INDEX
Reaffirming the Value of Culture and Arts through Joyful Experiences
-Today, we’ve heard insightful discussions on the relationship between local and societal issues and culture and the arts. Both of you have previously emphasized that culture holds broader societal potential beyond just its cultural aspects, and I feel that this potential is expanding even further. Lastly, could you each share a few words on the future direction of culture?
Kishino: We talked about art today, but as I mentioned earlier, I usually try not to use that word. I try not to use that word in my daily life, and I am conscious of the fact that I am just “a good-natured person in town. The most important thing is to be fulfilled in my daily activities. If I don’t enjoy what I do, I can’t recommend it to others.
Ideguchi: You are just trying to create an enjoyable place, aren’t you?
-And if you are creating an enjoyable place, you will inevitably attract citizens with diverse backgrounds, as was the case with the Christmas party I mentioned earlier. If the modern era is characterized by the segmentation of places by function, such as museums and live music clubs, then gathering together on a street corner may be the most modern way.
Kishino: Yes, that is what I am trying to achieve. However, what may seem casual at first glance is in fact the most difficult part. Cultural facilities can be used if you pay for them or follow the existing system. Public spaces can also be used in various ways as long as the prescribed procedures are followed. But when you want to collaborate with the people who live there and do something together, the level of difficulty increases. You can’t just pile money on top of it. It is a relationship of trust between human beings.
But maybe what I am doing now will become a model case, and new attempts to revitalize the city will spread outside of my own city. So, the difficulty is the highest, but I would like to continue to work in this area, gradually figuring out how to do things.
Ideguchi: I sympathize with what you say about making it an extension of everyday life. Recently, I have been thinking that if the importance of culture has not fully penetrated the world, despite the efforts of various cultural facilities, the next thing to think about is not “experiencing culture” or “learning art,” but rather, “having fun” or “feeling comfortable,” which should be the first experience, and then “learning art” or “experiencing culture” should be the second experience. I think it is important to set up an entrance point where the experience is “fun” or “pleasant” first, and then later it becomes a cultural experience.
Ideguchi: The same is true of the festival you are organizing, isn’t it? The elements that make up the festival can be divided into music and performing arts, but they are presented as a “festival. In the same way, a certain type of cultural experience, for example, a workshop of light, could be casually touched upon as a part of daily life if it is offered as a course at a community center. Then, when the child grows up and realizes that it was a cultural experience, he or she may visit the hall or community center again.
Kishino: That is really important. When children see adults having fun, they will have hope for the future.
Ideguchi: I hope we can create as many such encounters as possible. Community centers, public facilities, and local activities have the function and potential to serve as a kind of original experience, or a place where people can first come into contact with the local community. There is still much to be done.
