EXPO 2025 OSAKA USA PAVILION TWO-MONTH CULTURAL PERFORMERS RESIDENCY APPLICATION

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The six-month long Expo 2025 Osaka marks the return of the World Expo to Japan 20 years after the Aichi Expo 2005 and is expected to attract over 28 million visitors. The event is scheduled for April 13 to October 13, 2025, 55 years after Japan and Asia’s first ever World Expo, the Osaka Expo 1970. This will be the third time Osaka hosts a World Expo and the sixth time Japan hosts a World Expo. The theme of Expo 2025 Osaka is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” The Expo’s subthemes are “Saving Lives,” “Empowering Lives,” and “Connecting Lives.”

The U.S. Department of State's International Expositions (Expo Unit) has awarded a cooperative agreement to Meridian International to recruit U.S. Cultural Performers to perform and/or speak at the official USA Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. For the Two-Month Cultural Performers Residency, all travel and lodging expenses will be covered by the program, along with an approximately $1,600/week stipend per person.

Cultural Performers should:

Embody the best and most authentic representation of American dance, music, theatre, literature, art, food, sport, and other aspects of American culture;

Collectively reflect the full cultural richness and diversity of the U.S.;

Attract the interest and engagement of Expo visitors through varied performances, workshops, lectures, panel discussions, master classes, and media engagements; and

Support U.S. public diplomacy goals to promote U.S. history, culture, and values in Japan and throughout the region.

Cultural Performers selected for the program will be included in one of three cohorts. Each residency is eight weeks in length; Performers can indicate which residencies they are available to participate in. Performers can be solo acts or groups of up to 5 individuals. Throughout the residency, cohorts will regularly engage Expo visitors through live, entertaining in-person performances and other activities such as “open hours” to informally share their artform, musical instruments, traditions, props, and costumes, along with their diverse American culture and values, with audiences. In addition to rehearsals and performances at the USA Pavilion, U.S. Cultural Performers may be invited to perform at other Expo venues or collaborate with performers and speakers at other Expo pavilions. This program is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Meridian International Center. Applications will close on November 30, 2024 at 11:59PM EST; Please submit all application-related questions to expo@meridian.org by November 22, 2024.

What is your artform? *

What is your genre within your artform? (i.e., spoken word, photography, Hip Hop, contemporary dance, cheerleading, Judo) *

Are you applying as an individual or a group? *

Individual

Group

Name as listed on government-issued ID *

Artist Name (if different from government name):

Phone Number *

Email address: *

City *

State/Territory *

To which gender do you most identify? *

What are your preferred pronouns? *

To which race/ethnicity do you identify? (Please check all that resonate) *

Do you speak any other languages besides English? *

Yes

No

If yes, which language(s)? *

Please answer the following. *

	Yes	No
Are you a U.S. citizen?	Yes	No
Do you have a valid U.S. passport or can obtain one within the next 6 months?	Yes	No
Are you at least 18 years of age or older?	Yes	No
Have you been convicted of a felony?	Yes	No
Are you delinquent in childcare payments?	Yes	No
Are you committed to or interested in cultural diplomacy?	Yes	No

Please list any social media handles you currently use: *

+-

Résumé Upload:
Please limit your résumé to 2 pages and upload as a PDF file. Do not submit a press kit or any promotional materials. *

Group Name

How many members are in your group? (Maximum of 5) *

Member 1 Name as listed on government-issued ID (Primary Group Contact) *

Member 1 Artist Name

Member 1 Phone Number *

Member 1 Email Address *

City *

State/Territory *

Member 1 Group Role/Position *

Member 1, which gender do you most identify? *

Member 1 preferred pronouns? *

Member 1, to which race/ethnicity do you identify? (Please check all that resonate) *

Do you speak any other languages besides English? *

Yes

No

If yes, which language(s)? *

Please answer the following. *

	Yes	No
Are you a U.S. citizen?	Yes	No
Do you have a valid U.S. passport or can obtain one within the next 6 months?	Yes	No
Are you at least 18 years of age or older?	Yes	No
Have you been convicted of a felony?	Yes	No
Are you delinquent in childcare payments?	Yes	No
Are you committed to or interested in cultural diplomacy?	Yes	No

Member 1, please list any social media handles you currently use: *

+-

Résumé Upload:
Please limit your résumé to 2 pages and upload as a PDF file. Do not submit a press kit or any promotional materials. *

Member 2 Name as listed on government-issued ID *

Member 2 Artist Name

Member 2 Phone Number *

Member 2 Email Address *

City *

State/Territory *

Member 2 Group Role/Position *

Member 2, which gender do you most identify? *

Member 2 preferred pronouns? *

Member 2, to which race/ethnicity do you identify? (Please check all that resonate) *

Do you speak any other languages besides English? *

Yes

No

If yes, which language(s)? *

Please answer the following. *

	Yes	No
Are you a U.S. citizen?	Yes	No
Do you have a valid U.S. passport or can obtain one within the next 6 months?	Yes	No
Are you at least 18 years of age or older?	Yes	No
Have you been convicted of a felony?	Yes	No
Are you delinquent in childcare payments?	Yes	No
Are you committed to or interested in cultural diplomacy?	Yes	No

Member 2, please list any social media handles you currently use: *

+-

Résumé Upload:
Please limit your résumé to 2 pages and upload as a PDF file. Do not submit a press kit or any promotional materials. *

Member 3 Name as listed on government-issued ID *

Member 3 Artist Name

Member 3 Phone Number *

Member 3 Email Address *

City *

State/Territory *

Member 3 Group Role/Position *

Member 3, which gender do you most identify? *

Member 3 preferred pronouns? *

Member 3, to which race/ethnicity do you identify? (Please check all that resonate) *

Do you speak any other languages besides English? *

Yes

No

If yes, which language(s)? *

Please answer the following. *

	Yes	No
Are you a U.S. citizen?	Yes	No
Do you have a valid U.S. passport or can obtain one within the next 6 months?	Yes	No
Are you at least 18 years of age or older?	Yes	No
Have you been convicted of a felony?	Yes	No
Are you delinquent in childcare payments?	Yes	No
Are you committed to or interested in cultural diplomacy?	Yes	No

Member 3, please list any social media handles you currently use: *

+-

Résumé Upload:
Please limit your résumé to 2 pages and upload as a PDF file. Do not submit a press kit or any promotional materials. *

Member 4 Name as listed on government-issued ID *

Member 4 Artist Name

Member 4 Phone Number *

Member 4 Email Address *

City *

State/Territory *

Member 4 Group Role/Position *

Member 4, which gender do you most identify? *

Member 4 preferred pronouns? *

Member 4, to which race/ethnicity do you identify? (Please check all that resonate) *

Do you speak any other languages besides English? *

Yes

No

If yes, which language(s)? *

Please answer the following. *

	Yes	No
Are you a U.S. citizen?	Yes	No
Do you have a valid U.S. passport or can obtain one within the next 6 months?	Yes	No
Are you at least 18 years of age or older?	Yes	No
Have you been convicted of a felony?	Yes	No
Are you delinquent in childcare payments?	Yes	No
Are you committed to or interested in cultural diplomacy?	Yes	No

Member 4, please list any social media handles you currently use: *

+-

Résumé Upload:
Please limit your résumé to 2 pages and upload as a PDF file. Do not submit a press kit or any promotional materials. *

Member 5 Name as listed on government-issued ID *

Member 5 Artist Name

Member 5 Phone Number *

Member 5 Email Address *

City *

State/Territory *

Member 5 Group Role/Position *

Member 5, which gender do you most identify? *

Member 5 preferred pronouns? *

Member 5, to which race/ethnicity do you identify? (Please check all that resonate) *

Do you speak any other languages besides English? *

Yes

No

If yes, which language(s)? *

Please answer the following. *

	Yes	No
Are you a U.S. citizen?	Yes	No
Do you have a valid U.S. passport or can obtain one within the next 6 months?	Yes	No
Are you at least 18 years of age or older?	Yes	No
Have you been convicted of a felony?	Yes	No
Are you delinquent in childcare payments?	Yes	No
Are you committed to or interested in cultural diplomacy?	Yes	No

Member 5, please list any social media handles you currently use: *

+-

Résumé Upload:
Please limit your résumé to 2 pages and upload as a PDF file. Do not submit a press kit or any promotional materials. *

Short Questions & Bio

Please select the cohort(s) in which you are available to participate (select all that apply): *

Cohort 1: April 13 – June 13, 2025

Cohort 2: June 13 – August 13, 2025

Cohort 3: August 13 – October 13, 2025

Please provide a short bio for yourself or your group: *

0/150 words

What is your proposed performance or activation/demonstration? (150 words or less) *

0/150 words

How will your performances showcase American culture, history, and values? (150 words or less) *

0/150 words

How do you approach or engage people with different experiences, values, or viewpoints? (150 words or less) *

0/150 words

What past experience has prepared you for this program? (150 words or less) *

0/150 words

Which audience(s) would be suited for your proposed program? *

Have you/your group members participated in any other U.S. Department of State program? *

Yes

No

Which U.S. Department of State program(s) have you/your group members participated in? (i.e., American Film Showcase, American Music Abroad, Arts Envoys, Fulbright, Next Level, etc.) *

Do you have any experience or expertise in Japan and/or the region? *

Yes

No

Please explain:

References

Please provide 3 references below:

Reference #1 *

Relationship *

Email Address *

Reference #2 *

Relationship *

Email Address *

Reference #3 *

Relationship *

Email Address *

Work Samples

If you are submitting literature (3 short samples) or photos (up to 10 photos), please upload here in a single document:

If you are submitting videos, please provide 3 working links to creative work samples:

URL #1

URL #2

URL #3

If your video work sample(s) is longer than five minutes, please note where you would like panelists to begin viewing (e.g. 00:05:15)

Provide all passwords or include any necessary information required to view your work sample(s), such as plug-ins or navigation paths:

Please read the Guide to Application and FAQs carefully before submitting your application (links will be updated once website is live):

FAQs

Guide to Application

*

I have read the Guide to Applications and FAQs and understand my application may not be considered if it is incomplete.