Abstract
This paper explores the potential for new cultural creation through the interweaving of local traditional folklore and contemporary art practice, using the case study of the "KUKAMI MATSURI, " a regional co-creative arts festival held in Dorogawa, Tenkawa Village, Nara Prefecture. Centered around the original "Tale of Nine Oni, " the festival implemented a unique approach of "living the story " through social practice, with artists as the main organizers collaborating with local residents as collaborative partners. The festival also served as a practice in community engagement, reinterpreting the traditional oral history surrounding Oni—mysterious and powerful beings that exist beyond human understanding, embodying the extraordinary, the spiritual, and the supernatural—within a contemporary context. Through the process of creating together, the festival aimed to reconstruct cultural identity and form a sustainable cultural ecosystem. This paper examines how arts festivals can function as catalysts for transforming local communities and fostering cultural creation, while also exploring the potential for regional revitalization through co-creation in collaboration with local residents.
