【OPEN CALL】2026 ICCI ART VALLEY PROGRAM International Visiting Art Scholars

【OPEN CALL】2026 ICCI ART VALLEY PROGRAM International Visiting Art Scholars

Organizer: USC–SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry (ICCI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Co-organizer: MANA | Global New Media Art Platform
Location: Shanghai, China
Dates: November 1 – December 15, 2026
Disciplines: Digital Art / New Media Art / Installation Art / Painting, etc.

Program Overview

The 2026 ICCI ART VALLEY PROGRAM – International Visiting Scholars Activities invites artists and scholars from around the world to engage in an innovative residency that explores artistic practice across multiple dimensions.
Through residency-based creation, participants will embark on a cross-media, cross-cultural, and cross-spatial exploration of contemporary art. At a time when technologies such as artificial intelligence and spatial computing are reshaping artistic expression, the program focuses on three key directions:

• Art and Technology – exploring new creative boundaries through the interaction between digital and material forms;
• Humanistic Dialogue – fostering cross-cultural understanding through artistic exchange;
• Urban Engagement – responding to themes of urban transformation while strengthening the connection between people and the city.

ICCI is now publicly recruiting 5–6 international visiting artists or scholars to participate in the 2026 ICCI ART VALLEY PROGRAM. The residency will take place from November 1 to December 15, 2026.

Selected participants will present the outcomes of their residency through exhibitions held in art venues across Shanghai, online virtual exhibition spaces, or cultural landmarks such as the Shanghai Jiao Tong University History Museum.

Applicants are expected to

1. Have teaching experience at a university or art institution, or experience organizing public lectures or academic seminars;
2. Maintain an active artistic practice with experience in diverse artistic traditions or cultural contexts. Priority will be given to artists working in interdisciplinary media, digital art, easel painting, or other integrated media practices;
3. Organize 1–2 public events during the residency, such as lectures or workshops. Please briefly outline your proposed concept or ideas in the application;
4. Demonstrate fluent English presentation skills and strong cross-cultural communication abilities;
5. Donate two artworks for permanent collection at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (please provide a list of at least five works from which the committee may select);
6. Actively participate in activities organized by ICCI, including visits, lectures, workshops, and exhibitions;
7. Fully commit to the residency period (November 1 – December 15, 2026) and maintain a regular studio presence during working days.