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July 5, 2023
Bureau of Citizens, Culture and Sports
Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture
Tokyo’s Latest Creative Venture, CCBT, Makes Tokyo a Stage for Social Experimentation through Art and Digital Technology
A new initiative, Co-Creative Transformation of Tokyo （CX）, aims to give the public the Futures Literacy to reflect on uncertain times, and inspire solutions to emerging issues
Projects are backed by Japan’s largest art incubation program, with this year’s themes being AI, Web3, Diversity & Inclusion, Civic Engagement and Music & Performing Arts
Tokyo, June 29, 2023—Civic Creative Base Tokyo （CCBT）, a new creative center merging art and digital technology co-sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Arts Council Tokyo （Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture） has announced a new initiative to make Tokyo a stage for creative social experimentation, “Co-Creative Transformation of Tokyo （CX）: Transforming Tokyo into a Better City Through Creativity and Technology.”
At a press event in Tokyo on June 29, CCBT's new creative director, Hideaki Ogawa, explained that CCBT would combine Tokyo’s creative transformation with the digital transformation now occurring across Japan. Asking crucial questions, such as “What is a human being?” and “What is society?” He outlined CCBT’s founding philosophy “Art for Society,” meaning that cutting-edge creativity could be leveraged to resolve issues that will face future society in areas such as quality of life, environment, and digitalization.
For the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the goal is to leverage citizens’ creativity and participation to inspire new policy approaches that could lead to innovations born out of Tokyo.
“We must bring digital transformation and creative transformation closer together and incorporate the concepts of art and design into government administration. At the same time, increasing the number of people who can participate in Tokyo’s growth as a city is an idea we always want to keep in mind,” said Manabu Miyasaka, Vice-Governor of Tokyo, at the event.
Japan’s Largest Art Incubation Program
The plan for the creative transformation of Tokyo centers on CCBT’s flagship art incubation program. In May through early June, CCBT held a second term open call for entries based on five themes: AI, Web3, Diversity & Inclusion, Civic Engagement and Music & Performing Arts. More than 100 entries from enthusiastic creators were received. This initiative is Japan’s largest art incubation program, providing up to 10 million yen in support for production costs within each of the five themes. The selected five artist fellows will be decided in mid-July. Through the dialogue enabled by art, this program aims to give expression to issues that Tokyo will face in the future and encourage action.
Developing the Literacy Needed to Consider the Future
Moreover, to foster the “civic creativity” from which it derives its name, CCBT will develop programs that are accessible to all. In this era of instability and uncertainty, these programs will give participants the literacy needed to consider the future in response to unpredictable issues, such as the rise of AI and climate change. Through these programs, CCBT will seek to link “awareness” to “participation.”
From the CCBT Civic Creative Strategy Announcement on Thursday, June 29, 2023
If you wish to download official images for media use, please use the home page( External link ) or QR code below.
A video of the day’s events will be made available at a later date via the same link.
Press Conference with CCBT’s Creative Director, OGAWA Hideaki
CCBT is a center for social experimentation based on the concept of “Tokyo, Laboratory of the Futures.” CCBT rethinks the city of Tokyo and, using the city as a testing ground, explores a multitude of “futures.” Civic creativity is, in other words, future thinking. In order to creatively shape an unpredictable future, residents, creators, and businesses from around the world will come together to think about the new landscape of Tokyo.
Symposium “Making Tokyo More Creative, Making Tokyo Better”
- Guest Speakers: MIYASAKA Manabu, UCHIDA Mahalo, ICHIHARA Etsuko
- Moderator: OGAWA Hideaki
MIYASAKA Manabu （Vice-Governor of Tokyo/CCBT Supervisor）
While technology is something to make our lives more convenient, I believe that design enriches our lives and art enriches our minds. Connecting art and technology will benefit the city. We must bring digital transformation and creative transformation closer together and incorporate the concepts of art and design into government administration. At the same time, increasing the number of people who can participate in Tokyo’s growth as a city is an idea we always want to keep in mind.
UCHIDA Maholo （Director, TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, Center for Cultural Innovations Project, East Japan Railway Foundation for Cultural Innovations）
The concept behind TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, which I am involved in, is “a testing ground for a fulfilling lifestyle 100 year into the future.” From Takanawa, where the railroad first started, our aim was to link culture with the future, making it a uniquely Japanese place to renew traditions. How can we go beyond the physicality of not only Tokyo, but also Japan and the entire world? How much can we reference the past as well as the future? The extent to which we can expand time and space will lead us to thinking about the future.
ICHIHARA Etsuko （Artist, fantasy inventor）
I have been working on cross-community projects that combine Japanese folk beliefs and digital technology. I think that art has a role of “future inoculation.” It can build resistance to a future that is comple電話y unpredictable. Tokyo is one of the most creatively developed cities in Japan. This is precisely why we need to ask the question of how to make a better Tokyo. What will civil servants be like in 1,000 years from now?
※For further details, please see the attached paper.(PDF:222KB)
※Please click here for the original Japanese release.
This project is to promote the "Future Tokyo," Tokyo’s Long-Term Strategy.
Strategy 10: Smart Tokyo/TOKYO Data Highway strategy
Strategy 15: A City of Culture and Entertainment strategy
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