LEARNING

Change through experiencing art

“Learning” here refers to programs in which we join together to acquire a deeper, broader knowledge of contemporary art from around the world. We all have different interests, know-how and experiences, and the idea is to share these while we come to understand various artists and their work along with the historical, political, social, and cultural contexts that inform it.

Since the 1990s the contemporary art world has seen an expansion in practices such as participatory art, in which audiences become actively involved in the works, and performance art. Increasingly, people are also asking now what art can do to engage with our increasingly complex society. Meanwhile, widespread use and diffusion of the Internet and social media have also encouraged interactive communication to the relationship between museum and audience.

With these developments in mind, we hope you will join us, through our learning programs, to contemplate how contemporary art museums can become new places of ‘Learning.’

Exhibition-Related Programs

Learning programs designed to deepen visitors’ understanding and enjoyment of exhibitions at the Mori Art Museum. An array of highly original programs are offered to coincide with exhibitions at the Museum, including talks in which artists, curators and experts delve into the art and surrounding themes, and gallery tours escorted by Museum staff members.

Community Programs

The “Community Engagement Program” aims to bolster involvement with the wider community, interacting with the local community in different ways to help people experience art more closely as part of day-to-day living. In addition to town and museum initiatives offering unique opportunities to unravel city, society and different fields from an art perspective out on the streets, the Museum joins members of the local community to run workshops and other immersive programs connected to specific shared interests and concerns.

Kids & Family Programs

Learning programs that help children and their families get the most fun out of the Museum. These include a “Family Hour” opening the Museum up to preschoolers and their caregivers, and workshops for elementary-age children.

Youth Programs

Youth learning programs are a great opportunity for teenagers to boost their involvement in art. As well as teens’ programs giving young people the chance to meet artists to together and discuss and develop ideas in their own words, the Museum offers a number of programs that can only be experienced through art.

Senior Programs

Learning programs for those who self-identify as seniors. Participants will have the chance, based on their own extensive experience and knowledge, to engage more deeply with artists and people of different generations through the medium of art, identifying and engaging in new learning via dialogue and debate.

Access Programs

In barrier-free learning programs open to those both with and without disabilities, participants take their learning and awareness to another level by sharing experiences and knowledge through art. In both “Sign Language Tours” using sign language to view exhibitions, targeted at those with and without hearing disabilities; and “Verbal Imaging Tours” tours targeting those with and without visual disabilities, participants have the chance to exchange views through dialogue with others. From time to time, workshops etc., are also run on themes with disability as a gateway.

School Programs

Learning programs targeting teachers and students are organized for individual schools (classes, club activities, volunteers) at the Museum, or at the school itself. In such programs as “School Tours” where they actually visit the Museum to view exhibitions on site together with museum staff members, Mori Art Museum offers active learning options that incorporate art into lessons and utilize the art to the maximum extent, while discussion programs provide a forum for teachers and the Museum to discuss art and children’s learning.

School-Tours are sponsored by Nihon Bunkyo Shuppan Co., Ltd.https://www.nichibun-g.co.jp/

Symposia, “Urgent Talk” series

“Urgent Talks” provide a platform for discussing, talking about topics that demand urgent debate, with input from artists, curators, critics and activists engaged in meaningful, innovative activities across the globe. At the “International Symposia,” meanwhile, international participants with connections to the relevant field gather to discuss these topics in greater depth. A wide variety of themes topical both in Japan and elsewhere are covered in academic discussions.