We will introduce the efforts of the Reiwa 4th year learning town collaboration project.
The "Gakumachi Collaboration Project" recruits plans and projects in which universities, students, and the local community collaborate to work on urban development and regional revitalization in Kyoto, and provides subsidy support.
We would like to inform you about the efforts of this year's selected organizations!
【Activities】Ritsumeikan University Camo Cinema 17 Executive Committee
On Sunday, August 21, we visited "Camo Cinema 17"!
This time it was held for the first time in three years due to the influence of the corona disaster. He was actively engaged in public relations activities such as SNS transmission on Instagram, Twitter, and blog, and distribution of leaflets on the streets and at events. The original date of the event was Saturday 20th, but it was postponed to the next day due to rain, and on Sunday 21st, it rained heavily during the day, but it was held safely without a hitch.
"Kamo Cinema" was launched 20 years ago by Ritsumeikan University students who were interested in environmental conservation of the Kamo River, a symbol of Kyoto, and currently has 35 members. In Kyoto, a student town, cleanup activities and outdoor movie screenings are held every summer as an effort to raise awareness of beautification among young people of the same generation. From there, this year marks the 17th year as an event that connects people to people, people to movies, and people to Kamogawa.
On the day of the event, a cleanup activity called "Pikakamo" was held from 3:30 p.m., slightly staggered due to rain. At the same time, a "used book exchange meeting" was also held, which was the first attempt of the project. This is a project in which participants bring books and exchange them for new used books. By reducing the number of books thrown away, it was also part of the SDGs initiatives, and books of various genres were lined up at the venue, from novels to picture books, picture books, and old magazines. Some of the books had messages for the exchangers, and it was such a project that warmed the feelings of the recipients. In addition, there was a quiz-style project for children and their families, and it was an event that men and women of all ages could participate in.
This year's film is "Music." It is an animated film that skillfully visualizes the "initial impulse to music". When I asked the executive committee members why "Music" was chosen among the many film works, they said that it was a film that reminded me of the importance of "culture" through film, and that I wanted to screen such a work at Camo Cinema while opportunities to experience and interact with culture and art are disappearing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Even when the sun went down, the temperature didn't drop much and it was hot, but as the showtime approached, more and more people came to watch the show, and there were many people who were walking along the Kamo River stopping to look at the screen.
In the future, they are thinking of not only holding events once a year, but also events that can be held on a daily basis. We look forward to your future activities!
【Activities】Kyoto University, Ritsumeikan University, etc. Kyoto Student Theater Festival Executive Committee
On Thursday, September 15, we visited the Kyoto Student Theater Festival 2022!
This year, the festival will be held from September 9th (Fri.) ~ 19th (Mon.), and it has become a large-scale theater festival with 11 performing groups and 10 executive committee members. It is said that it may be full on Saturdays and Sundays, and there were many spectators on the day of the interview.
The venue is "Yosho Children's Park" located about a 5-minute walk from Demachiyanagi Station. As soon as I arrived, I saw a large white outdoor special stage. The outdoor stage, which is also a symbol, was larger and sturdier than I had imagined on the website, and the sides were covered with wooden pillars painted in white and blue. There is something warm about it that is large and sturdy, and it is convincing that it was made in the image of a cocoon. I also visited the outdoor special stage that was being prepared, and it was very large, and the distance between the stage and the audience seats was just right. Even during the interview, it was very impressive to see each person in charge silently preparing for the performance.
According to Mr. Okada, an executive committee member, the venue was moved from indoor to outdoor "Yosho Children's Park" last year due to the influence of Corona. He talked about how he held regular meetings with local residents and gradually increased the number of opportunities for interaction and how he was able to provide a place for students who had lost the opportunity to see theater due to Corona. Of course, there are difficulties such as weather problems unique to the outdoors and insect repellent measures, but I could clearly see that the local people watched over and the theater professionals and students worked together to create a wonderful stage.
In the park, there was a shooting corner where goods were sold and sweets were used as prizes, and there was an exhibition corner of "Mainichi Flyers" created every day to liven up the theater festival. From among the many leaflets displayed, stickers were put on the leaflets that they liked, and other ways to enjoy the waiting time until the play started.
While we were enjoying the park, it was time to start the performance, and thanks to the kindness of the executive committee members, we were able to watch the play. The first time I saw a play by a student group, it was, in a word, a masterpiece! I was fascinated by the emotionally rich expressiveness, sometimes made me think, and it was 45 minutes in the blink of an eye. There was a train running very close to the park, and it was also attractive that they skillfully incorporated it into the theater.
On the last day, two awards, the Audience Award and the Jury Award, will be announced, and the group with the highest audience score will qualify for the National Student Theater Festival to be held next year. I hope that future stage actors will be born from here.
Although it was a short interview, I was able to hear the passion of the executive committee members, the appeal of the theater festival, the difficulties they faced, and their thoughts for the future, and I was able to enjoy the charm of the Kyoto Student Theater Festival by watching the play. I'm looking forward to your future activities!
【Activities】Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto City University of Arts, Seian University of Art and Design, Saga Art University BORDER! Executive Committee
On Saturday, November 26th, we visited "Art Festival BORDER! 2022" in Umekoji Park!
「BORDER! The Executive Committee consists mainly of art university students in the Kansai region, and plans, operates, and implements art festivals with the main purpose of creating opportunities for citizens to experience art and nurturing young artists.
This year's theme is "Ichimiri Yorimichi" Aiming to be an event where you can enjoy the world of art with just one millimeter detour, we will deliver an even wider range of art through the annual marche, live events, and workshops, as well as the first outdoor event and stage performance.
On the day of the event, the weather was cloudy, but the autumn leaves of the trees were beautiful and it was a comfortable season, so there were many people with various purposes in the park. According to Mr. Okazaki, an executive committee member, last year it was held at Zest Oike, so it was mainly train users, but this year it was the first outdoor event, and the traffic has changed considerably, and he is happy that a wide range of people, regardless of age or gender, can see it. In fact, citizens and tourists who happened to pass by stopped and eagerly watched the live paint and marche, and I think it was an opportunity for people of all ages to become interested. On the other hand, there were about 30 groups of exhibiting artists at the Marche, which is the main project, but the number of exhibitors was almost the same as last year despite the large site, so they wanted to make this an issue for the future.
At this event, efforts were also implemented with an awareness of the SDGs in terms of reducing food loss. Workshops were held in advance to make paints and create art works based on discarded vegetables and fruits, and the works were exhibited. The gentle colors made the picture look warm.
A report will be published on future activities. Every year, the website is also attractive, so please take a look there! Even if you couldn't make it to the event this time, please try to experience art!
Click here for the BORDER!2022 website → https://borderfes.art/
