For this winter season, the Aranya Art Center is pleased to announce the launch of the Aranya Winter Residency Program 2025-2026, in collaboration with Aranya·Jin Shan Ling.
Aranya·Jin Shan Ling
Photo: Ni Nan
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The community features two iconic buildings: the Upper Cloister (top right) and the Chapel of Sound (top left, bottom).
Aranya·Jin Shan Ling
Photo: Ni Nan
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This program, located in the valley of the Aranya·Jin Shan Ling community and nestled among the surrounding mountains and the Great Wall, aims to provide a more diverse platform for artistic practice and community engagement.
We invite artists from around the world to immerse themselves in the unique landscapes of northern China, engage with the changing seasons, converse with the local community, and create works that resonate with the environment.
Artists are encouraged to create public artworks for outdoor display in the community for a suggested period of two to four months, and the artists will retain ownership and copyright of their works. Artists from certain countries and regions may be eligible for funding opportunities (see details at the end).
The community is closely connected to the Great Wall. From within the community, you can enjoy views of the Great Wall and access hiking trails that lead directly into the mountains, allowing you to climb the Great Wall.
Aranya·Jin Shan Ling
Photo: Ni Nan
Hashel Al Lamki, So Tender Under the Stars, 2025
Aranya Winter Residency Program 2024
Chapel of Sound, Aranya Jinshanling, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
Courtesy of the artist
Photography: Zhang Chen
Hashel Al Lamki
Jogja Biennale 18, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 2025.
Courtesy Jogja Biennale Foundation.
Xu Sanhuang, Strolling, Perhaps in the Mountains, 2025
Aranya Winter Residency Program 2024
Aranya Jinshanling, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
Photography: the tree studio
Courtesy of the artist
Li Hanwei, Chronic Emotion Regulation-Type P, Type A, Type N, 2025
Aranya Winter Residency Program 2024
Aranya Jinshanling, Chengde, Hebei Province
Photography: the tree studio
Courtesy of the artist
Feng Zhixuan, Arrival of the Ice Wings, 2025
Aranya Winter Residency Program 2024
Aranya Jinshanling, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
Photography: the tree studio
Courtesy of the artist
· Artists with a minimum of 3 years of contemporary art practice.
· Artists with an independent artistic voice and a portfolio of work.
· All mediums of practice are welcome.
· Artists from all countries, regions, and backgrounds are welcome.
Up to 6 artists in total, including 3 international artists and 3 Chinese artists.
· Chinese Artists: Until December 20, 2025 (18:00 Beijing Time)
· International Artists: Until December 28, 2025 (18:00 Beijing Time)
Aranya·Jin Shan Ling Community, Chengde City,
Hebei Province, China
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· January 8, 2026 – February 3, 2026
OR
· March 5, 2026 – April 1, 2026
* Studio Support:
Free access to studio space and cultural/public exhibition spaces within the Aranya community.
* Accommodation Support:
Free accommodation for the duration of the residency.
· Transportation Support:
Free shuttle service between Beijing and Aranya·Jin Shan Ling.
Please note: Artists are responsible for their own domestic and international travel costs to and from Beijing.
· Production Support:
Each artist will be provided with a production budget, subject to review of their “Residency Project Proposal,” up to a maximum of 1,000 USD to cover materials and production costs.
· Community Support:
We regularly organize cross-disciplinary exchange programs, workshops, talks, and studio open days to facilitate interactions with other artists and the community.
· Documentation and Promotion Support:
Support for documenting works and working processes, as well as promotional materials (such as installation views and personal documentaries) and online promotion.
· Studio Visits:
We will provide curatorial support from Aranya Art Center team, and regularly organize visits for curators, writers, and other industry professionals from the Chinese contemporary art scene to meet with the residents, offering more opportunities for networking and establishing connections.
· During the residency, we encourage artists to create one or more works, ideally with a stability of 2-4 months or longer. The artist will retain full ownership and copyright of the works.
· We ask that artists follow the community guidelines at Aranya and engage with residents and visitors in a friendly and open manner.
· Artists may be asked to participate in occasional video documentation of their working process.
· We invite artists to share their work with the community, whether through open studio days, exhibitions, performances, workshops, or talks.
· CV
· Portrait photo (under 1MB)
· Portfolio (under 30MB)
· Residency Project Proposal (text or a combination of text and images, explaining the initial concept for the residency, including materials, space, and collaborative requirements)
· Any additional supporting materials
For artists who are French nationals and reside in France, as well as those from Indonesia or Southeast Asia, there are external funding opportunities available for travel and production. If you are from the aforementioned countries or regions, please indicate this in your application email. Artists who meet the criteria will be automatically considered for the funding opportunity if shortlisted.
Please send your application materials to artcenter@aranya.cc.
In the subject line of your email, please include the following:
“Aranya Winter Residency / Applicant’s Name / Preferred Residency Dates”
(e.g., “Aranya Winter Residency / Zhang San / January 8 – February 3, 2026”).
Marten Bayuaji, Earth Script; xīn, 2025
Aranya Winter Residency Program 2024
Aranya Jinshanling, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
Courtesy of the artist
Photography: Cai Minhao
Special thanks to Natasha Sidharta for her generous support of Marten Bayuaji’s participation in the Aranya Winter Residency Program.
We look forward to welcoming you to Aranya·Jin Shan Ling.
