2023 Volume 2 Pages 171-180
Regional networks of artists, arts organizations, theaters, area residents, local governments, and local businesses are essential for supporting cultural and artistic activities. This study aims to identify the strategies used by the Sanriku International Arts Festival to create and develop such regional networks from the perspectives of its organizational structure and program. Though the organizational structure of the Sanriku International Arts Committee was established to host the festival, hosting the festival is only part of its mission. It promotes Geinoh (local performing arts) and other arts, and eventually contributes to sustainable regional development in Sanriku. The committee serves as an intermediary between the local communities in Sanriku and the professionals, such as artists and producers from outside the communities, who participate in the festival. The festival program includes a mechanism for artists, local residents, and tourists to interact with each other through Geinoh, which is the region’s cultural resource. The committee considers issues the local communities face and incorporates them into the planning process. This case study demonstrates that when creating and developing a regional network for arts, it is important to listen to the voices of the locals, and to use the expertise gained through the festival to create a mechanism to give back to the local community.
