Purpose

Appeals regarding the importance of communication are made in various social situations. Even in homes and schools, places where close relationships are built, there have been a succession of accidents which seem to have been caused by an inability to hold mutual discussions. In the light of current conditions, the center was founded in order to re-examine the shape of communication and how to build up communication, which is the most important element for people to live amongst others in society, from the field of art education.
Currently, efforts are being made in places of education to provide students with a heightened ability to live. From the field of art education, the center approaches the issues of communication and the improvement of the ability to live. In addition to developing sensibility, we believe that art is also useful as educational content for cultivating people who can live subjectively in society. By promoting independent viewers and the spread of art which reflects on our lives, we seek to broaden the possibilities of art, thus contributing to the development of subjective professionals who are capable of viewing, thinking, speaking and listening using their own ability. (*)
The Kyoto University of Art and Design has developed the Art Communication Project (ACOP) since the 2004 academic year. The project started as a lecture course in the Department of Art Studies and Produce (ASP). With every passing year, the project has become well known among more and more people by holding annual viewing exhibitions and various symposiums. Currently, the project receives support and encouragement from various sectors. As part of this process, the ACOP is now viewed as a form of art communication in a broad meaning, and the Art Communication Research Center was founded in April 2009 as an organization that supports research activities for a multifaceted examination of the possibilities of art.

* We define art as “a wondrous phenomenon which occurs between viewers and the work.”