ボートの上でパフォーマンス？ この夏に行う奇想天外なイベント「モーツ・アート」をご案内します。昨今の状況下、文化芸能に携わる多くの方々が発表の場を失い、それが長きにわたって続いています。世界各地にちらばる芸術祭ファン・アーティストから寄せられた「芸術祭のない夏なんて…」という声。それになんとか応えられないだろうかと考えに考え、たどり着いたひとつの結論が、この（普通じゃない）イベントです。

このモーツ・アートは「#どこでも芸術祭」の一環として行われます。#どこでも芸術祭、つまり自分たちで（勝手に）マイ芸術祭を開催して、それを動画で投稿しようというキャンペーン。こちらは詳細がまとまり次第、改めてご案内いたします。

Performers in boats? We are happy to announce a new event for summer! We couldn’t let the town’s creativity and imagination go without a platform for so long… We heard from so many of our arts world friends that they would avoid a “geijutsu-sai”-free summer by holding their own small parties, that we knew we had to do something ourselves. Click below for details of this unusual event.

We also made some T-shirts with the theme “Doko-demo Geijutsu-sai” (everywhere is geijutsu-sai). Want to take part? Just arrange to bring some different worlds together, and be sure to send us a picture or two. More news coming here soon.

On Thursday, the Japanese Prime Minister announced the extension of the emergency order already in place in the south of Japan. (External news links: Asahi, Bloomberg). Hokkaido has already implemented and exited from one voluntary stay-at-home period, so we are optimistic that this one will also be effective.

We would like to thank so much all the people around the world who have sent us their best wishes. Especially, to all the artists who reacted with such understanding to the cancelling of their participation in this year’s festival, we appreciate your messages so much. And, we were so amazed by the response to our request for donations to cover our fixed costs. We were hesitant with the message that we have large outlay even if we don’t have a large event, but the open-hearted and warm gestures we received were incredible. During this time when financial hardship is widespread, it was an inspiration for us.

So now, the cherry blossom season starts to arrive in our northern land. Its welcome will be more restrained than usual. But as we contemplate from indoors, we will be re-doubled in our commitment to bring you some kind of event to brighten the 2020 calendar. What will be able to do? We will be thinking hard, and we hope that you too may join us with any suggestions.

Stay tuned, be kind, and stay safe. Thank you so much.