Kiryu Saien





Contact Details	Kiryu Moriyoshi Factory 2-14-27 Higashi, Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture 376-0034 Japan
	TEL	+ 81-277-47-3560
	FAX	+ 81-277-47-3560
	E MAIL	kiryuu_saien@ybb.ne.jp
	URL	http://www.ab-c.com/
Contact	Takahiko AKAIKE (Kiryu Moriyoshi Studio Administration Committee, Coordinator)

Administrative Organization

Kiryu Moriyoshi Studio Administration Committee

Administrative Body

Abductive-art Collaboration

Facility Name

Kiryu Moriyoshi Factory

Facility Address

Kiryu Moriyoshi Factory
2-14-27 Higashi, Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, 376-0034

Tel & Fax: + 81-277-47-3560

Facility Description

Moriyoshi Factory, a former textile factory, has been renovated and converted into a studio facility.

(1)	Studio: 130 sq. m. Equipped with the wireless Internet access, air conditioning, floor heating, and water supply.
(2)	Meeting room: 30 sq. m. Equipped with e-Mac, printer, scanner, telephone, and fax for share.
(3)	Dormitories
(4)	Bathroom, toilet, washing machine
(5)	Kitchen with IH electromagnetic stove, refrigerator, water heater, and plates.

Access

Kiryu City once prospered in textiles. Hence, its cityscape is characterized by the distinct architectures of former textile factories; Kiryu Moriyoshi Factory is one such example.

By train: Take express train Ryomo on Tobu Railway and get off at “Shin Kiryu” station. 100 minutes from “Asakusa” station. 90 minutes from “Kita Senju” station.

By car: 30 minutes from “Isesaki” IC on Kan-etsu Expressway. 50 minutes from “Sano Fujioka” IC on Tohoku Expressway.

History

Since 1994, faculties, students and alumni from the Oil Painting Course of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music have been involved in the project “Kiryu Saien,” an annual exhibition of installations, utilizing the old textile factories and other facilities in Kiryu City
In 2002, as part of “Kiryu Saien 8,” the artist Takahiko Akaike created a large scale installation using the whole Moriyoshi Factory (Refer to an article on the website of INAX Renovation Forum.
http://forum.inax.co.jp/renovation/forum/repo011-kiryu/report011.html)
In 2003, the owner decided to renovate the factory, with artists and students related to Moriyoshi Factory taking part in its process.

Moriyoshi Factory is now the base for the “Kiryu Saien” project, where art workshops and projects for the local community are provided.

Year of
Commencement

2004

Program Objectives

The artist-in-residence program aims to get involved with the local communities through art. Workshops are held for children throughout the year to offer unique opportunities to create art.

Program Activities

(1)	Artist-in-residence program Young artists are invited from Japan and overseas to participate in programs of “Kiryu Saien”. The residence program offers an environment in support of their activities for research, production, and exhibition.
(2)	Research program The facility is also used by faculties and students of oil painting and inter media art of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music or Tokyo University, Department of Architecture and others.
(3)	Kiryu workshop project Workshops for children are offered to experience innovative art.

Focus Area

Contemporary artistic expressions such as painting, drawing, installation, video, architecture, and sound

Residency Period

Maximum three months between July and December. It is obligatory to take part in the “Kiryu Saien” project in the autumn.

Number of
Resident Artists

More than ten artists each year (2006: 21 Japanese, 1 German, 2 Korean, and 2 Chinese)

Conditions

The applicant should:
- be artists engaged in contemporary art
- be in a good health
- have enough Japanese and English language proficiency for living and working during the residency

Undergraduate and postgraduate students may apply for the program.

In participating in the residence program, applicants are obliged to:

- participate in exchange with local residents and fellow artists during the residency period.
- present outcomes of their residency at “Kiryu Saien”.
- be cooperative in carrying out the residence program and other related art programs.

Provisions

(1)	Traveling expense: Not available
(2)	Production fee: Not available
(3)	Studio: Available
(4)	Living expense: Not available
(5)	Accommodation: Available (dormitories and kitchen equipped with microwave oven, toaster, IH electromagnetic stove, rice cooker, and coffee maker)
(6)	Professional and staff support: Available (including assistance for transportation of exhibits)
(7)	Opportunities for presentations/exhibitions: Available (“Kiryu Saien”)
(8)	Publication and distribution of a program report: Available (catalogue documenting activities of each artist)
(9)	Others: bicycles and electric tools available

Application Procedure

Recommendation from affiliated organizations and open call

Selection Process

Selection by

Achievements and
Outcomes

FY2007 marks the 13th year of “Kiryu Saien” which began in 1994. The project invites more than ten artists from Japan and five other countries (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, China, and Korea) every year.
The project aims have been generally achieved: resident artists have had exchange with local residents through their research, production, and workshops; and many of the works that have been produced reflect the characters of local culture and industry .
There are several outcomes from this project: a number of the past resident artists are thriving in the art world; some have entered the teaching profession; they have become pioneers of art projects in their local community.

The project has developed through autonomous planning and management.