[Arts Council Tokyo] Cultivating creativity by tackling questions with no right answers. Children’s Art Exhibition Combining Art and Environmental Education Image
URL: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture Press release: October 24, 2025 To Members of the Press [Arts Council Tokyo] Nurturing creativity by tackling questions with no correct answers. An exhibition of children’s artwork combining art production and environmental education Next Creation Program “Fantasista – Opening Up a Canvas of the Future with Art and Design” Exhibition November 7th (Fri) – 9th (Sun) at Shibuya Hikarie The Tokyo Metropolitan
Government, Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), and Tama Art University are collaborating to host an exhibition of works from the “Fantasista” arts and culture experience program for elementary, junior high, and high school students (equivalent to those under 18 years of age). The program will be held at Shibuya Hikarie from November 7th (Friday) to 9th (Sunday). Additionally, as a related exhibit, from November 20th (Thursday) to 24th (Monday, a public holiday), we will be exhibiting sea creatures made from discarded acrylic partitions as part of the elementary school course “UPCYCLE/Expressing Marine Life” at Kasai Rinkai Aquarium. This program combines the “ability to tackle challenges with no right answers” found in art and the “ability to tenaciously face big challenges” found in environmental education, fostering flexible thinking and a positive attitude. At the venue, children will be able to experience sustainability firsthand, creating unique artworks accompanied by Tama Art University students. These include works made from recycled acrylic panels and sculptures made entirely from natural forest materials. Come see how art and environmental education are combined through art and cultural experiences to foster the creative power that will shape the future.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/38211/938/38211-938-d469df9f027e8ad6ca4c9e10d4affaf4-3900×2600.jpg About the Next Creation Program This is an arts and culture experience program for children implemented by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture. To enable children to learn at a deeper and higher level, they can enter creative fields that interest them and receive instruction from leading professionals in their respective fields. The program aims to support the development of children’s rich talents while supporting their individuality and dreams for art and culture. Next Creation Program Portal Site https://next-creation-p.jp/ ｜Event Overview｜ Project Name: Next Creation Program “Fantasista – Opening Up a Canvas of the Future with Art and Design” Organizers: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), Tama Art University Supported by: Katsura Sea Life Park (Tokyo Zoological Park Society), Takao no Mori Wakuwaku Village Supported by Supported by: Keio Corporation, NTT Docomo, Inc. Content: An exhibition of works created in all programs for
elementary, junior high, and high school students. Dates: Friday, November 7th, 2025 – Sunday, November 9th, 2025 Time: 11:00 – 19:30 *Last day until 17:30 Venue: Shibuya Hikarie 8/COURT (8th floor, 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) Admission: Free Shibuya Hikarie 8/COURT Official Website: https://www.hikarie8.com/court/ Related Exhibition: Kasai Rinkai Aquarium Venue Content: An exhibition of sea creatures made from discarded acrylic partitions created in the elementary school course “UPCYCLE/Expressing Sea Creatures.” Dates: Thursday, November 20, 2025 – Monday, November 24, 2025 (substitute holiday) Hours: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM *Opening hours are subject to change. For details, please visit the official website of Katsura Sea Life Park. Venue: Katsura Sea Life Park Glass Dome (6-2-3 Rinkai-cho, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo) Admission Fee: Aquarium admission fee is required to view the exhibit (free for elementary school students and younger, and junior high school students living or studying in Tokyo). For more information, please visit the official website of Katsura Marine Life Park. Kasai Rinkai Aquarium Official Website:
https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/zoo/kasai/ *Exhibition content may be subject to change. *For program details, please visit the “Fantasista” special page. Special page:
https://www.tamabi.ac.jp/research/social-cooperation/next-creation-2025/ ｜Exhibition Statement｜ Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo
Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture The Next Creation Program, “Fantasista: Opening Up a Canvas for the Future with Art and Design,” is sponsored by Arts Council Tokyo and Tama Art University. This program, aimed at students from third grade elementary school through third grade high school (equivalent to those under 18 years old), combines art and environmental education to develop the creative skills necessary for children who will live in the future. Art education fosters a fearless, creative approach to challenges with no right answers. Environmental education fosters a tenacious approach to understanding large, complex challenges as personal issues. By combining these two, we hope to foster flexible thinking and the ability to move forward positively into the future. A three-day exhibition showcasing the results of this program will be held from November 7th to 9th. The “Fantasista” program combines two major perspectives in environmental education: an educational program that fosters awareness of connections with nature and an educational program that fosters awareness of resource recycling. Addressing environmental issues can be broadly divided into three phases. The first is the stage aimed at resource circulation, such as material recycling and circularity. The second is the stage aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, including CO2. The third is the stage aimed at preserving biodiversity. To deepen our understanding of this third phase, “biodiversity,” it is essential to first look at the nature around us. Even if biodiversity is protected in a faraway country, its meaning is diminished if endemic species in our own region are lost. In one of the programs, “Poiesis,” children created animal sculptures using only materials that naturally return to the soil, such as plants found in the forest. With a forest nature guide from Associate Professor Masahiko Kiji of Rikkyo University, the children deepened their understanding of nature. Students majoring in product design at Tama Art University used their own creative experiences to teach the children how to make sculptures and handle materials. Meanwhile, the resource circulation perspective of “UPCYCLE” has led to a variety of creative endeavors. For example, by reusing acrylic partitions discarded during the COVID-19 pandemic, I created a series of cut-out and colored acrylic plate artworks based on drawings of marine life I sketched after studying marine ecosystems at Tokyo Sea Life Park. Also on display are new tools created by incorporating unwanted items and filling in the gaps with a 3D printer, as well as large tote bags made from deadstock fabric, featuring children’s own drawings of “my favorite world.” We hope that through these diverse works, you will be able to get a sense of the creativity that can emerge when art education and environmental education intersect. We will also be publishing details of each program and its educational approach, in the hopes of providing an opportunity for children who were unable to participate in “Fantasista” to relive the learning experience. Contact Information for Exhibition Inquiries “Fantasista” Office Email: nexcre2025@tamabi.ac.jp Inquiries regarding this release or
publication Public Relations, Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture TEL: 03-6256-8432 E-mail: press@artscouncil-tokyo.jp Copyright ©
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