Amamoto & Shiraishi Africulture Centre is pleased to report that the 2024 Africulture Creative Aging Project has been successfully completed with the support of Izu City, the Izu Daily Newspaper, the Izu City Cultural Exchange Association, and the Izu City Board of Education, as well as the cooperation of the residential care facility, "Branchier Tomodachi Village."
1. Project Goal
To Age Creatively and Meaningfully
This project aimed to introduce contemporary art from East Africa and traditional music from West Africa, which are rarely encountered in Japan. By doing so, we sought to nurture new insights and sensitivities in the era of living to 100, while also providing moments of healing.
2 Project Plan and Results
| Plan | Result |
Period | April-December 2024 | As planned |
Population | Elderly residents of Izu City | As planned, participants from outside the prefecture also joined |
No. of participants | 160 | 290 |
3. List of Events
Event | Period | Venue |
Jambo from East Africa! Art Exhibition I | May 10-June 7 | Branchier Tomodachi Village |
Kora Concert from West Africa | June 9 | Shuzenji Ikiiki Plaza Lounge |
Jambo from East Africa! Art Exhibition II | June 9-13 | Shuzenji Ikiiki Plaza Lounge |
African Art Dialog-based Viewing | August 17 am & pm | Branchier Tomodachi Village |
(Kora Christmas Concert) | December 15 | Branchier Tomodachi Village |
4. Overall Impressions and Points for Improvement
Through this project, we had the valuable experience of engaging with the volunteer spirit of many people, starting with the two residents of Branchier Tomodachi Village. We were also pleased that more people participated than expected, and 95% of the visitors were satisfied.
It was highly meaningful to conduct the project within Branchier Tomodachi Village, inspired by hospital art. We are grateful for the cooperation of Director Nakajima and the staff. At Shuzenji Iiki Iiki Plaza, we showcased 60 artworks against a backdrop of blue sky and greenery through glass windows, and the concert provided a wonderful moment of unity between the audience and the performer. The preparation, transportation, and setup of the artworks proceeded smoothly thanks to the support of many people. Additionally, hearing participants' genuine feedback through the questionnaire was a significant gain.
The interactive African art viewing sessions facilitated by experts were very well-received, and participants enjoyed them. However, there was a comment about the catalog's page numbers being too small and difficult to read during the explanations by the organizer (myself). I had planned to use Post-It notes but was unable to implement this, which is a point for reflection. Additionally, we received requests to address children, which we plan to consider for future projects.
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