Chief Director, Nagano Prefectural Agency for
Cultural Promotion

Kondo, Seiichi

The Nagano Prefectural Agency for Cultural Promotion, a general incorporated foundation, in cooperation with the Nagano Prefectural Government set up the Nagano Prefectural Artistic Supervisory Team, where members were involved in the fields of performing arts, music, fine arts and production in 2016, and who are active contributors at the front lines of their respective fields, have been working hard toward the revitalization of all cultural activities in Nagano Prefecture since joining together.

In the meantime, we received great advice and guidance from Mr. Kunio Motoe, the Art Director in charge of Fine Arts for the past three years before passing away on June 3, 2019.

“Shinbism” exhibitions, conceived under the careful planning and supervision of Director Motoe, have already been held twice, concurrently, at four different venues each time in the prefecture where 40 artists, related to Nagano prefecture, have been introduced so far. The objective of this project is not only to introduce you to the excellent artworks created by artists related to the prefecture, but also to continuously enhance our cultural power by facilitating networking among museums through jointly organized projects by the curators in their various regions.

This year, in contrast to the last two, I’ve heard that these contemporary artists, who represent Nagano Prefecture, have been selected after repeated consultations among all members involved since last summer. Their plan is to link this exhibition to “Shinbism 4” scheduled for next year, which may be the culmination of this five-year project. It can indeed be said that the “Shinbism” project is a very symbolic approach among the cross-regional Artistic Supervisory Team’s projects. I hereby expect from the bottom of my heart that all Shinbists, who inherit the vision of director Motoe, the late Director of Fine Arts, will proceed with future projects resolutely from this point on.

I share his vision that Nagano Prefecture must be “The one that creates art and culture.” To achieve this goal, I ask that each art director does his best to secure people possessing the finest talent needed to bear such a responsibility in the future as their ultimate purpose.

Above all, next year will be the best opportunity for us to show our art and culture to a great number of foreigners who are expected to visit Japan on the occasion of the TOKYO 2020 Olympic/Paralympic games. We are geared toward further development so that the efforts of art directors in their respective fields will be integrated organically.

Nagano Prefecture ranks top, nationwide, in number of museums. The promotion of networking among all museums in the prefecture, under the supervision of the Artistic Supervisory Team, will enrich the prefecture with the dynamism of art and culture. Encouraged by its realization, we will move forward to make this prefecture a model case nationwide in terms of the degree of happiness among residents, and also the leading prefecture moving toward the revitalization of Japan through the energy produced by art and culture.

We appreciate your continued support and understanding.