to 20 August and autumn from 29 September to 12 November 2028. The three seasons remain distinct.
Event venue
Setouchi
Event Organiser
Setouchi Triennale Executive Committee
CITY
Japon
x
The Triennale is seeking proposals designed for a specific location and taking into account the nature, history, culture and ways of life of the islands. The call for proposals also includes projects involving exchanges between artists, local residents, supporters and visitors.
x
Event Profile
NA
Why This Event Matters
The island context places great emphasis on understanding the site and building relationships with its inhabitants. This field of research is consistent with FUQIAO’s intercultural approach.
From intuition to a context-specific project
The islands of the Seto Inland Sea do not form an interchangeable backdrop. Their histories, rhythms and customs call for forms that could not emerge in the same way elsewhere. FUQIAO wishes to work with artists whose practice can be transformed when engaged with a specific context: installation, moving image, sound, performance, research or participatory projects.
Our role is to initiate a rigorous dialogue around the initial concept, and then to test its feasibility. What is the actual relationship between the artwork and the chosen location? What does it require of the people who live or work there? What resources, what permissions, what duration of presence and what maintenance does it entail? These questions inform the artistic proposal, its application and its budget.
Project Context / Opportunity
The 2028 call for proposals offers a concrete opportunity to develop projects linked to a site’s resources and, depending on their nature, to engage with local residents. FUQIAO provides a framework for interested artists ahead of the official deadline of 30 October 2026 at 10.00 am JST.
Project Objectives
To foster the development of distinctive and feasible artistic proposals; to combine research, on-site engagement and local dialogue; to produce clear proposals, accompanied by a credible timetable and budget; and to prepare the production and outreach stages for the selected projects.
Event Central Curatorial Question
How can a work of art emerge from an encounter with an island and give an active role to the people who pass through it?
FUQIAO Role
Curator, Developer, Mediator, International Coordinator
FUQIAO Methodology
FUQIAO begins with a discussion about the artist’s practice and their interest in Setouchi. We then identify a location or context to explore, assess how the idea fits within its constraints and, if the project requires it, seek out local contacts. The work may include a curatorial statement, a timetable, a budget, technical requirements, promotional images and the preparation of a proposal in English or Japanese, drawing on the appropriate language skills. If a proposal is accepted, our support may extend to production coordination and public engagement, subject to a separate agreement.
Strategic Connection
FUQIAO fosters dialogue between artists, contexts and audiences in Europe and Asia. Here, this in-between space takes the form of a practical endeavour: accepting that the venue will transform the initial idea and building respectful working relationships with those who inhabit it.
Intercultural Dimension
Target Audiences
International collaboration only makes sense if it allows time for translation, listening, verifying interpretations and bringing together context-specific knowledge. FUQIAO supports this approach without assuming that a local partnership is already in place.
Artists, Curators, Institutions, Communities
Expected Outcomes
Firstly, one or more proposals drawn up for the official call for entries. Whether the project goes ahead in 2028 depends on selection by the Triennale, as well as confirmed authorisations and funding.
Current Needs
Artists with a research focus or artistic practice that can be linked to Setouchi; discussions with curators and organisations likely to support research, production or outreach.
Artist & Artworks
featured Artists
featured Artwork
Our Program
Mediation activities
Research workshop located
A working session with the artist to clarify the connection to the venue, the people to be met and the format of the project. This will only be organised if a project and partners warrant it.
- Artists
- To be defined
Workshop
• Proposed
institutions partners_and credits
institutions partners & credits
Our Gallery
Gallery & Images
Project Details
Location & Information
Explore the venues and locations connected to this project.
NA
Touring Information
NA
Project Start Date
April 14, 2028
Project End Date
September 24, 2026
Project Status
Development
Project Information
Support with applications prior to the selection process; production arrangements to be defined on a project-by-project basis.
Submit an idea
Let’s talk about your project for Setouchi 2028
Are you an artist looking to develop a proposal for an island or coastal area in Setouchi? Please send us a brief description of your approach, a link to your work and, if you already have one, an initial idea for a location or event. Curators and organisations are also welcome to contact us to explore the possibility of support or a partnership. FUQIAO will work with you to explore the potential scope of the collaboration.
Available For : Artist, Curator, Institution, Partner / Sponsor, Other