Become part of a prestigious international project and discover Japan through your camera lens!
Trenčín 2026, in collaboration with the Japanese organization EU-Japan Fest, announces an open call for photographers from Slovakia to take part in a unique residency opportunity in Japan.
This project is part of the renowned international program European Eyes on Japan | Japan Today, which has been showcasing contemporary Japanese culture through the eyes of European artists since 1999.
The selected photographer will have the opportunity to spend at least three weeks in one of Japan’s prefectures, capturing everyday life and creating a photo series that will be published and exhibited both in Japan and Europe—including in Trenčín and Oulu, the European Capitals of Culture 2026.
Who are we looking for?
This open call is for photographers who:
✔ Have a strong artistic approach and reflect on the role of photography in contemporary society.
✔ Are capable of creating a cohesive photo series and preparing both an exhibition and a photographic publication.
✔ Have not previously lived in Japan.
✔ Have experience in creating photographic books and exhibitions.
What do we offer?
✔ A residency in Japan during 2025 (minimum 3 weeks).
✔ The publication of an original photographic book and exhibitions in Trenčín, Oulu, and Japan.
✔ Participation in a prestigious international network of photographers and artists.
Participation conditions
After the exhibition in Japan, the photographs will be donated to the respective prefecture and the city of Higashikawa in Hokkaido, home to the Higashikawa International Photography Festival.
How to apply?
📩 Submit your application by March 31, 2025, at 23:59 by filling out the form, including:
✔ Your CV
✔ Your portfolio
✔ A short statement about your residency concept
Selection of Applicants
From the submitted applications, a professional jury will select three finalists, from whom the final winner will be chosen by the Japanese side. The jury members are:
📷 Martin Kollár – photographer
📷 Tomáš Pospěch – photographer and theorist
📷 Olja Triaška Stefanović – photographer
Let Japan inspire you and become part of a cultural dialogue through the lens of your camera!
➡ More about EU-Japan Fest: eu-japanfest.org
Results
Dominika Jackuliaková to Travel to Japan for an Artist Residency
Three finalists – Jana Iľková, Dominika Jackuliaková, and Tatiana Takáčová – were nominated by a professional jury for the shortlist of the Open Call for a Photography Residency in Japan. Our Japanese partner, EU-Japan Fest, has selected the winner who will travel to Japan for a three-week residency.
The selected artist is photographer Dominika Jackuliaková.
During her stay, she will be based in the Fukui Prefecture on the west coast of Japan. Often described as the “happiest region” of the country – whether for its breathtaking natural beauty or its deep-rooted Zen Buddhism – Fukui will serve as the setting for a project inspired by the theme of orientation in unfamiliar space and subjective wandering.
Her concept draws from Roland Barthes’ essay Empire of Signs, which describes the experience of a foreigner navigating a Japanese city without traditional streets, names, or addressing systems. According to Barthes, such a space cannot be navigated using a map – only through walking, observation, habit, and memory. Each discovery is fragile and irreplaceable – an approach Dominika reflects in her artistic process.
As part of the residency, Dominika has decided not to use any digital navigation tools, instead relying on intuitive exploration and photographing places that leave a visual or emotional trace. The camera will serve as a tool for recording her subjective landmarks.
The result of the project will be a visual guidebook – an artist’s map of the city created through personal experience.
Born in 1989, Dominika Jackuliaková is a photographer and educator. She grew up in Lučenec, in the south-central region of Slovakia – an area she often reflects on in her long-term documentary series. Her work explores themes of mobility and the changing relationship to land and home – in Slovakia, rural areas, and abroad.
Autobiographical elements are always present in her stories and often influence her choice of locations and people she photographs.
In 2023, she received the Urbanautica Institute Award, and in 2019 she was awarded a Fulbright Research Grant.
Her work has been exhibited at Filter Space (Chicago, USA), the Slovak National Gallery (Bratislava), Gallery Kurzor (Prague), the City Gallery of Blansko (Czech Republic), and Photoport Gallery (Bratislava).
Her photographs are included in the collections of the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago and the Slovak National Gallery.
This international residency programme is part of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 initiative and offers unique opportunities for Slovak artists to develop their work in a global context.
We warmly congratulate Dominika and wish her an inspiring and enriching stay!
🔗 Learn more about Dominika’s work: https://jackuliakova.com
More about the finalists and the project:
You asked us
I don’t have a PDF portfolio, only a website
Question:
I don’t have a PDF file with my portfolio, but I have a website where all my original work is presented. What should I do?
Answer:
Upload a PDF file with the link to your website in the application form.
Experience with staying in Japan
Question:
What does it mean that the applicant should not have experience with staying in Japan? Can I apply if I’ve been on a trip to Japan?
Answer:
Yes, you can apply if you’ve been to Japan for a short-term stay. Applicants who have lived in Japan long-term are not eligible to apply.
I don’t have Slovak citizenship
Question:
Can I apply even if I don’t have Slovak citizenship or I’m not currently living in Slovakia?
Answer:
Covered costs
Question:
What costs will be covered in relation to the residency?
Answer:
The residency will cover travel expenses, accommodation, meals, and technical costs – e.g. materials.
Residency location and dates
Question:
Is the location and date of the residency already determined?
Answer:
No, the location and date of the residency will be agreed upon between the Japanese partner and the selected applicant.
Published photo book
Question:
Do I need to have a published photo book to be eligible for the residency?
Answer:
No, having a published photo book is not a requirement.