Japan’s new hub for sustainable promotion of art

Connecting, deepening, and expanding art
On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, the Independent Administrative Institution National Museum of Art (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Osaka Eriko) has launched the National Center for Art Research (“NCAR”, Director: Kataoka Mami) within the Institution as a new comprehensive hub, the nation’s first of its kind, to sustainably and internationally develop the promotion of art in Japan at a time when contemporary society is undergoing great change.

Since the dawn of the 21st century, the global social, economic, and political landscape has been changing dramatically, and there are growing expectations for the role of the arts in achieving a more diverse, inclusive, and sustainable society.

With the credo of “connecting, deepening, and expanding art,” NCAR will serve as a new hub that links art museums, research institutions, and various stakeholders both in Japan and overseas, and will not only conduct research in specialized fields, but will also collect and disseminate information nationally and internationally, promote the active use of art collections, build interpersonal networks, enhance learning programs, support artists and more.

NCAR Projects: four key areas
–Promoting utilization of museum collections
NCAR will collaborate with the National Art Museums and other art museums in Japan to promote and publicize exhibitions that utilize their collections, so as to heighten awareness and appreciation of art in Japan and strengthen cooperation among the nation’s museums. Also, NCAR will promote the restoration and conservation of artworks that may become important national assets in the future.

Projects: The National Museum of Art Collection Dialogue, The National Museum of Art Collection Plus, etc.

–Compiling and disseminating research resources
As a national research hub, NCAR will comprehensively compile and disseminate information from all over Japan, raise Japan’s profile in the art field globally, and implement the functions of an international center for research on Japanese artists and artworks.

Project: Japanese Museum Collections Search (SHŪZŌ, i.e. “collection” in Japanese)

–Developing international relations and networks
As an international center providing access to information, NCAR will work to build international networks, and promote effective information dissemination and cooperation.
Also, NCAR will focus on providing support to artists so as to elevate the status and value of Japanese art in a global context.

–Enhancing learning
NCAR will aim to enhance the social value of art by researching, developing, and implementing high-quality learning programs, while maintaining awareness of broadly relevant issues such as social inclusion, diversity, and dialogue, as well as meeting SDGs, all of which will be required of museums in the future.

Comments from NCAR Director Kataoka Mami
As the world’s political, economic, and social concerns grow increasingly complex and uncertain, the pursuit of inclusivity, diversity, and sustainability have emerged as urgent global-scale issues that transcend any one field. Due to global trends in art and museums, there is a need to take a strategic and long-term approach with a view to the next generation in order to connect art in Japan with the global art world, and expand these relations and develop them in a sustainable manner. The National Center for Art Research is poised to begin its work as a platform that at once strives to foster a greater permeation of art in society, while at the same time, deepening expertise in the field. As we reflect a wide range of views, and engage in learning and discussion, I hope to join with everyone in considering how we might best promote art in Japan.

Profile: Kataoka Mami
Kataoka Mami joined the Mori Art Museum in 2003, taking on the role of Director in 2020. While continuing this role, she was appointed director of the National Center for Art Research in 2023. Prior to this, she was researcher on cultural policies at the NLI Research Institute and inaugural chief curator at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. Beyond Tokyo, Kataoka has held positions at the Hayward Gallery in London, where from 2007 to 2009 she was the institution’s first International Curator; she has also acted as Co-Artistic Director for the 9th Gwangju Biennale (2012), Artistic Director for the 21st Biennale of Sydney (2018) and Artistic Director for the Aichi Triennale 2022. Kataoka served as a Board Member (2014-2020) and the President (2020-2022) of CIMAM [International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art]. From 2018 to 2022, she also chaired the Contemporary Art Committee Japan, a staring committee of the Art Platform Japan, an initiative undertaken by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Kataoka has been a committee member and judge for numerous organizations and initiatives, including the Policy Subcommittee of the 20th Council for Cultural Affairs and the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO.