Important notification regarding changes to our residence programs and operations

Things are changing for PARADISE AIR in 2026.

 

Due to large-scale adjustments to our residence programs as a result of changes to our operating environment, we are suspending all residence program applications for June 2026 and beyond. For those artists who have already applied, or those who have been considering an application, we sincerely apologize for the suddenness of this announcement.

• Artists whose stays have already been confirmed for this year (those who have received confirmation of their stay from PARADISE AIR) will be welcomed under the same terms as set out at the time of their application.
• To those who have applied for our SHORTSTAY Program scheduled for June 2026 or thereafter, it is with deep regret that we must cancel all aspects of this residence program, including screening, results announcements, and program implementation.
• We will be announcing a new residence program at a later date, so those who are interested in a PARADISE AIR residence program from June 2026 onward should apply to that. Details concerning this new program will be announced in the coming months.

All of us in the PARADISE AIR management team have, in the thirteen years since the program’s founding, operated with the goal of becoming a “One Stay, One Art” point of transit. Working with the city of Matsudo, we have provided a place for artists, who in turn bring a new perspective to the city. This simple exchange has produced a powerful flow of creative people between Matsudo and the rest of the world.

Beginning in April of this year, PARADISE AIR’s operational approach will drastically change due to reductions in the budget for arts and culture hubs Matsudo has allotted to PARADISE AIR.

Fortunately, we will retain the residence space itself. Furthermore, PARADISE AIR’s management team is committed to finding ways to ensure that PARADISE AIR’s activities survive in some form going forward.

We draw tremendous confidence from our most valuable resource: the network of artists and Matsudo citizens that has developed over the past thirteen years. We kindly ask for your continued support. We also welcome any support or ideas on operational matters from those who may be able to provide assistance. With everyone’s help, we hope to overcome these dramatic changes.

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Since the launch of its artist in residence program in 2013, PARADISE AIR has been based in Matsudo. We have held a wide range of events in Matsudo with the over 800 resident artists accepted into our programs, including open studio days and presentations.

These activities would not have been possible without the city of Matsudo. We do not mean this simply in terms of space or place, but also in regards to our operating budget. The continuous support that Matsudo has provided by commissioning projects was a driving force that has enabled us to continue the residence program over the past ten-plus years. In particular, we have been able to greatly enhance the program’s foundation and content since 2016 thanks to the establishment of the General Incorporated Association PAIR as the body that operates our activities. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to both the city and the citizens of Matsudo.

Beginning in April 2026, the outsourcing amount that we will receive from Matsudo has been reduced compared to in previous years. The significant impact this new amount will have on PARADISE AIR’s operations will require dramatic changes to our strategic approach.

To this point, PARADISE AIR’s overall activities have been maintained through a combination of public project commissions from the city of Matsudo and our own independent enterprises. Based on these new city policy decisions, we have begun exploring ways to enhance the scale of our independent enterprises moving forward. In more concrete terms, one of the options we are considering is offering a fee-based residence program. We will also need to secure new funding opportunities in order to ensure that the coordinators and other people responsible for managing the program are able to continue their work in a healthy, supportive environment. For this reason, the way our staff work will likely change as well.

Despite this situation, one bright spot is that we will be able to retain the residence space itself thanks to the continued cooperation of the building owner, Hamatomo Corporation.

One of the aforementioned independent enterprises we have undertaken over the years has been to rent studio space to local artists and creators, thereby creating revenue that we have been able to use to maintain all the floors that PARADISE AIR occupies. This initiative was put in place to function as a safety net—and one that has proven particularly appropriate in the current situation—in that it allows us to maintain the physical space of the residence even if revenue for other activities is interrupted.

One other bit of good news is the fact that the PARADISE AIR management team is positive about finding ways to somehow ensure that the program survives. We take pride in the ability of our facilities and staff to adapt to large-scale changes, developed over years of operational experience.

We intend to spend the next few months, as we move away from the close partnership we have maintained with Matsudo to this point, considering how to secure more diverse support and return the benefits of our programs to an even broader community. The goal we set thirteen years ago of becoming a “point of transit” has produced a global network of artists. In addition, the enduring cooperation we’ve received from the residents of Matsudo who have shared and supported our activities remains an invaluable asset.

PARADISE AIR exists within these networks. We are determined to find ways of providing mutual support with a diverse array of partners. Please stay tuned for further announcements.

 

The PARADISE AIR Team