ABOUTMISSION
Who We Are
Kyoto is home to a large number of art schools, but as the ecosystem inhabited by contemporary art grows increasingly complex, with its museums, biennials, galleries, art fairs, residencies and more, conversely the path to global connection in the real world is far from an easy one. Kyoto’s status as the center of traditional Japanese culture makes it unrivalled as a location, and there is an urgent need to find ways for today’s Kyoto, positioned within this social, historical and cultural context, to respond to global contemporary art trends and work alongside those trends to create new kinds of value.
Helping to address this and other challenges for the arts, ICA Kyoto functions as an open, accessible platform connecting Kyoto to the rest of the world. As an institute affiliated with the Kyoto University of the Arts Graduate School, ICA Kyoto works in close collaboration with graduate education, and is committed to building networks of artists and curators, primarily across Asia, to foster the next generation of talent in the global art scene.
The name ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) is primarily associated with ICA London, founded in 1946. Since then, the ICA concept of a setting for putting avant-garde, experimental expression and theories into practice has become part of the urban fabric in cities around the world. Unlike art museums or commercial galleries, ICA is a creative space centered on contemporary art, where different genres can mingle and reap the benefits of that interaction. In the same spirit, ICA Kyoto was established to serve as the setting for a diverse range of experimental practice, and research, with an emphasis on contemporary art.
What We Do
Global Educational Programs at the Graduate School of Arts
With the aim of cultivating individuals who can develop a global perspective, make informed choices from diverse forms of expression, and play active roles in the international art scene, ICA Kyoto offers “Global / Asia Studies,” a program that builds on the Kyoto University of the Arts Graduate School Global Seminar (2018–2025). These intensive courses welcome leading artists and curators from Japan and abroad as guest lecturers, all of whom are active in the global art scene.
ICA Kyoto Talks and Symposia
Unraveling many of the issues in today’s world from diverse perspectives, with an emphasis on contemporary art, ICA Kyoto talks and symposia connect Japan’s former capital to the world. International talks and symposia are organized featuring guest artists, curators, researchers and other members of the art world.
Kyoto Gathering for Asian Art Students
The KYOTO Gathering for Asian Art Students is a residential program that brings together students from across Asia to deepen mutual understanding of each other and their wider region within the context of the contemporary art world. The event aims to reexamine Western-centric narratives in art and provide opportunities for practical learning and meaningful connections through discussions on global art trends, individual research interests, and career pathways.
ICA Kyoto Journal—A Platform for Documenting Activities and Diverse Voices
ICA Kyoto Journal is a web journal that documents and publishes ICA Kyoto’s activities and connects the art scene of Kyoto with that of the wider world. The Journal also features in-depth reviews, including exhibition criticism, as well as contributed articles by writers working in diverse countries and contexts, alongside articles by students.
*REALKYOTO, the online cultural magazine run since 2012 by the Kyoto University of the Arts Graduate School and office of Ozaki Tetsuya, continued as Realkyoto Forum on the ICA Kyoto website until 2025.
Hosting research fellows, networking assistance, joint research
ICA Kyoto supports artists, curators, researchers, and other professionals from overseas who wish to stay in Kyoto to conduct surveys, research, or creative practice. Specific forms of support include providing desk space at the ICA Kyoto office and coordinating surveys, studio visits, and other related activities. ICA Kyoto also engages in joint research projects with research fellows.
*Please note that the Research Fellow program is suspended for the 2025 academic year.