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The Initiative sees the exchange of curators as an important avenue for encouraging further understanding, relationships and projects. The Tokyo Forum endorsed Curatorial Exchange as a key strategy for the future. 

Program

Sydney Curatorial Project

Three of Sydney's leading younger curators are spent time with colleagues in Japan in the first half of 2007 through the program:

• Sally Breen, Associate  Director, Performance Space
• Reuban Keehan, Curator, Artspace
• Bec Dean, Curator, Australian Centre for Photography

Sally Breen is worked particularly with BankART in Yokohama, an organization with similar aims to her own; Reuban Keehan held further discussions with Tokyo Wondersite on the coming curatorial program and Bec Dean spoke to like curators throughout Tokyo. 

The three curators had been working individually to strengthen ties between the contemporary arts sector in Japan and Australia.  Travelling together to Japan enabled their individual projects to develop as well as to take advantage of their increased strength as a group.

"The research trip proved invaluable to us all, both individually and collectively. The traction gained during our time in Japan was strengthened by our forming a cluster, heightening our visibility to our Japanese peers. The outcomes have been centred on developing networks within the Japanese contemporary arts scene, strengthening bi-lateral ties between the two countries, expanding our knowledge in working within the Japanese environment and exchanging knowledge and dialogue on current issues that implicate the contemporary arts sector both in Australia and Japan." Sally Breen, Associate Director, Performance Space, May 2007

Besides pursuing their own projects, they all took part in the Symposium: Alternative is over if you want it! co-convened by the Yokohama Museum of Art (YMA) and Artist Initiative Tokyo (AIT). It was initiated by Taro Amano YMA, who is keen to initiate a series of meetings
amongst a younger generation of curators and art workers in the Asia Pacific region.
This was the first of this series, with a focus on Australia. Part was a moderated discussion, with Naoko Shoji, assistant educator and curatorial co-ordinator from theYMA, Osamu Ikeda, Director of BankArt1929 and Roger Benjamin from AIT. Roger Benjaimin was the moderator for the symposium and it was chaired by Aki Hoashi (ARCUS Project). In attendance were a number of artists and curators, as well as Tetsuya Ozaki (ARTit), Kosuke Fujitaka (Tokyo Art Beat) and Margaret Cogswell (Asian Cultural Council).

The curators met many curators and artists in Osaka, Yokohama and Tokyo, with discussions on a wide range of projects ensuing. Two particular projects are part of this STAI: Reuben Keehan's work through Artspace with Tokyo Wondersite, and Bec Dean's work with Shihoko Iida on The Ghost in the Photograph (see exhibition program).


Curators at Yokohama Museum of Art; Roger McDonald of AIT introducing Reuben Keehan, Sally Breen and Bec Dean.

Western Sydney Curatorial Project

July-August 2008

Following the success of the previous curatorial group visit to Japan, a consortium of curators from three western Sydney cultural centres have been supported for a similar visit to Japan, with, again, a general focus on gaining greater understanding of the possibilities for working with Japanese colleagues, increasing networks, and also focusing on specific partners.  The curators are:

•     John Kirkman, CEO of Penrith Performing & Visual Arts (incorporating Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Q Theatre Company)
•     Kon Gouriotis, Executive Director of the Casula Powerhouse Art Centre and Liverpool Regional Museum
•     Lisa Havilah, Director of Campbelltown Arts Centre

Each Australian curator worked with contemporary art museums (and cultural centres) from their respective Japanese Sister Cities:  Koshigaya City (Saitama Prefecture), Toda City (Saitama Prefecture), Fujieda City (Shizuoka Prefecture) and Hakusan City (Ishikawa Prefecture), meeting with the Mayors and executive management staff from each.  Utilising existing 'municipal' Sister City and Prefecture relationships, the program aims to develop exhibition and performance programs involving 'sub urban' regions in Australia and Japan.
 
Curatorial visits included the following cultural projects:

21_21 Design Site, Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Museum, Tokyo, MOT, Tokyo,Tokyo Wonder Site, Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Hara Art Museum Tokyo, Laforet Museum, Tokyo, Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo, Saitama Museum of Modern Art, John Lennon Museum, Saitama, Naoshima Art Island , Fujieda City History Museum, Matto City History Museum, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Noh Museum, Kanazawa., SCAI at the Bathhouse, Aoyama Meguro, Mizuma Gallery and Mori Art Museum.

Of particular significance was the museum experience at the Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Kagawa and Inujima, Okayama-shi, Okayama projects. The Benesse Art Site Naoshima included the Benesse House Museum, Art House Project, Outdoor works and Chichu Art Museum. The Naoshima and Inujima projects are superb examples of contemporary art and design (in collaboration with the private and public sectors) regenerating a community’s economic, environmental, social and cultural future in a sustainable, stylish and dynamic way. 
  
Outcomes

As a result of the curatorial visit the following projects are now in research and development:

• increased options for exchanges with Sister Cities through visits and residency programs
• new commissions of performing and visual art pieces between the two countries
• multi-tiered residency, exhibition and performance projects, including bi-country touring of Uniform World, the photographs of Harold David, the exhibition of works by printmaker Tetsuo Aoki and glassartist Kadonaga Katsuo in Australia, and performance of percussion work from Japan and Australia at Penrith in 2009.

Lisa Havilah, Kon Gouriotis and John Kirkman with Yusaku Imamura, Director, Tokyo Wonder Site