From streets to streams: Tokyo artists find new audiences
Project: support programme for arts and culture during the pandemic
The Purpose
Professional artists and cultural practitioners were among the worst hit by the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the City created funding to support artists to make new work and stream it online.
The Challenge
Closure of performance and art spaces risked a loss of talent in the sector.
8,000 videos were created by around 20,000 people, and embedded via YouTube.
The Solution
The ‘Support Program for Arts and Culture’ was one of the first in Japan to directly support artists to financially survive the pandemic. It consisted of two strands: the first was for individual artists and freelancers, who could apply for a flat fee of JPY 100,000 to produce a movie between 3-30 minutes long showcasing their art. Forms ranged from music, plays, dance, arts, visual arts and traditional arts, to new categories of art creation.
A second strand allowed groups to put on performances in theatre spaces or halls with either no audience, or a very limited one, but that reached the wider public through a streamed recording. These groups received JPY 2,000,000 per project for production costs and additional support for filming.
The final results were placed on a dedicated website, ranging from live painting to musical performances, acrobats and dancers, and traditional arts. Other works featured inventive imaging technology, unique use of web conference systems, and multidisciplinary works. Some used the streets of Tokyo as a backdrop, capturing the quieter city of the pandemic.
The Impact
In total, about 8,000 videos were created by around 20,000 people, and embedded via YouTube. This work gave artists a chance to show their skills and achievements, while often reconsidering the meaning of art and the ways to share it. Audiences were entertained while staying home due to the pandemic, appreciating work that spoke so directly to the difficult time being experienced by the whole city.
Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022
Images Courtesy © City of Tokyo
