Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the relationship between society and community-based arts projects in recent years. Since the 1990s, community-based art projects have been increasing in number in Japan. For example, “Museum City Project” since 1990, “Toride Art Project” since 1999, “Beppu International Art Festival: Mixed Bathing World” since 2009; these are only a sample of the recent surge of those projects. These projects tend to focus on “Socially Engaged Art” activities such as collaboration with the public and direct engagement with specific social issues. The paper provides perspective on how arts and society are inter-connected in these projects, with reference to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial that has been in existence since 2000 and also discusses what is necessary to gain a good balance in the relationship between society and community based-arts projects.
