Art Collaboration Kyoto Executive Committee Prospectus

January 7, 2020

Art and culture in Kyoto have long been connected to the local livelihood and industries andit eventually developed as the foundation for a vast range of socio-economic activities. Bothtangible and intangible cultures, which have been accumulated in Kyoto's long history, areresources that still attract both Japanese and foreign visitors. Based on these kinds ofregional characteristics, Kyoto Prefecture has examined various ways to support artists as ameasure to stimulate new cultural creations. These programs include artist residencies invarious areas of Kyoto Prefecture, art events with a focus on young artists, and exhibitions
to introduce promising, up-and-coming artists.
Our experiences of running these programs led us to an awareness of the problem: theenvironment in Kyoto for the artists to focus on their activities is insu cient, particularly for
those who are developing their careers. There are many art universities in Kyoto, which hastaken in many talented students from all over the country and produced many artists whoare actively working internationally. With all these a rmations, it is fair to say that Kyoto isa rich environment for art education and research. However, the art industry isunderdeveloped when it comes to supporting the livelihoods of artists. This has been theultimate reason for a fair number of artists leaving Kyoto to other prefectures and countries,
for seeking a better environment.
Meanwhile, the acceptance of contemporary art among the wider community has gradually
been growing in Kyoto by the e orts of di erent people involved in the arts. In order to turnthis potential into actual support for artists, we need to have the means to stimulate thecirculation of contemporary art: production, exhibition, distribution, and evaluation. It should
also be a cross- eld measure that is di erent from the conventional format of only
promoting culture and art itself. By activating the art market, which has a large in uence on
the exhibition and distribution of artworks, we will be able to uphold artistic legacies andraise the reputation of the artists.
Private contemporary art galleries have contributed to spreading contemporary art anddeveloping the art market by representing talented artists and introducing them to Japanand abroad through exhibitions and participating in art fairs overseas. The international
networks of people involved in contemporary art, which each gallery has built by their own
e orts, are extremely precious assets to the Japanese art world.

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Art Collaboration Kyoto Executive Committee Prospectus

January 7, 2020

Under these circumstances, both private and public parties, who share a common
awareness of the problems, need to collaborate to initiate suitable programs for the present
Kyoto and mesh them together to expand the art market and support artists. Throughnumerous discussions with experts for creating an experimental project, which will explore a
new framework of contemporary art between private and state parties, we have launched
Art Collaboration Kyoto. Our project theme “Collaboration” represents guiding principles toexplore di erent collaboration possibilities between public and private sectors, Japan andabroad, and art and otherelds. Having Kyoto as our stage, we will conduct variousprograms, centered around exhibitions and sales of contemporary art, where art
professionals: artists, gallerists, collectors, curators, critics, and researchers will all cometogether from Japan and abroad. Through Art Collaboration Kyoto, we aim to stimulateorganic circulation, where art and economy work together and develop sustainably, support
artists, and establish art in the local areas by activating art markets in Kyoto and Japan.
With these prospects, we will establish the Art Collaboration Kyoto Executive Committeewith the aim of introducing and distributing contemporary art through exploring the various
collaborative possibilities in Kyoto and Japan.

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