Residency Period: August – November 2025
Application Deadline: August 3, 2025
Location: Dameisha “Biosphere No. 3,” Shenzhen, China
Overview
The Mountain and Sea Sustainable Creation Experiment invites artists, designers, curators, and creative practitioners from across disciplines to embark on a one-month residency in an immersive environment where art, ecology, and sustainable living converge.
The residency takes place in Biosphere No. 3, a landmark green building designed by world-renowned architect Steven Holl, located in Shenzhen’s scenic Dameisha area. This initiative is part of the Mountain and Sea Coexistence Festival (October 2025 – April 2026), a major cultural program integrating natural ecology, culture, and low-carbon innovation.
Participants will join a growing network of cultural innovators exploring the urgent intersections of environmental responsibility, social change, and creative practice.
Residency Focus
Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the program emphasizes three interconnected creative directions:
1. Social Innovation – Using art to inspire community participation, social equity, and cross-cultural dialogue.
2. Ecological Art – Engaging with biodiversity, climate change, and ocean health through creative, research-based, or site-specific projects.
3. Sustainable Design – Applying circular design principles, zero-waste methods, and low-carbon materials to reimagine production and consumption.
What We Offer
Dedicated Creative Space
Residents will have access to private studio facilities within Biosphere No. 3, equipped to support cross-media, experimental, and site-specific projects.
Funding & Materials Support
· RMB 3,000 creative stipend for eco-friendly materials and project execution
· RMB 1,600 accommodation subsidy to support living costs during the residency
Mentorship from Leading Figures
Residents will receive personalized guidance from leaders in sustainable design, architecture, art, and cultural programming.
Project Initiators & Mentors
· Jiang Hao – Head of Dameisha Biosphere No. 3
· Xie Xiaohui – Secretary-General, Vanke Public Welfare Foundation
· Cui Qiao – Chair, Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation
Past Mentors of BCAF’s Young Artist Support Program “New Voices” Series include:
· Zhang Yonghe – Architect, Founder of Atelier Feichang Jianzhu
· Liu Xiaodu – Co-Founder & Principal, Urbanus Architecture & Design
· Zuo Jing – Curator and Writer, Founder of Bishan Project
· Shen Chen – Artist
· Kong Jianyu – Curator and Art Director
· Li Wuwei – Art Critic and Scholar
· Wang Xing – Artist
· Cao Dan – President, Modern Media Group Art Division
· Huang Du – Independent Curator and Art Critic
· Uma Wang – Fashion Designer
· You Yang – Director, Shanghai Bund Art Museum
· Peng Zhenning – Architect, Co-Founder of C+ Architects
· Wang Yi – Artist
· Liu Xiaodong – Contemporary Painter
· Wen Hui – Dancer, Choreographer, and Filmmaker
· Zhang Wei – Artist
· Zhou Rong – Curator and Writer
· Guang Yu – Graphic Designer
· Zhang Ding – Artist
This diverse and accomplished network ensures residents benefit from both deep expertise in sustainability and broad artistic and cultural perspectives.
Exhibition & Promotion
Showcase your work at the Mountain and Sea Art Market, the Mountain and Sea Coexistence Festival, and on partner media platforms. Selected works may also be promoted beyond the residency’s timeframe.
Creative Process Documentation
Each resident’s journey will be captured through a customized Art Micro Documentary, preserving the process and amplifying the work’s reach.
Eligibility
We welcome applications from:
· Artists, designers, curators, art media practitioners, and cross-disciplinary creatives
· No restriction on medium; proposals in visual arts, public art, installation, social design, ecological art, and sustainable design are encouraged
Application Requirements
· Resume & Portfolio – Showcasing artistic vision, previous works, and creative approach
· Residency Proposal – Outlining concept, methodology, and anticipated outcomes
· 1-Minute Video – Introducing your motivation, understanding of the theme, and expectations for the residency
Application Deadline
Submit all materials to:
niejm@vanke.com | bixy07@vanke.com
Deadline: August 3, 2025
Join Us
This is more than an artist residency — it is a journey toward a more sustainable future, a platform for cultural and ecological exchange, and a living laboratory for creative sustainability.
Your ideas can become part of a larger movement where mountain and sea coexist in balance — and where art plays a central role in shaping a better world.
