Arts NetWork Japan

The pieces performed in this program will be performed in their own communities. The purpose of this program is that the audience in the communities enjoy quality performances, while the selected theater companies build a network and utilize their experiences in the communities through their activities.

Creation and Development Program

One playwright or one company of the theater companies participated in the Staged Reading Program will be selected for “Creation and Development Program” of the next year. The selected company or the playwright will stay in Tokyo for six to eight weeks to create and perform one theatrical piece in addition to join workshops, such as Practice and Lecture of Reading, and have training aimed at further development of their activities at home.

In the first year of this series, a director Toru Kitagawa (Sapporo) who participated in the Regional Theater Series before was selected for the program this year. Satoshi Miyagi was selected as his adviser. This will be a most expected new piece.

Communication Program

Communication Program provides opportunities to enjoy our festival and deepen understanding
This program provides the audience and the artists with the opportunity to meet each other and communicate. Through internship and volunteer activities, students and the youth will obtain working experience of art production. In addition, the audience and the artists who participated in Tokyo International Arts Festival can communicate directly at Art Cafe and Information Booth. “International Theater Education Program for Junior High School and High School Students” has started since 2003 with a view to promoting awareness of the world.

IVP International Visitor’s Program

Establish international network
TIF invites artistic directors and producers of overseas theaters and festivals to Tokyo International Arts Festival with a view to introducing Japanese performing arts to them. In addition, TIF intends to build an international network by organizing practical meetings for prospective international co-production and co-projects and symposiums to discuss arts in other countries.

Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory

Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory is an art space established in August 2004 by NPO Arts Network Japan and NPO ASIAS (Artist’s Studio In A School) as a part of “Toshima-ku Promotion of Culture and Art Creation”.

Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory utilizes a school building and a school gym of a closed school (former Asahi Junior High School) as rehearsal facility and provides rehearsal room for continuous and exclusive use of theater and dance companies who are generally suffered from a chronic shortage of rehearsal space. In August 2005, Plan for “Creation of Creative City of Culture and Art” of Toshima city was certified by the Cabinet Office as “Plan for Regional Revitalization”.

The pillar of this plan is provision of infrastructure for promotion of culture and art creation, while utilizing “Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory”. The certification facilitated the conversion of a closed school into “Base for Creation to Transmission” which enabled Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory to be utilized as a theater and the main venue for Tokyo International Arts Festival (TIF) organized by ANJ since February 2005.

Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory continuously organizes art communication projects for local residents. Further well-developed projects will be expected with launch of “Children’s Museum” organized by ASIAS which aims at providing children with more opportunities to freely see and experience arts. < Project under Toshima city Promotion of Culture and Art Creation, Sponsored by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. >

Human Resource Development Project

Human Resource Development Project is a project which continuously develops audience, artists and producers of next-generation and creates a new forum for communication through arts.

Youth Art Management Project (YAMP)

YAMP is a program which offers opportunities for working experience in art industry to people who are interested in working in art industry and students and the youth who seek their career in art in the future. YAMP started as a part of the Communication Program of Tokyo International Arts Festival (TIF) in 2000. It has organized projects and events anchored by students who major in art management. Since 2004, YAMP has extended its activities and provided the youth with opportunities for training and working experience as Youth Support Staff at professional environment, including Tokyo International Arts Festival and other programs organized by ANJ.

ANJ encourages young people to obtain working experience in art production through this program and expects them to find problems with their fresh eyes and take action to solve the problems. ANJ is willing to provide various supports to the participants while respecting individual initiative.

Artists-in-Residence Program

Artist-in-Residence Program is a “Human Resource Development Project” which provides the artists whose creation ANJ is willing to support with studios at cultural facilities operated by ANJ, such as Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory and Steep Slope Studio, for their exclusive use and supports their creation and production.

Resident artists will be able to focus on their creation at their own stable creation base. Production and financial support will be provided by ANJ. Resident artists will be involved in activities in cooperation with ANJ based on discussion between ANJ and the artists. These activities include participating Tokyo International Arts Festival organized by ANJ and cooperating in workshops for local residents held at Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory (Practice and Lecture of Reading “Touching Drama Reading”). ANJ works with artists for creation while always keeping in mind what the artist needs now.

Talks and Lectures

Talks and Lectures is a project aimed at further revitalizing arts by providing opportunities to discuss and express concerns on today’s themes related to arts in general.

Camo-Cafe

Camo-Cafe is a casual event to talk about hottest topics pertaining to arts and society over a drink, including guest talk, film showing, and expression of concern while exploring a new horizon of art and society. Having artists and professionals in every category as guest speaker, Camo-Cafe aims at thinking and sharing (or acknowledging each other’s differences) rather than drawing a conclusion through discussion among participants with different information and awareness.

ANJ Lecture Series

ANJ Lecture Series deals with the hottest themes of cutting edge issues and trends in arts and related subjects and new movement which bridges between art and society. A symposium is held for each series having a leader in the field as coordinator and guest speakers. Another aim is to build new networks among participants of the lecture.

Administration Project

Under Administration Project, ANJ is consigned administration of public and other cultural facilities as designed administrator or other responsibility in expectation of fully utilizing the characteristics and flexibility of an Art NPO.

Okurayama Memorial Hall

ANJ has been engaged in administration of Okurayama Memorial Hall as designated administrator since April 2006. ANJ, as a private organization, is responsible for administration of this public facility for five years. Okurayama Marmorial Hall is a very attractive facility built in 1932 inspired by ancient Greek architecture, which has a small concert hall accommodating 80 people, a gallery and ten conference rooms (or rehearsal rooms). The most fascinating facility is the gallery which surrounds a spacious courtyard and lies in parallel with two miniature gardens. Not only the rental activities, new projects will be developed, such as co-projects with other institutions, cafe and museum shop.

Yokohama Arts Platform : Steep Slope Studio

Since October 2006, ANJ has been engaged jointluy with NPO ST Spot Yokohama in administration and management of Kyu-Oimatsu Kaikan, a former wedding center, as a creation base for performing arts in collaboration with Yokohama City. The various activities of Steep Slope Studio include rental activity of six studios, fostering of resident artists and producers and cafe. As a platform where artists and citizens gather and communicate, Steep Slope Studio induces dialogues and collaborations across genres and generations. In addition, coupled with “Creative City Yokohama”, an initiative of City of Yokohama, Steep Slope Studio supports to form the Sakuragicho/Noge creative community with local residents and artists.

Biography of Our President

Sachio Ichimura (Director, Tokyo International Arts Festival)
Born in Osaka in 1949. Administrator, “Sankai Juku”/ Art Program Advisor of Park Tower Hall (Shinjuku, Tokyo) / Director, Toyota Art Management Lecture Series / President, Theater Television Co., Ltd / President, NPO Arts Network Japan and Director, Tokyo International Arts Festival (since 1999)

His responsibilities include selection and production of both Japanese and international dance performances, management of cultural facilities as well as operation of projects linking private companies to arts and research for NPOs.
Vice President, NPO ASIAS (Artist’s Studio In A School) / Board of Director, Yokohama Arts Foundation, Board of Director, Japan NPO Center / [Research Fellow], Association for Corporate Support of the Arts
Assistant Professor, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Musical Creativity and the Environment

TIF Committee

Kouichi Ikeda Chairman of the Board and CEO, Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
Akihiko Senda Professor, Shizuoka University of Art and Culture
Taeko Nagai Director, Setagaya Arts Foundation
Shogo Hayashi General Director, Japan Foundation for Regional Art-Activities
Yoshiharu Fukuhara Honorary Chairman, Shiseido. Co.,Ltd.
Susumu Yanase Councilor, Vice-president of Ongaku-Giin Renmei

NPO Arts Network Japan Inc. Board Member

Sachio Ichimura Director, Tokyo International Arts Festival
Toshiyuki Aizawa Manager, Corporate Citizenship Group, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Masao Katayama Managing Director, The Saison Foundation
Yutaka Kubo Manager, Corporate Culture Department, Shiseido Co., Ltd.
Shuji Sota Professor, Atomi University
Yoshinobu Takeda General Manager, Social & Environmental Management Department, Asahi Breweries,Ltd.
Tomiyasu Tashiro Executive Secretary, Association for corporate Support of The Arts
Naoko Hasuike Secretary General, Arts Network Japan
Naoto Fuse General Manager, Corporate Citizenship and Communication Dept.Public Affairs Div, Toyota Motor Corporation
Hiroshi Watanabe Director, Production Department, Saitama Arts Foundation
Takashi Tsumura Chief Director, Japan Foundation for Regional Art-Activities