Based on recent research reports suggesting that art education is effective in shaping the personality and building social relationships of young people in their late teens, this project involves collaborative creation with artists, with an eye toward those who are "NEET" or "freeters." The "Kanazawa Young People's Dream Challenge Art Program," launched in 2007 by the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, aims to provide focused support for the social participation of young people aged 18 to 39.



Since 2011, the program has been a series with the keyword "The museum as a mediator." In its third year, this year, with the theme "Society/World," the museum selected Michiro Shimabuku, an artist who engages in initiatives to consider the world from the local community through encounters and dialogue in contemporary art. Shimabuku creates installation works and other pieces inspired by people and things he encounters during his travels around the world.

For this program, Shimabuku chose Noto as the setting for his journey. Together with 25 participating young people, he traveled between April and September 2013, learning about "magaki" (protective fences for houses against strong winter winds), "kuchiko" (made from sea cucumber roe), and ancient "tatara ironmaking," all of which he then recreated in the exhibition space.



Shimabuku and the participants will continue to engage in activities such as making dried persimmons and kuchiko until March of next year, when the project concludes. Shimabuku reflects, "There are people who know how to build magaki but not how to re-paper a sliding screen. People who know how to make kuchiko but have never made a rolled omelet. Not people who can do everything skillfully and evenly, but people who are a bit eccentric. For me, public art is about the existence of people with such unique experiences and skills in this world."

Exhibition Dates│April 27, 2013 (Saturday) – March 2, 2014 (Sunday)

* Second period exhibition begins September 28 (Saturday) ~. Closed Mondays and December 29 – January 1. If a Monday is a public holiday, the following weekday will be closed.

Hours│10:00–18:00 (* Fridays and Saturdays until 20:00)

Venue│Exhibition Room 13, Permanent Installation Room, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

1-2-1 Hirozaka, Kanazawa City

Tel. 076-220-2800

Admission│Requires ticket for Collection Exhibition II. General ¥350, University Students/Seniors (65+) ¥280, Elementary/Junior High School Students Free