Interview with the Director and Curator of Kurashiki City Art Museum
We spoke with Takushi Sakata, the Director of Kurashiki City Art Museum, and Fumika Sugino, the curator, about their thoughts on operating the museum.
Functions as a museum, a presentation space, and an educational space
What is the concept of Kurashiki City Art Museum?
Sakata
In a word, it is a comprehensive lifelong learning facility rooted in Kurashiki City.
I believe there are three specific concepts.
Function as a museum
Sakata
The first is the function as a museum.
We conduct research on and collect works by local artists.
It is also characterized by the broad collection of works from early to late periods of the artists.
We also collect materials such as sketches and photo albums to view the artists and their works from multiple perspectives.
The mission of Kurashiki City Art Museum is to preserve the culture of Kurashiki City and pass it on to the next generation.
Function as a presentation space for citizens
Sakata
The second is the function as a presentation space for citizens.
There are many art enthusiast groups in Kurashiki City, and many people want to have a place to present their works.
Kurashiki City Art Museum provides a space for presentation by renting out exhibition rooms on a weekly basis.
Sugino
It is rare for a museum to rent out exhibition rooms this frequently.
It can be said that many art enthusiasts are seeking a place to present their works.
In fact, there are many requests to use the exhibition rooms, and although they can be reserved monthly starting a year in advance, the selection is determined by lottery each time.
There are basically no vacancies.
Function as an educational space for children
Sakata
The third is the function as an educational space for children.
The "Kurashiki Children’s Art Exhibition" is a representative example.
Since Kurashiki City Art Museum is under the jurisdiction of the Kurashiki City Board of Education, it is also required to have an educational function.
Every year, we hold an exhibition called the "Kurashiki Children’s Friendship Art Exhibition", which involves students from special needs classes and special needs schools in elementary and junior high schools in the city.
Collaboration with universities
Sakata
We also collaborate with universities.
Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts and Kurashiki Sakuyo University are our main partners.
Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts uses the museum not only for displaying works by students studying art but also as a place for museum practice.
By involving curators in the guidance, it seems to become a practical learning environment.
Kurashiki Sakuyo University invites students studying music to the opening ceremonies of exhibitions and holds welcome concerts.
While they can practice, it seems there are not many opportunities to present their works.
We have received feedback saying, "We are very grateful for this."
A rare museum with many donations from citizens
Old houses have old works remaining
What are the criteria for collecting works?
Sakata
First, they must be works by local artists.
I believe this criterion was significantly influenced by the donation of works by Mr. Ikeda (Ikeda Yoshimori) before the museum opened.
Although he lived in Kyoto while actively working as a Japanese painter, his registered domicile was in Tamashima, Kurashiki City.
Even after leaving Kurashiki City, it seems he had a strong attachment to his hometown, and I have heard that he donated his works.
The perspective of "how to preserve Mr. Ikeda's works and convey them to the citizens" has led to the current operation of the museum.
Sugino
Currently, we have many donations from citizens.
We frequently receive messages saying, "Come see the old things we have."
When we actually go to see them, we are often surprised, thinking, "Did something like this remain?"
Sakata
Kurashiki City has many houses built decades or even hundreds of years ago because it was not bombed.
Old houses have old things remaining.
It seems that people often think, "If we are going to preserve them, how about Kurashiki City Art Museum?" and we receive many inquiries.
This may be a unique method of collecting works that only a museum in Kurashiki City can have.
I am very grateful for the offers we receive.
World-famous works and contemporary art as well
Sakata
Additionally, we also collect world-famous works and contemporary art pieces.
We have works by many artists, including Yayoi Kusama.
Among them, I find the contemporary sculpture works of Tetsumi Kudo interesting.
They have received very high praise overseas, and we have lent them out several times.
Storage and restoration according to the works
I really feel that you are collecting a wide variety of works in terms of both quantity and type. Because of this variety, it seems that storage might be difficult...
Sugino
Indeed, storage of works is challenging, but it is also a situation where the knowledge of curators comes into play.
We thoroughly manage humidity and other factors according to the characteristics of the works.
For example, in Japanese paintings, there are both watercolor and oil paintings, and the materials vary from paper to silk.
On the other hand, there are also works in woodcraft, ceramics, and lacquer art, so the collection at Kurashiki City Art Museum has completely different characteristics.
Among the collected works, some require not only management but also restoration.
Since some hanging scrolls and folding screens show signs of damage, we are working on restoration and preservation while prioritizing them.
Thanks to the teachers of each school, the Kurashiki Children’s Art Exhibition continues
While you are focusing on the collection and storage of works, the educational function for children is also important, right? The "Kurashiki Children’s Art Exhibition" being held today is one example of that.
Sakata
It is one of the projects I look forward to every year.
The Kurashiki Children’s Art Exhibition is being held for the 37th time this year, 2022.
Although there was one year when it could not be held due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been held every year since 1986.
Sugino
It is a rare exhibition nationwide, where all elementary and junior high schools in Kurashiki City participate.
The characteristic is that everyone can participate, so we do not decide on "winning works" and display the works equally.
There is nothing specified by us from the museum to the schools.
What we convey is only that it is not a competition.
As a result, the individuality of each school comes out, making it a fun exhibition.
What do you think is the reason it has continued for 37 times?
Sugino
I believe it is the efforts of the teachers, truly.
We ask teachers from each school to help with the exhibition work every year.
They bring in the works created at school and take care of the decorations.
They think about how to make the children's works stand out, such as creating school names and coming up with creative displays.
This art exhibition cannot be held without the cooperation of the schools, so we are truly grateful to the teachers from each school.
Feel free to visit the Kurashiki City Art Museum, where you can enjoy various ways to have fun and use the space
Finally, please give us a message.
Sakata
The Kurashiki City Art Museum is a lifelong learning facility.
The exhibitions held here are not difficult, and it can sometimes be used as a venue for presenting your own works, not just for viewing.
The high barrier that one might feel when hearing "art museum" does not exist at the Kurashiki City Art Museum.
While it has cultural value in terms of the building and the works, it also has a cafe where you can casually enjoy meals and tea.
Without being formal, you can gather with friends and family in casual clothes to learn and dine at this facility.
We hope to continue to make it a place where many people can feel free to come.
Sugino
At the Kurashiki City Art Museum, you can participate in art practical courses and rent the auditorium to hold piano recitals and more.
There are various ways to use the space, so we would be happy if you could come freely.
And when you visit the Kurashiki City Art Museum, I hope you can also enjoy the exhibitions.
I believe that when you view a wide range of works, there will be something that catches your eye, so I would like you to see the works directly and feel various things.
In conclusion
What impressed me during the interview was the wide range of collected works at the Kurashiki City Art Museum and the many opportunities for citizens to present their works.
The number of collected works is about 11,000, which is more than I imagined.
Since the characteristics of the works and the eras they were created in are all different, I think it is easy to find your favorite works.
When visiting with family or friends, each person is likely to be interested in different works.
I felt that the opportunity to enjoy those differences is unique to the Kurashiki City Art Museum, which has a wide range of collected works.
I was also surprised that there are opportunities for citizens to present their works throughout the year.
The fact that it was originally named the Kurashiki City "Exhibition" Art Museum shows the high expectations of the citizens.
Surely, displaying one's works at the Kurashiki City Art Museum must feel special.
The Kurashiki City Art Museum offers various ways to enjoy it, whether as a place for viewing works, as a building, as a venue for presentations, as an educational space for children, or for cafe use.
There is surely something of interest for everyone.
Articles about the Kurashiki City Art Museum
Data of Kurashiki City Art Museum
| Name | Kurashiki City Art Museum |
|---|---|
| Location | 2-6-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-425-6034 |
| Parking | None |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 AM – 5:15 PM (Last admission: 4:45 PM) |
| Closed | Monday ・If Monday is a holiday, closed the following day ・Closed during the New Year holidays ・May close temporarily on other occasions |
| Admission Fee (including tax) | [Individual] General: 210 yen University and high school students: 100 yen Middle and elementary school students: 50 yen [Group] General: 150 yen University and high school students: 70 yen Middle and elementary school students: 30 yen The following can view the collection exhibition for free: ・Elementary and middle school students in Kurashiki City presenting an Ikigai Passport or student handbook ・Elementary school students presenting a Takahashi River Basin Passport (excluding weekdays) ・Students from elementary and middle schools in Kurashiki City visiting with a teacher (including the accompanying teacher) ・Persons aged 65 and over ・Persons with disabilities and one accompanying person (presenting a physical disability certificate, rehabilitation handbook, or mental health welfare handbook) *Special exhibition admission fees are set separately |
| Payment Method |
|
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets, barrier-free toilets |
| Barrier-Free | Barrier-free toilets, elevators |
| Website | Kurashiki City Art Museum |
