About the Art Forum JARFO

NPO Kyoto Society for Inter-Art Exchange

1.   History
 The origins of the Kyoto Society for Inter-Art Exchange dates back to 1992, when an organization named Awa-no-Sato-Art-Forum
was established by a company in Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Island in Japan, as part of theircorporate patronage of the arts and culture. After the dissolution of the Awa-no-Sato-Art-Forum in 1995, some former members called for the creation of a society for the promotion of the arts and culture. With the support of various intellectuals and artists, the Kyoto Society for Inter-Art Exchange,
also known as Japan Art Forum (JARFO), headed by Jo Ishida, was established in 1998 in Kyoto. JARFO promotes and supports cultural and artistic activities of renowned artists and those yet unknown but promising Japanese and non-Japanese artists who demonstrate a high level of creativity and motivation. In recognition of its activities, JARFO was officially recognized as a Non-Profit Organization by Kyoto Prefecture on August 15, 2000. Jo Ishida has acted as President since 1998. The head office moved from Nishi-oji to Higashi-yama in Kyoto on November 11, 2005. 

 
　　　　　ART FORUM JARFO(Higashi-yama)

2.   Objectives

A.     Support for Artists

Kyoto Society for Inter-Art Exchange provides support to individuals and groups involved in cultural and artistic activities
inside of Japan as well as abroad, in the form of sponsorship and the organization of exhibitions in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Kobe and Tokushima.

B.     Inter-Art Research
The Kyoto Society for Inter-Art Exchange conducts research on the relationship between arts and crafts. A series of public lectures on inter-art exchange began in May 2000. Another inter-art project involves studying about Kyoto by holding modern art exhibitions at historical merchant houses in Kyoto, for the purpose of the comparison of traditional and modern art, craft and architecture.
Similar activities are also taking place in Osaka, where in December 2001 an exhibition of Japanese and French contemporary
artists was organized at the Konishi merchant family house. The exhibition was a great success and it attracted more than 600 visitors daily.
The most recent research is on the question “What is creativity and originality?”.

C.     Collaboration Between the Arts and Business
The Kyoto Society for Inter-Art Exchange promotes collaboration between artists and entrepreneurs, in order to encourage corporate patronage of the arts and culture. For example, it negotiates assignments and job contracts in business for artists whose artistic imagination and original ideas may contribute to the creation of products of high-class aesthetic standards. For this purpose,
Kyoto Society for Inter-Art Exchange, with financial assistance from the Kyoto Prefectural Government, organized two exhibitions:
“Japan Creation 2000” in 1999 and “Japan Creation 2001” in 2000, which were highly praised in business circles. 

3.   Activities      
The Kyoto Society for Inter-Art Exchange is involved in the following activities to realize its above-stated objectives.

1. Organizing art exhibitions at “Art Forum JARFO” in Higashiyama, “Tsuki-no-niwa” (Garden of the Moon) in Keihanna Commemorative Park, and CAJ at Kyoto Bunka Museum (Museum of Kyoto), all of which are managed by the Kyoto Society for Inter-Art Exchange.

2. Organizing seminars and classes to study the arts under the guidance of Japanese and foreign artists;
discussions on the arts in Japan and overseas.

3.     Organizing lectures on inter-art exchange and the study of Kyoto.
　　　    So far a total of 35 lectures and meetings were held.

4.      Supporting artists through fellowships, work exchanges etc.

5.      Accepting interns: Japanese university students have been accepted as interns since 2000. From 2010,
　　　　 foreign students will also be accepted.

6.      Collaborating with government agencies and business enterprises on various cultural projects,
　　　　　assuming the role of art directors and art commissioners.

CORPORATE EXECUTIVES/ FOUNDERS

Chairman of the Board of Directors
　・　JO ISHIDA
(former KIU professor, representative of JARFO, art director of Maizuru's Akarenga Club, art critic)

Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors
　・　YOSHIHIDE MOMOTANI
                 ( former KIU Vice-President; Doctor of Science; Origami Artist)

Directors　
・ NAOZANE UTADA
・ KUNIAKI GAHARA
・ JUN TAJIMA
・ EIZO TAJIRI
・ YUKI NAKAJIMA
・ ATSUSHI SHINKAI
・TADASHI FUNABA