Edeiken International Arts Foundation
Ken Ueno EIAF 2026–2027 Artist-in-Residence
The Edeiken International Arts Foundation (EIAF) announces that internationally acclaimed composer and performer Ken Ueno has been named the 2026–2027 Artist-in-Residence at 7artscafe in Yokohama, Japan. Following a competitive international review process, Ueno’s proposal, Resonant Yokohama: Listening, Eating, and Collective Presence, was chosen for its exceptional alignment with the vision of the EIAF Artist-in-Residence program. Based at 7artscafe, the program invites internationally recognized artists to develop new work in direct dialogue with the city’s cultural environment.
Resonant Yokohama is a site-responsive sound and performance project conceived specifically for 7artscafe. The work integrates experimental music, environmental sound, participatory performance, and food culture to explore how listening and eating unfold as parallel time-based practices that create temporary communities. Through listening walks, workshops, open rehearsals, and a culminating public event, the project will activate Yokohama’s sonic and culinary environments as parallel forms of cultural memory.
As one of Japan’s historic international port cities, Yokohama has long served as a gateway where cultures, cuisines, and artistic traditions intersect. Ueno’s project draws directly from this history, exploring how everyday acts, preparing food, sharing meals, and listening to the city reflect broader patterns of migration, exchange, and collective presence. 7artscafe, markets, kitchens, waterfronts, and neighborhood streets will serve both as sources of sound and as catalysts for artistic reflection.
The residency will include a series of public-facing activities:
• Listening walks and sonic fieldwork exploring Yokohama’s everyday soundscape
• Workshops at 7artscafe exploring relationships between sound, food, and memory
• Open rehearsals and collaborative sessions with local participants and musicians
• A culminating performance-meal that transforms the cafe into a shared sonic and culinary environment.
In the final event, environmental recordings from across Yokohama will interact with live performance and amplified eating gestures, inviting audiences to participate through listening, voice, and shared food. The result will be a hybrid experience: part concert, part installation, and part communal meal that reflects Ueno’s ongoing exploration of sound, embodiment, and social ritual.
Ueno’s artistic practice spans composition, performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. His work frequently investigates thresholds between sound and meaning, often focusing on subtle physical gestures such as breath, resonance, and the sonic dimensions of everyday actions. In recent works involving amplified food and communal eating, he has explored how culinary practices can function both as musical material and as a framework for collective experience.
A graduate of Harvard University, where he earned his Ph.D. in music composition, Ueno is currently Professor of Music at the University of California, Berkeley. His works have been performed internationally by leading ensembles and presented at major festivals across North America, Europe, and Asia. As both a composer and vocalist known for pioneering extended vocal techniques, Ueno is widely recognized as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary experimental music.
The EIAF Artist-in-Residence program supports artists whose work demonstrates exceptional artistic vision, international engagement, and the capacity to create meaningful dialogue between global contemporary practice and local cultural context. Ueno’s proposal was selected for its intellectual depth, conceptual clarity, and its exceptional alignment with the unique character of 7artscafe as a cultural space where music, food, and social gathering converge. Through this residency, the Edeiken International Arts Foundation and 7artscafe reaffirm their commitment to international artistic exchange and to supporting ambitious contemporary work that bridges disciplines, cultures, and communities.
The residency will take place during the 2026–2027 season, with public programming details to be announced.
About Us
The Edeiken International Arts Foundation (EIAF), founded in 2021 by philanthropist Dr. Nicole Edeiken, is dedicated to fostering artistic innovation, cultural exchange, and community transformation. The foundation supports both emerging and established artists, creating opportunities for creative exploration and encouraging collaboration between the USA, Japan, and beyond.
At the heart of EIAF’s mission is its Artist-in-Residence Grant Program @7artscafe, which offers international artists the resources and space to develop their work while engaging with local communities in Yokohama, Japan. This program promotes creativity, collaboration across disciplines, and cross-cultural exchange, strengthening global connections and mutual understanding.
EIAF also champions Community Arts Projects, such as public art installations, workshops, and performances, which inspire local populations and promote social cohesion. These initiatives enrich communities, foster shared identity, and empower residents through active participation in the arts.
Another key focus is Community Revitalization Projects, which use the arts to rejuvenate underdeveloped areas, turning them into vibrant cultural hubs. These projects not only beautify spaces but also stimulate local economies and foster pride within communities.
Additionally, EIAF supports arts-related charitable projects, providing access to the arts for underserved communities and individuals, and offering educational outreach and support to artists facing economic challenges.
Through its diverse initiatives, EIAF is building a more connected, creative, and inclusive global society by leveraging the arts as a powerful tool for cultural exchange, community building, and social change.
General Inquiries:
Edeiken International Arts Foundation
Dr. Nicole Edeiken, Director
Boca Highlands, FL 33487 USA
Managed and Administered by 7artscafe, Yokohama JAPAN
info@7artscafe.jp
2025-2026 Artist-in-Residence Grant Program
For more background and information on the 2025-2026 AiR Program, please click here.