Water and Land Niigata Art Festival (水と土の芸術祭, Mizu no Tsuchi no Geishutsusai) is an art festival which started in 2009. Started by the local government,[1] it is held every three years in Niigata City, Japan. The main theme of the festival is “Where have we come from, and where are we going? - From Niigata’s Water and Land: Examining the Future through the Present and the Past -.”[2] It aims to explore how local culture in Niigata has been influenced by the water and land in the area,[3] and at the same time, it also asks participants to reflect upon the relationship between nature and humanity.[1] Niigata has always been known as "a place of meeting between water and land", as it is situated between two major rivers in Japan, the Shinano and the Agano, and is known as for its wetlands and rice-growing regions.[3] It also illustrates the respect for the wisdom of Niigata residents' predecessors overcoming natural disasters.
Water and Land Niigata Art Festival 2018 (in Japanese also called ”水と土の芸術祭2018”) marked the 4th “Water and Land – Niigata Art Festival”.
Date: 14/07/2018–08/10/2018 (87 days)
Venues: Bandaijima Multipurpose Plaza (main venue); Niigata City Center for Creative Arts and International Youth Exchange, and others at various locations within Niigata City (satellite venues)
General Director: Arata Tani
Organisers: Water and Land Niigata Art Festival 2018 Execution Committee
This exhibition worked with artists inside and outside Japan, and the participation of citizens of Niigata.
Koizumi, Motohiro (July 2016). "Creativity in a shrinking society: A case study of the Water and Land Niigata Art Festival". Cities. 56: 141–147. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2015.10.002.
