Eight selected art critics from EU Member States have been invited to Kyoto Experiment 2024 to engage in dialogue with Japanese critics and consider the future of criticism.
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Japan has launched "Critics in Residence @ Kyoto Experiment 2024" to explore the possibilities of criticism in culture and the arts during the international performing arts festival Kyoto Experiment 2024 (held 5-27 October). This initiative is organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, operated by the Goethe-Institut Tokyo, and supported by Kyoto Experiment and the Saison Foundation.
Eight critics of culture and the arts, selected from over 100 applicants from across the EU’s Member States, will be invited to Kyoto for an interactive residency together with Japanese critics. The residency aims to provide a place for the critics to share their expertise and experiences, and to reflect together on the critiques that foster an environment of art and cultural policy, and on the role of culture and art in contemporary society. Various events, including symposiums, panel discussions, workshops, and feedback sessions, will be held during the duration of Kyoto Experiment 2024. There will also be opportunities for dialogue and exchange between the critics from the EU and Japanese critics selected by the Saison Foundation, which is a partner of this program.
In recent years, the environment surrounding criticism and discourse has changed considerably, especially due to the profound impact of social media. In many parts of the world, print media such as newspapers and magazines, which used to serve as a central platform for criticism, are now facing a crisis of existence. Meanwhile, activities that take advantage of the expressive possibilities of digital spaces are on the rise. In this context, it is important to discuss the context in which culture and art criticism is situated and what possibilities it can open up.
Details of the residency program will be continually updated on the Kyoto Experiment website.