I would like to express my hearty congratulations on this second “Shinbism” exhibition, held in succession to last year, where contemporary artists selected by the Shinshu Museum Network exhibit their works.

These “Shinbism” exhibitions are planned and organized with the aim to enhance the cultural power of Shinshu, by means of facilitating networking among museums in the prefecture through projects proposed by curators having various careers, from their respective regions, not only to entice a wealth of people to become familiar with the excellent works created by the contemporary artists involved with Nagano Prefecture.

The exhibition was materialized as the result of free discussions held repeatedly among curators actively working, on the basis of the cultural climate and traditions in their respective regions, and their sincere efforts to assist contemporary artists to exhibit their works. I’m sure, it will help us enhance our imagination, by stimulating our senses from different perspectives.

I’ve heard that this “Shinbism2” exhibition will be held concurrently at four venues throughout Nagano Prefecture, and a talk event is planned to be organized at “Ginza Nagano” located in Tokyo, as well. I expect the art and culture of Nagano Prefecture, cultivated from relationships with nature, its local history and cultural climate, will appeal to people nationwide, who avail themselves of this opportunity.

In this time, when our longevity has expanded to 100 years or more, it becomes even more important to establish a society where people can live in close contact with art and culture throughout their lives, in order to enrich their lives.

At this moment, the power of “social inclusion,” another function of art and culture, is necessary to realize a “Society That Leaves No One Behind,” noted by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs,) by promoting mutual understanding between others with due respect to the various senses toward values that they hold, taking advantage of opportunities to participate in art and cultural events.

From this year, we started a new comprehensive Total Five-year Plan under the title, the “Shiawase Shinshu Creation Plan 2.0” and the “Art and Culture Promotion Plan of Nagano Prefecture.” According to the plan, for the materialization of “Shinshu brimmed with creativity,” through the close coordination and cooperation of the many supporters including local residents, corporations, organizations and related municipalities, we will approach the promotion of a plethora of art and culture, the development of human resources needed, and the expansion of further exchanges between regions.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

The Nagano Prefectural Government along with the Nagano Prefectural Agency for Cultural Promotion, a General Incorporated Foundation, set up the Nagano Prefectural Artistic Supervisory Team, where members are involved in the fields of the performing arts, music, fine arts and production design, in 2016, and who are active players at the front lines of their respective fields, have been working hard together for the revitalization of all cultural activities in Nagano Prefecture since then.

During the fiscal year of 2017, under the supervision of Mr. Motoe Kunio, the art director in charge of Fine Arts, the first “Shinbism” Exhibition was held, planned and organized by the curators from 20 public and private museums and other institutions in Nagano Prefecture, as a joint project with the purpose of introducing 20 artists who are actively involved in Nagano Prefecture, concurrently at four different venues representing each of the four blocks separately, which divide this broad Nagano Prefecture.

The artists who participated in the exhibition often visited their respective regions to find the best ways for their works to be exhibited, taking into good account the regional features and exhibition space in cooperation with the curator in charge. Also there were some artists who tried to produce their works together with the local people and children through workshops held especially for them. As the exhibition was held at convenient venues within the local regions, people who normally have only rare chances to visit museums were enticed to come and visit the exhibition. There were even those who managed to visit all four venues scattered throughout the prefecture.

“Substantial thickness and depth exist in the fine art of Nagano Prefecture. How can we have those living in the region recognize the attractiveness of the art world in Nagano Prefecture, so rich in the regional climate, tradition and its content? Further how can we transmit it nationwide?” The Shinbists, artists and curators, are seriously facing this question proposed by Mr. Motoe Kunio and trying to resolve it, marking this second exhibition to be held in Shinshu, during December, as winter swings cold, under the title of “Shinbism 2”, joined by each new member.

It would be our greatest pleasure if you could feel, utilizing your five senses to enjoy and see the colors, with which Shinbists endeavor to cover the white canvases, white as snowscapes and discover what kind of art they are trying to depict in the places of exhibition serving as vessels.

With all the museums in Nagano Prefecture that rank top among the number of museums nationwide, actively working together by deepening their relationships under the supervision of Artistic Supervisory Team, we would like to continue to tackle jointly, with Nagano Prefecture, to make this prefecture a model case among all prefectures in terms of the degree of happiness experienced among residents by the power of fulfillment exerted by culture and art. Furthermore, we endeavor to become the leading prefecture for revitalization of Japan through promotion of art and culture.

We appreciate your continued support and understanding.