Yomiuri Shibun, Newspaper, October 22, 1998
Written by IchiroTokumoto
ART...
Walk in the city, and you will find art. A biennial contemporary art event-Museum City Fukuoka 1998 started across Fukuoka City, at some commercial buildings, public spaces, and public schools .
This unique art event not only offers young artists spaces to exhibit their finished works, but also its "Artist in Residence" program provides studios to those artists to show their production process. The event allows people to be involved with art as well as the creators, not only watching but also modeling or making something together. Ten international artists including a French, a South Korean, and a Cuban are participating this year.
Museum City Fukuoka had been held in only the Tenjin area until last time. The exhibition area was extended to Hakata and Kami-kawabata shopping mall this time. Museum City Fukuoka started in 1990 and has been run by a subsidy from the city and the Agency of Cultural Affairs and support from enterprises. Because of a recent serious recession, that support decreased tremendously.
"The budget has been reduced, but we do not change the quality and scale of the event.”
says Shingo Yamano, the producer of Museum City Fukuoka. "Expanding the exhibition area gives us a clearer understanding of people in the community and the audience.”
Installing some contemporary art pieces in the old temples and former school classrooms is so phenomenal.
