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Villa Kujoyama is a multidisciplinary research and creative residency located on Mount Higashi in Kyoto. Built in 1992 by architect Katō Kunio ( 加 藤 邦 男 ),. and initiated by the Société de rapprochement intellectuel franco-japonais, Villa Kujoyama is today one of the oldest and most prestigious French residency programs in Asia.
In 2022, Villa Kujoyama celebrated its 30th anniversary.Valérie Duponchelle, "Le Figaro, ARTS : reportage à Kyoto, à la Villa Kujoyama, où se rencontrent artistes français et japonais." périodique, 24 décemnbre 2022, p. 7-10 Since its creation, it has welcomed more than 400 artists and creators from various disciplines, who have been able to develop a project related to Japan.
Villa Kujoyama is one of the five branches of the Institut français du Japon. It operates in coordination with the Institut français and has been supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation since 2014.
Villa Kujoyama offers three distinct residential packages:
+ Duos or pairs Arts and Sciences (from 2025): one or one scientist in the field of natural sciences or formal sciences and a creator in the field of one of the artistic disciplines listed below teams up to present a joint project.
The 2024 Selection Process Application Rules list the following:
• Architecture / Landscape / Urbanism
• Street Arts / Circus / Puppetry
• Digital creation (digital arts, video game, VR)
• Fine Arts
• Comic book
• Cinema (Animation/Creative Documentary/Art video)
• Art critic and curator
• Dance / Performance
• Design / Graphic design
• Culinary Arts / Gastronomy
• Literature (fiction / essay / children’s literature / comics)
• Crafts
• Fashion
• Music (Classical / Contemporary / Jazz)
• Photography
• Theatre
Villa Kujoyama has six housing workshops, and welcomes about fifteen residents each year. A dedicated team on site accompanies them in their administrative and artistic procedures. It helps them to achieve their projects by putting them in contact with local operators with artistic, cultural, academic and economic backgrounds, and organizes partnerships for the diffusion of their work during and after the residency. The laureates stay at Villa Kujoyama receiving a residence allowance, without obligation of result.
The laureates of the Villa are invited each year to exhibit their work at the Nuit Blanche
KYOTO, a festival of contemporary creation organized by the French Institute of Kansai and the city of Kyoto. The works of the laureates are therefore presented not only at the Villa, but also in other partner places.
The various branches of the network of the French Institute of Japan also organize events that are an opportunity to diffuse the work of residents to a Francophile public through conferences, performances and exhibitions.
Residents are invited to take part in a wide variety of events outside the walls, through conferences, workshops, concerts, especially in schools and universities ( Lycée français international de Kyoto, Kyoto University, Kanazawa College of Art).
The original project, designed to create a summer university offering ten weeks per year of French language and culture courses, transformed into the establishment of a year-round Franco-Japanese Institute dedicated to teaching French language and promoting awareness of French ideas.
The Franco-Japanese Intellectual Exchange Society ensured the supervision of this new Institute, constructed with Japanese funds, while the functioning and cultural programming were taken care of by the French government. The Franco-Japanese Institute was inaugurated on November 5, 1927, and led by geographer Francis Ruellan in its early years.
In 1936, the Franco-Japanese Institute was relocated near the Imperial University in the developing district of Izumidono. A new building was constructed, while the site built on Mount Higashi in 1926 remained abandoned for nearly fifty years.
The French and Japanese administrators of the Franco-Japanese Intellectual Exchange Society agree to cancel the sale and consider a new use for the site. In 1986, they decided to construct an artist' residence, primarily due to Kyoto's artistic and historical nature, and the site's exceptional location as a veritable "balcony overlooking the city." The decision to establish the "Franco-Japanese Center for Exchanges and Creation" was made on November 11, 1986.
In the aftermath, a period of three years ensued, during which funds were raised from prominent companies in the Kansai region. This endeavor was overseen by Inabata Katsuo (稲畑勝雄), the grandson of Katsutaro Inabata.Philippe Pons, "Villa Kujoyama reopening cements France-JApan cultural collaboration", The Guardian, November 7, 2014 Once the funding was gathered, an additional three years were required to secure the construction permit from the local municipality.
The architectural project was entrusted to the architect Katō Kunio, who was a professor at the University of Kyoto at the time. It took the shape of a thousand-square-meter edifice, capable of accommodating up to six artists simultaneously for creative residencies. Katō Kunio crafted his vision at the crossroads of French and Japanese cultures, choosing to blend both "rigor of modular composition and freedom in the arrangement of spaces" into the design.
The construction phase began in January 1991 and spanned 18 months, culminating in the opening of its doors to the inaugural residents in October 1992. An official inauguration ceremony was held on November 5, 1992."Inauguration de la Villa Kujoyama un balcon français sur l'Orient", Le Monde.fr, 19 novembre 1992 Today, this establishment is known as Villa Kujoyama.
Between 1992 and 2012, Villa Kujoyama hosted 275 French artists and creators for residency periods lasting up to twelve months. During this period, the establishment was jointly managed by the Institut français, which handled program coordination and funding of artists and creators' pensions, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for financing the facility's operations and supporting its artistic and cultural activities.
The sustained operation of Villa Kujoyama is largely attributed to the active involvement of patrons. On the one hand, the Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent Foundation has played a vital role in supporting the renovation of the structure. The foundation contributed 500,000 € towards insulation, compliance upgrades, cleaning, and flooring works, essential for the successful refurbishment of the building. Thanks to this significant funding, the establishment was able to reopen its doors on January 1, 2014..
On the other hand, the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation also played a crucial role by committing to support Villa Kujoyama over three years, financing both its operations and artistic and cultural activities.. The Foundation provided substantial support, amounting to 754,000 €, between 2014 and 2017.. The Bettencourt Schueller Foundation renews its support as a patron of the residency program for the period 2022-2026.,
More than 400 laureates have been in residence at Villa Kujoyama since its inception in 1992. They encompassed various disciplines ranging from contemporary artistic creation to research in humanities and social sciences.
The first option (solo) allows a French or foreign candidate who has been residing in France for at least 5 years to present a research project for a residency of 4, 5, or 6 months. The second option (in pairs) offers a 4-month residency to two French or foreign candidates who have been residing in France for at least 5 years and allows them to work together on a joint project. The last option (in duo) is aimed at a French or foreign candidate who has been residing in France for at least 5 years and wishes to develop a collaborative project with a Japanese candidate residing in Japan, for a 4-month residency.
As part of the partnership between Villa Kujoyama and the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, two laureates of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for the Intelligence of the Hand® are invited each year, starting from 2022, to stay at Villa Kujoyama for one month to develop a project related to their craftsmanship and Japanese culture. Nicolas Pinon (2022), Mona Oren (2022), Fanny Boucher (2023), and Grégoire Scalabre (2023) are the laureates of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for the Intelligence of the Hand ® who have resided at Villa Kujoyama.
The status of the laureates invited to stay at Villa Kujoyama is different from that of the laureates of other residency programs at the Villa. However, the selected laureates have the opportunity to apply for other solo, pair, or duo residency programs offered by the Institut français.
Through its activities, Villa Kujoyama facilitates a meaningful dialogue between the cultures of Japan and France, exemplifying the interconnectedness and bridges that exist between them.
Since September 2022 and the arrival of the new director Adèle Fremolle, Villa Kujoyama opens its doors to the public every first Thursday of the month.Yamina Benaï, Geste/s n°6, "L'esprit du geste / Villa Kujoyama. Kujoyama mon amour", Périodique 2022, p.110-117
Villa Kujoyama offers artistic support, during and after the residency period, with the Institut français. The 5 years following the end of the residency, known as the post-residency period, allow artists to showcase their work in venues across France or to extend their experience in Japan with the support of Villa Kujoyama's partner institutions.
Since 2014, Villa Kujoyama has expanded its range of hosted disciplines to include digital arts and crafts. This expansion was prompted by the desire of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation to showcase creators and artisans on a global scale, while also ensuring the preservation and transmission of the expertise of craftsmanship in both countries..
The scope of disciplines broadened in 2019 to encompass street arts / circus / puppetry, video games and curating.
The inclusion of crafts in the program in Kyoto, a city known for its rich artisanal heritage spanning centuries, holds great significance and relevance for both French and Japanese participants. This aspect not only encourages more interactions between artists from both countries but also establishes a meaningful connection with the local community. The goal is to anchor the program in the Kyoto region and facilitate exchanges in a city that has mastered the art of combining traditional practices with contemporary activities.
Since its establishment in 1987, the foundation has honored 634 laureates and provided support for more than 1000 projects, led by diverse teams, associations, institutions, and organizations.
Since its reopening, the directors are as follow:
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