Open Calls

Yunnan . Guizhou . Sichuan

Yunnan

WilderHaven Residency at Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er, southwest China, near the border with Myanmar. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023, it is the world’s first tea-themed cultural heritage site, representing over 1,300 years of continuous tea cultivation.

Covering 28,000 mu, the landscape features over 3 million tea trees, including 1.1 million ancient trees growing naturally beneath a biodiverse forest canopy. Unlike industrial plantations, Jingmai utilizes a unique “forest–tea symbiosis” system. This traditional understory model—where tea grows alongside protective native trees—has been preserved for centuries without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

This ecological balance is maintained by the Blang, Dai, Hani, and Wa peoples. Their agricultural practices and ancestral "Tea Ancestor" beliefs have sustained the forest as a living cultural landscape. Historically a vital source for the Ancient Tea Horse Road, the mountain remains a vibrant center of traditional village life, ritual, and craft.

The locals’ agricultural and craft traditions embody a philosophy of ecological balance and coexistence with nature.

Jingmai Mountain’s blend of ancient ecological wisdom and cross-border cultural heritage provides a profound environment for artistic research and slow, place-based practice.

A video related to the culture: History of Tea
About the location: Jingmai Mountain

Yunnan
Jingmai Mountain
2027 Artist Residency

2027 Spring Residency

Threaded Canopy:
Spring Growth, Weaving, and Living Ecology

Residency period:

March 22 — April 4th (Two weeks)
March 22 — April 18th (Four weeks)

Apply through: November 10th, 2026 - January 1st, 2027

Application deadline: January 1st, 11:59 PM, 2027 (EST)

Notification: Two weeks after Due date

As spring warmth returns, Jingmai Mountain awakens with peak tea harvest and lush growth. WilderHaven invites artists, researchers, and craft practitioners to engage with this seasonal renewal.

We focus on indigenous women’s weaving traditions, and eco-friendly art during residency. We welcome proposals exploring landspace, arugraculture, sustainable living, and site-responsive practice alongside local Blang, Dai,Hani, and Wa ethincs, honoring living textile heritage and ecological balance.

Participants are encouraged to develop projects inspired by the landscape, culture, and social context of Jingmai Mountain, but proposals are not limited to a specific theme.

Residency Cohort
This residency session will host a cohort of up to 14 artists, writers and researchers.
The perfect size group format is designed to support various engagement and networking, community exchanges, and collective learning among participants.

Upon proposal acceptance, accepted residents may enroll in an optional 6-day traditional backstrap weaving workshop for an additional fee.

Group Activity
Participants in the 2027 spring residency will also join a group trip to visit local textile communities

Participate fee

APPLY (coming soon)

Yunnan
Jingmai Mountain
2026 Artist Residency

2026 Fall Residency

Practices of Slowness:
Tea, Textile, and Ecologies of Time

Residency period:

Oct 12 —- Oct 25 (Two weeks);
Oct 12 —- Nov 8 (Four weeks), 2026

Apply through: April 1st - May 31st

Application deadline: May 31st 11:59 PM, 2026 (EST)

Notification: Two weeks after Due date

Guizhou

Announcement coming soon for the Guizhou site residency.

Guizhou
*** Mountain
Artist Residency

Fall Residency

Coming soon.

Sichuan

WilderHaven Artist Residency (WHAR) is launching its inaugural program in the Daliang Mountains of Sichuan Province, China. In partnership with GuiYuan Garden, we’ve transformed this tranquil retreat into a dynamic hub for artists, anthropologist, and meditators from around the world.

About Dechang
Nestled in the Anning River Valley, GuiYuan Garden was created by visionary artist Gu Jian. Traditional and contemporary wooden watchtower houses rise above a flourishing dragon fruit farm, all surrounded by vibrant native flora. Located within a Yi and Lisú autonomous region, GuiYuan blends ancient traditions with modern design to offer an inspiring backdrop for creative exploration and mindful living.

At WilderHaven, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and egalitarian space. Here, creators and educators of every discipline can come together to exchange ideas, collaborate, and draw inspiration from the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Southwest China. Join us as we build a community where artistic innovation flourishes, and age-old traditions meet fresh perspectives.

Get to know the culture of Daliangshan (Daliang Mountains)

Opportunities: Daliangshan International Theatre Festival, exhibitions, local interviews.

Sichuan
Daliang Mountains 2025 Artist Residency

2025 Fall Residency

Application Deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST

Notifications: Monday, July 14, 2025

Residency Dates: September 1 – December, 2025

Duration: 2 weeks, 4 weeks ( more than 4 weeks are determined case by case)

Stipend available

Who Can Apply
Artists (21+ year-old) working in any medium are welcome. International artists are welcome. All accepted residents receive a dedicated workspace tailored to their practice.