Design Residencies in China

K11 Art Village

Wuhan, China

The K11 Art Village, inaugurated in 2011 in Wuhan, China, is a dynamic platform designed to support and nurture emerging artists. It features seven studios and a 500-square-meter exhibition space dedicated to its artist-in-residence program. The village focuses on cultivating young talent, aiding in their artistic career development through curatorial support, project management, and creative communication guidance. It emphasizes community engagement and encourages interaction and exchange among artists and the local community. Over the past decade, K11 Art Village has established partnerships with prestigious institutions such as the Nissan Art Award in Japan, the Royal Academy of Arts in the UK, and the British and French consulates in China. The K11 Art Foundation, founded by Dr. Adrian Cheng in 2010, is a non-profit organization in Hong Kong committed to nurturing emerging Asian artists and promoting contemporary art. The foundation organizes various art projects, including exhibitions, residencies, and educational programs, fostering cross-cultural collaborations with global art and cultural institutions. These collaborations have included partnerships with renowned entities like the Royal Academy of Arts, Serpentine Galleries, Centre Pompidou, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and MoMA, among others. The foundation's efforts significantly contribute to expanding creative horizons and strengthening ties within the art community.

WilderHaven

Chengdu, China

WilderHaven is an artist-founded initiative based in Southwest China that fosters cross-cultural dialogue and interdisciplinary creation in deeply immersive rural settings. Founded in 2024, it offers artist and writer residencies in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou, engaging directly with the region’s diverse landscapes and minority cultures. The residency supports visual artists, writers, musicians, performers, and designers through flexible programs designed to bridge global practices with local traditions. With small cohorts and a balance of solitude and community, WilderHaven emphasizes experimentation, collaboration, and critical inquiry. Participants have access to studios, cultural excursions, and local engagement opportunities with ethnic Yi and Lisú communities. Group and pop-up exhibitions offer residents ways to showcase work locally and in major Chinese cities. Family-friendly accommodations, bilingual support, and curated events make it accessible to a broad range of creatives. The program is primarily self-funded but offers merit-based stipends to reduce participation costs for selected artists.