Stimuleringsfonds

For the Open Call Residency Arita 2026, the Creative Industries Fund NL, in collaboration with the Mondriaan Fund, processed 25 applications, 14 of which were submitted via the Creative Industries Fund NL. From the proposals submitted, Jos Klarenbeek and Studio Rinke Joosten were selected on behalf of the Creative Industries Fund NL for a working period in the ceramics region of Arita in Japan.

10 December 2025

The residency in Arita offers living/working space for two periods per year, where one designer and one artist can stay at the same time. During this stay, they have the opportunity for three months to conduct research and experiment with porcelain in collaboration with local producers. Arita, located in Saga Prefecture, is known for its centuries-old porcelain traditions. The region offers a rich context for the development of new techniques, the acquisition of knowledge, and international exchange. The working periods focus on artistic and technical research. They also strengthen the collaboration between Dutch designers and artists and local porcelain producers and artisans in Japan.

general impression

The committee positively assessed applications that approach the working period in an innovative way and at the same time present a feasible plan. The two selected projects offer a clear vision on the possibilities of working with porcelain and are well aligned with the objective of the residency. The committee finds the combination of a practice that seeks a crossover between design and porcelain in relation to a ceramics-oriented design practice interesting. It appreciates the open-minded approach to possible outcomes, the understanding of what the residency location has to offer, and the high artistic quality of the plans.

selection

Algorithm – Jos Klarenbeek
In his practice, Jos Klarenbeek often works as a translator, converting complex material into narrative installations and objects. He has previously applied this approach to technical weaving and now wants to explore it in porcelain production. In Arita, he uses Algorithm to investigate how the porcelain production process can function as an algorithm: a series of actions and rules that convert input into output. He wants to use this methodology to tell stories about the material chain itself (raw-material use, material cycle and history) and to make this information accessible and understandable. The research consists of two parts. First, he focuses on experimentation and deeper understanding. By trying out different techniques, Klarenbeek explores which actions can become part of an algorithm, ranging from glazing techniques to CNC milling methods for moulds. This results in a library of objects and samples. The focus then shifts to context and broadening. He collects data about the local material chain and translates this via the algorithm into a narrative work about the place, the production process and the history of Arita.

Artefact – Studio Rinke Joosten
With Artefact, Rinke Joosten explores the role of the mould as an artwork in its own right within ceramics. Whereas the mould normally disappears after production, Joosten transforms it into a porcelain sculpture in which knowledge, labour and handwriting remain visible. By executing a complex multi-part mould entirely in porcelain, the production process itself becomes the final work. Joosten's fascination with the craft, rooted in family tradition and ten years of experience with ceramics, finds the ideal fertile ground in Arita's 400-year-old tradition. Working closely with local artisans creates a cross-pollination between Japanese tradition and her own practice. The project results in porcelain sculptures where the mould plays a central role, and in refined technical knowledge that Joosten shares with the wider field through her own practice and network.

assessment

The proposals submitted were assessed by the committee on three main criteria:

The artistic quality of the work;
The quality of the development plan;
The motivation in relation to the objective of the residency and the intended international exchange.

numbers

A budget of € 23,774 was available for this open call, divided between two residencies. Jos Klarenbeek and Studio Rinke Joosten each receive € 11,887 as a contribution towards travel, material and accommodation costs and to support their working period in Japan.