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Celebrating a Century of Art: A New Era at Tokyo Art Museum

The Tokyo Art Museum is marking its centenary this year with a series of enlightening lectures that focus on the evolving role of museums in contemporary society. Launched in 2012, following a significant renovation, the museum has embraced a mission to serve as an open gateway to art for everyone. The series titled "Weaving Connections: The Future of Museums" aims to reflect on the past practices of the museum while fostering discussions about its future, emphasizing themes of "Dialogue," "Engagement," "Care," and "Accessibility."

Lecture Series Details

This lecture series will feature diverse themes arising from the museum's Art Communication initiatives, delving into how these activities can shape community engagement and inclusivity in art spaces. With each session accommodating 220 attendees, participants can expect interpretation services, ensuring that the discussions are inclusive and accessible to all.

Day 1: August 1st (Saturday)

• - Morning Session (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Children's Museum Experience

In this session, educators from three different museums will discuss how children from various backgrounds can engage with art through appreciation and creative activities, fostering their sensibilities and connections with others and the world.

Speakers: Tomomi Okazaki (Deputy Director, Yokohama Civic Gallery Azamino), Kumiko Kibi (Educator, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa), and Yumi Kono (Curator, Tokyo Art Museum).

• - Afternoon Session (1:30 PM - 3:30 PM): Art Communicators and Community Building

This session will highlight insights from community art communicators who have worked in the museum, exploring their personal journeys and how their involvement transformed their lives post-service.

Moderator: Yoshitetsu Nishimura (Representative, Living World).
Speakers: Former Art Communicators.

Day 2: August 2nd (Sunday)

• - Morning Session (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Public Nature of Museums

Discussing public creation from an anthropological perspective, this session encourages citizens to think about how museums can serve as platforms for self-initiated activities.

Speakers: Keiichiro Matsumura (Cultural Anthropologist, Professor at Doshisha University), Yusuke Komuta (Visiting Associate Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts), and Kazumi Kumagai (Curator, Tokyo Art Museum).

• - Afternoon Session (1:30 PM - 3:30 PM): Deaf Individuals and Expression

Featuring guests who continue their artistic endeavors through a unique lens of deafness, the discussion will also explore collaborative programs for high school students involving deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing participants.

Speakers: Haruto Saito (Photographer and Writer), Mai Nagumo (Body Expression Artist and Performer).
Moderator: Akira Kudo (Social Inclusion Officer, Tokyo Art Museum).

Day 3: August 8th (Saturday)

• - Morning Session (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Museums and Care Communities

Highlighting practices such as art appreciation sessions for individuals with early-stage dementia and collaborative cultural prescriptions, this session invites participants to consider what care means within the museum context.

Speakers: Kimiyo Ogawa (Literature Scholar, Professor at Sophia University), Kazumi Kumagai (Curator, Tokyo Art Museum).

• - Afternoon Session (1:30 PM - 3:30 PM): Touching and Appreciating Art

Reflecting on past exhibitions that utilized tactile diagrams, attendees will explore the diversity of sensory experiences in art beyond visual perception, creating shared appreciation experiences for both sighted and visually impaired individuals.

Speakers: Mamiko Ogawa (Touch Diagram Designer), Kojiro Hirose (Professor, National Museum of Ethnology), and Kazumi Kumagai (Curator, Tokyo Art Museum).

Important Information

• - All lectures are free of charge and seating is first-come, first-served.
• - Sign language interpretation and Japanese subtitles will be available during all sessions.
• - Sessions will be recorded and later archived for public access.

Registration

To secure your spot, please register through the provided links as attendance is limited. Each session will close registration once capacity is reached. We ask that individuals register separately for each session they wish to attend.