Red Corner International Residency is delighted to announce the third edition of “A Journey Through Time and Space,” a unique two-week nomadic residency program for artists, writers, curators, and other art practitioners from around the world, offering an opportunity to explore the contemporaneity and the ancient living tradition that coexist today in Mongolia.
The program offers specific research areas, including the contemporary art scene in Ulaanbaatar, the extraordinary nomadic lifestyle, and the wilderness of Mongolia’s countryside, facilitated through field trips.
This self-funded residency program is for those seeking new experiences, inspiration for their artistic practices, and networking opportunities. The residency staff will provide all necessary documentation and support for artists applying for grants to cover program-related expenses.
Duration of the program
First cohort: 14 to 27 Jul 2027
Second cohort: 1 to 14 Aug 2027
PROGRAM DETAILS
Getting around Ulaanbaatar city
Participants will spend one week in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital, staying in centrally located shared apartments. As the country’s political, economic, and social hub, Ulaanbaatar is often described as a nomadic capital—a city whose history reflects a distinctive interplay between mobility and settlement. Before establishing its permanent location in 1778, the city relocated 28 times.
Today, Ulaanbaatar presents a striking mix of Soviet-era architecture, Western-style buildings, and sprawling suburban districts characterized by self-built homes and traditional nomadic felt tents. With a population approaching two million, the city is home to nearly half of Mongolia’s people. Since the transition away from socialism in 1990, it has grown to roughly three times its former size, transforming its urban landscape and social fabric.
This rapid expansion has brought significant challenges, including rural-to-urban migration, traffic congestion, air pollution, and corruption. These complexities offer participants an opportunity to engage with a city shaped by the tensions between tradition and modernity, mobility and settlement, and urban growth and inequality.
The residency team will provide practical guidance on navigating the city, helping participants explore Ulaanbaatar and engage with its diverse cultural and urban environments.
Navigating Ulaanbaatar’s Vibrant Art Scene
Despite its relatively young history, Mongolia’s contemporary art scene has developed remarkably over the past 25 years, evolving into a dynamic and diverse field shaped by the country’s rich cultural heritage, traditional beliefs, and changing social realities.
Until the early 2010s, Mongolian contemporary art remained relatively underrepresented both internationally and within the country. Organizations such as the Blue Sun Contemporary Art Center, the Arts Council of Mongolia, and the Mongolian Contemporary Art Support Association (MCASA) have played pivotal roles in developing the local art ecosystem, supporting artists, and bringing contemporary art to wider audiences.
Since 2012, MCASA—the umbrella organization behind Red Corner International Residency—has initiated pioneering projects to connect Mongolian artists with the international art world. Through collaborations and participation in major international platforms, including the Venice Biennale, documenta, and the Asia Pacific Triennial, MCASA has helped expand the visibility of Mongolian contemporary art beyond national borders.
As part of the residency, participants will visit museums, galleries, and artists’ studios, gaining firsthand insight into Mongolia’s contemporary art practices, creative communities, and evolving cultural landscape.
A Journey to Ikh Gazriin Chuluu: A Majestic Granite Landscape in the Gobi Desert
Located approximately 267 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar, Ikh Gazriin Chuluu is one of Mongolia’s most striking natural landmarks. Situated in Dundgovi Province, this vast and tranquil landscape is characterized by ancient granite formations rising dramatically from the surrounding steppe and desert terrain. Stretching approximately 20 kilometers from west to east, the formation reaches an elevation of 1,706 meters.
Participants will explore rugged rock formations, hidden caves, and secluded passages shaped by time and natural forces. Far removed from the pace of urban life, this expansive landscape offers space for contemplation, discovery, and creative exploration. Its distinctive textures, forms, and sounds provide rich sources of inspiration and opportunities to gather visual and audio material for artistic research and practice.
The residency includes a three-day excursion to Ikh Gazriin Chuluu, with participants staying for three nights in traditional Mongolian gers provided by a local tourist camp. A ger, often referred to as a yurt, is a portable traditional dwelling with a circular structure and a distinctive roof, insulated with felt and covered with an outer fabric layer. For centuries, it has served as the home of Mongolian nomadic families. Each ger accommodates three to four beds, and participants should expect to share their living space. Toilets and shower facilities are available at the camp.
During their stay, participants will also have the opportunity to visit local nomadic families and gain firsthand insight into their traditions, everyday lives, and enduring relationship with the land. These encounters offer a deeper understanding of Mongolia’s living nomadic culture and its continuing relevance in the contemporary world.
Delving into the Lives of a Nomadic Family
To understand the true spirit of the Mongolian people, the best way is to visit a nomadic family. Over thousands of years, nomads have passed down their wisdom of worshipping, adapting to, and living in harmony with nature. Their lifestyle is self-sufficient and deeply connected to the land, the cycles of nature, and their animals. Nomads move with their portable, mobile dwellings, called gers, in search of better pastures and water for their animals from place to place all year long.
The program will organize a three-day camping stay with a nomadic family, offering a great opportunity to experience this unique way of life and enjoy the local food and drinks in natural settings. Mongolian nomads are generally known for their friendliness and hospitality. However, understanding their customs, social norms, and lifestyles is essential for appreciating the nuances of their daily lives. With the hosts’ permission, artists may interview family members and collect sounds and images while staying with them. Nomads might also invite guests to help with chores, such as milking cows, shearing goats, and preparing meals. For those interested in horseback riding, the family can also provide this experience. In the past cohorts, Red Corner team arranged a meeting with shamans.
During the three-night stay with a nomadic family, participants can choose between an individual modern camping tent and a traditional Mongolian ger, subject to availability. Both camping tents and Gers will be equipped with a sleeping bag, mattress, and towels. Mobile toilet and shower facilities will be available throughout the stay, allowing participants to experience nomadic life while enjoying basic amenities.
Other activities
The program will begin with an introductory meeting for all participants, where artists will present their practices. During trips to the countryside, participants are encouraged to organize performances, create land art or installations, and invite others to engage with their work. They can also share their discoveries, inspirations, and ideas to foster collaboration, networking, and the exchange of experiences and knowledge through process-oriented activities. These events will be informal, and some local artists may join in.
Expectations towards the participants
The program promotes close collaboration and mutual support among participants to create a positive experience for everyone involved. A respectful, sharing attitude is essential when traveling to other destinations. Participants may encounter unique challenges when off-road traveling and staying with a nomadic family; however, these experiences can also offer valuable insights and opportunities for growth. While we aim to accommodate various dietary preferences, please be aware that vegetarian and vegan options may be limited when traveling outside the city. Our goal is to make travel enjoyable, smooth, and efficient for everyone.
FEE FOR PARTICIPATION
This is a self-funded residency program. The total participation fee is $1,900 USD, which does not include international travel costs. The fee covers airport pick-up, accommodation, meals in both the city and the countryside during program activities, and the organization of trips, museum and studio visits, and meetings. We encourage participants to obtain travel grants from their national or international funding organizations. For selected applicants, the residency will provide invitation letters and the necessary information to obtain visas and grants. Participants must have travel insurance. To confirm participation, participants must pay a 50% deposit of the fee at least 3 months in advance.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Requirements and Application Information
Applicants should meet the following criteria:
- Have an artistic or research practice in visual arts, performance, music, film, curatorial practice, or art criticism.
- Have at least three years of professional experience.
- Be physically fit and prepared for extended off-road travel in the Mongolian countryside.
- Be able to communicate in English.
To apply, please send the following materials to info@redcorner-mongolia.com:
- A portfolio with links to your work (maximum three pages, in English).
- Your country of origin and current country of residence.
- A brief description of your plans and intentions for your stay in Mongolia beyond the residency program (maximum one page, in English).
- Details of any dietary restrictions.
- Any additional information you would like the Red Corner team to know.
If you have any questions about the residency or its program, please feel free to contact us.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is March 31, 2027. However, applications may close earlier if sufficient participants have confirmed their places by paying the required advance fee. We therefore encourage interested applicants to apply as early as possible.
Selection Process
Applicants will be notified of the selection results within two weeks of submitting their applications. This allows sufficient time for selected applicants to apply for travel grants or other funding from relevant organizations.
Once funding has been secured, selected applicants must pay a deposit to confirm their participation in the residency.
The program is curated by Gantuya Badamgarav, founding director of the Mongolian Contemporary Art Support Association and Red Corner Residency.
Other information
Explore the artists who have previously participated in our residency program here.
Learn more about MCASA, the umbrella organization behind Red Corner, here.
Photos: Header is image of collective performance conducted by Mary Maggic at Ikh Gazriin Chuluu and other images – courtesy of participating artists of 2026 Red Corner Nomadic Residency Program
