Guidebook to the Art Activities leading to Social Inclusion

• Guidebook to the Art Activities leading to Social Inclusion (PDF)

This guidebook illustrates the subjects we need to understand on practicing those activities with a focus on the performing arts. The guidebook is mostly about discussions and lectures that we edited from our previous programs "Lectures and training for the art activities leading to social inclusion." We also tried verbalizing the knowledge that has not been told in words, which is a practitioner's perspective and philosophy (things focused on the most during the activities). By doing this, we set our sights on public cultural facilities to consider their way of working on art activities with a concentration on social inclusion to reevaluate and redefine such activities.

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Relaxed Performance

Relaxed performances, different from other regular stage performances, are designed for the audience to enjoy the program without requiring total silence or darkness. Full of friendly twists are welcoming you to enjoy music with all kinds of people, including first-time classical music concert-goers, individuals with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, and so on, who feel insecure at concerts in music halls.

You can also enjoy the past “Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Relaxed Performance” online anytime and anywhere with the streaming video.

• Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Relaxed Performance 2020
  • Full length with Japanese subtitles and sign language
  • Excerpts with English subtitles and Japanese sign language
• Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Relaxed Performance 2021
  • Full length with Japanese subtitles and sign language
• Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Relaxed Performance 2022
  • Full length with Japanese subtitles and sign language

Music Workshops at facilities for senior citizens and social welfare organizations

Since 2016, we have been delivering music workshops in Tokyo in partnership with facilities for senior citizens, social welfare organizations and other professional institutions with the aim of realizing a pluralistic symbiotic society through the arts.

Depending on the participants and needs of the facilities and organizations, we have developed the workshops by tailoring the music workshop programs we have previously conducted at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.

Lectures and training for the art activities leading to social inclusion

There is a growing need and increasing attention for activities that spotlight the inclusivity of arts in recent years. Such movement introduced legislation for promoting artistic activities for people with disabilities. On the other hand, we, as practitioners of “art activities leading to social inclusion,” are still trying to figure out how to handle those activities and how to deliver them with the highest quality.

The Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, therefore, launched lectures to sort out the points we need to understand on practicing “art activities leading to social inclusion” and offer professional training for musicians. Focusing on performing arts such as music and dance. Aiming to achieve a higher quality of social inclusive art activities, cutting edge artists thus provide us with expert knowledge, know-how, and various case studies and theories based on practices.

We believe that arts and cultural activities can improve people’s wellbeing and quality of life. They can realize the symbiotic society as well. From this point of view, we have also been researching and studying about the roles and effects that arts and cultural activities need to achieve. The current situation, where culture, arts, health, and wellbeing are interrelated is also what we want to grasp. These studies will help facilitate professional development and personnel assignments to actual, meaningful activities.

In the 2019 season, we commissioned Kyushu University (NAKAMURA Mia [Associate Professor, Graduate School of Design, Kyushu University]) to research and analyze the fieldwork focusing on the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Interviews were then conducted to the specialized organizations and practitioners of arts and cultural activities. The research led to the following results: 1) verbalization of the significance of workshops and roles of workshop leaders that have not been told from experiences 2) clarification of the importance and tasks of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Workshop Leader Skills Training Program.

• Research Report on Social Inclusive Initiatives through Art (commissioned research by: Kyushu University/PDF only in Japanese)

Validation of music workshops for senior citizens

Season 2018 Validation of music workshops for senior citizens: Reporting session

• Season 2018 Validation Report(PDF)
• Season 2018 Photo Archives (PDF)

The validation of the year 2018’s music workshops for senior citizens was carried out together with KUSAKA Nahoko (professor at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts), a researcher specializing in geriatric psychology. In the validation, ten workshops were held at two facilities for senior citizens within Tokyo, from December 2018 through February 2019. The validation of the following points was carried out with the aim of obtaining hints for ongoing program development, at the same time as striving to derive new knowledge:

• 1. Communication through the activities of music workshops for senior citizens
• 2. Program design for music workshops in which senior citizens become creative agents

Season 2019 Validation of music workshops for senior citizens: Reporting session

• Season 2019 Validation Report (PDF)
• Season 2019 Photo Archives (PDF)

In the 2019 season, we carried out a validation of programs for active seniors together with KUSAKA Nahoko (professor at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts), a researcher specializing in the psychology of the elderly, in order to examine concrete methods of program creation and the originality of “Shall we sing?” of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Music Workshops (aimed at those over 50).
In November 2019, “Shall we sing?” were held at facilities within the metropolis, and a survey was carried out through interviews. The validation looked at the following three areas:

• 1. Measurement of the effects of workshops in which participants move to music
• 2. Program creation for music workshops aimed at active seniors (e.g. the creation of a structure that attracts those who are not in the habit of participating in cultural activities)
• 3. The social meaning of music workshops in which senior citizens play the central role.

Season 2020 Validation of music workshops for senior citizens: Reporting session

• Season 2020 Validation Report(PDF)

In the 2020 season, we have revised the workshop “Shall we sing?” based on the evidence of the validation in 2019 to provide more fulfilling workshops. At this session, we will share the process of updating the workshop. From June to September 2020, three online revision planning meetings, the revised workshop demonstration, and a review meeting took place.
KUSAKA Nahoko, a researcher specializing in geriatric psychology, and the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Workshop Leaders continued discussions, sorting out and revising the program designs of “Shall we sing?” This process has led them to examine how they can develop a music workshop that stimulates the elderly’s willingness to participate proactively in cultural activities. Such music workshop also encourages social participation and the creation of things that make one’s life worthwhile, which are “ikigai”, for the elderly.

• Season 2022 Validation Report (PDF Only in Japanese)
• Season 2022 Photo Archives (PDF)

In the 2022 season, we dug deeper into the program design of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Music Workshop “Shall we sing?” which had been revised in the 2020 season. As we worked on it, we kept in mind the frailty and social isolation issues faced by older people since the situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is necessary for older people to stay motivated for proactive social activities and participation to reduce their frailty, an environment or place where older people can feel a loose connection with others helps ease loneliness. Therefore, in addition to the on-site workshop, we combined tools such as the free communication app LINE and video streaming for participants to explore methods to let older people feel a loose connection, keeping “individual well-being” simultaneously.

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan 60th Anniversary Forum

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan 60th Anniversary Forum
“Toward more accessible cultural institutions—community, diversity, and COVID”

The global outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which began in February 2020, has affected our way of lifestyles and our values in many ways. It has forced many venues and arts organizations to suspend their activities, and it has also forced us to change our way of creating and experiencing the arts. What have we, as cultural institutions and arts organizations, learned and gained in a time of COVID?
This virtual forum explored the impact of COVID on cultural institutions and arts organizations with a focus on examples from Europe, asked why culture and the arts should be accessible to all, and why cultural institutions and arts organizations should remain more inclusive and open.

• Forum Report (PDF)