Photo: Ryo Fujishima

This forum, the first since the center's establishment, exceeded expectations with applications from around 25 countries and regions worldwide. Approximately 800 people participated on the day, both at the venue and through live online streaming. The theme of art, health, and wellbeing attracted participants from a range of interest groups, including art, welfare, education, and healthcare.

Four speakers from England shared their insights from the expert perspectives of museum directors, curators, and educators. They presented examples of collaboration with local welfare and medical fields by leveraging museum resources such as collections and museum space. A case study from Japan was shared by a curator from the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in collaboration with local hospitals and citizens.

The progressive initiatives and engaging speeches on the relationship between museums and health and wellbeing were powerful and thought-provoking, leading to further interest in the fields of art, health, and wellbeing.

The archived videos of this forum are currently being prepared in both Japanese and English. They will be released at the end of January 2024. We will update you on NCAR's website once they are ready. Thank you for your patience.

Text: Sawako Inaniwa (National Center for Art Research)
Translation: Chunni Chiu (Tokyo University of the Arts)