In contemporary society, where most existing information can be exchanged virtually and visually using letters and images, art has started carrying new meanings and a greater significance. It offers the possibility and prospect that physical contact and tangible experiences will inspire renewed creativity and imaginative projects; it offers tools to convey messages, and the means to connect individuals to one another. Moreover, artists themselves have come to be more conscious than ever of the social role of artistic expression. Society at large and local communities have also synthesized with artists’ awareness, and have actively participated in nurturing young talent.
On the other hand, educational circles have also discovered the power of artistic expression in restoring human relations and forging contact and interaction among youngsters who, while believing that they are networked within a virtual reality, in reality confirm themselves in their isolated, individual cells. As a new medium, art can position such youngsters face to face, and open their introverted selves towards others and society. Through non-verbal expressions of art, they are able first to come to know themselves, then to communicate with others, and ultimately to accept others. Consequently, quite a few art workshops have recently been held in schools and in local communities, where educators, the community, and artists work hand in hand.
Accordingly, the concept of art continues to change rapidly. For a long time artistic activities had been perceived as taking place in isolated ateliers situated within the private sphere. Previously, artistic talent had sometimes been conceived as being produced in total isolation from social integration. However, recently artists have located their workshops within the local community and found their inspiration in this new relationship. In turn, the community has reciprocated, willingly offering artists opportunities and places for their activities. Through this collaboration, a symbiotic, mutually beneficial relationship has emerged, leading to the realization of creative inspiration and local revitalization.
Of course, we can trace the origin of this collaboration back to the 19th century, when the Arts and Crafts Movement tried to connect design, handicrafts and architecture with social rehabilitation. Under the Movement’s influence, Toynbee Hall, which fostered the East End of London’s Settlement Movement, established the Guild of Handicrafts, while Hull House, which gave rise to the Chicago Settlement Movement, became the centre for the American Arts and Crafts Movement. These two centres spread their seeds all over the world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with those few decades witnessing many attempts at establishing ideal collaborations among art, culture, labour, education, life, and the natural environment.
In this year, 2009, we would like both to look back at this history of valuable collaboration in the city of Yokohama and also to carry it forward. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the opening, in 1859, of the Port of Yokohama. In its long history, the port has received many different cultures and people, and helped them mingle. Through its unique tradition and background, the port has also nurtured much artistic talent, created space necessary for this talent to express itself, and used this expression to vitalize the community.
This year, in the International Conference of Art and Welfare, we would like to combine “Art” and “Community” under the same roof and explore the history and possibility of the collaboration of expression, life, and community with the City of Yokohama as its stage.
| 8:30 | Registration begins |
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| 9:30 | Opening speech Vice President Akira HASEYAMA |
| 9:45–11:00 | Symposium Introduction: Keynote speeches Haruhiko FUJITA, Osaka University Izumi KUROISHI, Aoyama University Chiaki YOKOYAMA, Keio University |
| 11:00–12:00 | Self-introductions by the participants, and discussion |
| 12:00–13:30 | Lunch and announcements concerning further information related to the conference |
| 13:30–14:05 | Presentation[1] (25 minutes＋10 minutes Q & A) Henri C.A. BRAAKENBURG (Foundation for Educational Projects) “The Maatschappij tot Nut van 't Algemeen -- the First Public Welfare Society in The Netherlands--” |
| 14:05–14:40 | Presentation[2] Shuzo ONO, Keio University “The Garden City of E. Howard and the Japanese” |
| 14:40–15:15 | Presentation[3] Hiroko MASUI, Japan Women’s University “The Campaign for Drawing: ‘To See Clearly is Poetry, Prophecy and Religion’” |
| 15:15–15:35 | Coffee break |
| 15:35–16:10 | Presentation[4] Kim SANGMI, Osaka University “Visual Language and Modern Society--Moholy-Nagy’s Vision in Motion and its Meaning” |
| 16:10–16:45 | Presentation[5] Yoshie ITANI, Tama University “Beauty Pictures on Old Noritake: Kutani Style Beauty Pictures & Geisha Images” |
| 17:30 | Welcome Party |
| 9:00 | Participants meet at Raio-sha, Keio University Move to Yokohama Creative City Center |
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| 10:00–11:00 | Keynote Speech and Discussion Mr. Tomohiko OKABE, CEO, Kotolab, LLC |
| 11:00–11:15 | Coffee Break |
| 11:15–11:50 | Presentation[6] Makoto ITAYA, Aoyama University “The Relationship between Art and Society in Regional Development Design: Suggestions Concerning Problems and Possible Solutions” |
| 11:50–12:25 | Presentation[7] Koichi MATSUMOTO, Aoyama University “The Relationship between Art and Society as Seen through Making My Tableware Works and Using the Old House as an Exhibition Space” |
| 12:30–13:30 | Lunch at YCC |
| 14:00 | Yokohama Fieldwork Trip 1 (Kotobuki Fieldwork) After Fieldwork Trip Dance Workshop at YCC by Mika KUROSAWA (Dancer) Hiroshi MUTO (Dancer) |
| 17:30 | Concert by Satoko NAKAMURA (Performer) |
| 9:00–9:35 | Presentation[8] Hyun-Guk RYU, Tsukuba University of Technology “A Study of the Development of E-books for Language Learning by Hearing-Impaired Children: Specifically for Japanese Hearing-Impaired Children” |
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| 9:35–10:10 | Presentation[9] Kyoichi SHIMASAKI, Seian University of Art and Design “Large Illustrated Screen Books--A Design Project of Teaching Materials for Severe Intellectually Disabled Children by Art Students and Design Researcher--” |
| 10:10–10:30 | Coffee Break |
| 10:30–11:05 | Presentation[10] Motohiro KOIZUMI, Tokyo University of the arts “Transformation in the Connections between Art and the Local Community in 1990s - 2000s: With Reference to ‘Social Engaged Art’ in Community Arts Projects” |
| 11:05–11:40 | Presentation[11] Marina MEEUWISSE, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, School of Social Work “Art as a Valuable Instrument in Community Research” |
| 11:40–13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00– | Yokohama Fieldwork Trip 2 “Art and Society” |
| 18:00 | Dinner at Yokoyama, and Open Discussion |