Abstract

This study explores the relationship between cross-cultural interactions and the creative processes for the arts that occur in international artist residencies, programs that embody the mobility and fluidity of contemporary life. An increasingly globalized world challenges not only the conventional cultural boundaries determined by nation-states but also the notion of culture itself as static. The authors use the notion of a “third cultural space,” an alternative type of metaphorical space that does not belong to any singular culture and embodies the qualities and dynamics of intercultural dialogue. The hypothesis is that the creative processes for the arts and those for a third cultural space are mutually reinforcing, and an artist residency taking place in a neutral zone—such as onboard a ship—would have an advantage in this reinforcement over one with a “host” culture that is based in a country with longstanding cultural traits already in place. The authors use a qualitative methodology, comparing two artist residency programs—one onboard a ship based in the Arctic Circle and the other based in conventional living spaces in Tokyo, Japan. Methods include literature review and theoretical analysis of scholarly papers on relevant theories, interviews with organizers of the programs and participating artists, and analysis of the organizations’ websites and reports. While international artist residencies have the potential for creating a third cultural space, the likelihood of this depends on several key conditions within the residency programs. The findings of this study work as a practical reference for organizations looking to enhance effective intercultural collaboration among artists.