U.S.-Japan Connection Travel 2016-17: Introduction

Sha Cage, Catalyst Series Curator, Intermedia Arts (Minneapolis, MN) In the February 2017 trip to Tokyo and Yokohama, the U.S-Japan Connection group consisted of Julie Bates MacGillis (Intermedia Arts), who attended in my stead, along with incoming curators Benjamin Akio Kimitch (P.S. 122), Colleen Furukawa (Maui Cultural Arts Center) and, from NPN/VAN, President/CEO Caitlin Strokosch and program consultant Kyoko Yoshida. The majority of research was done in Yokohama at TPAM (Tokyo Performing Arts Meeting). The group also had a chance to take in some fringe shows and meet with partners and allies as part of the overall agenda. Throughout the nine-day TPAM convening, there was the opportunity to view more than 50 artists/companies that presented more than 200 performances, and attend more than 300 meetings, discussions and seminars. The conference hosted more than 700 people from over 40 countries. More specifically, those attending were professionals engaged in performing arts as artists, festival directors, venue producers, facilitators, company managers, presenters and in other forms in the profession. More than 15,000 people visited the “Creative City” of Yokohama looking for encounters with performing arts. As one of the new curators, this level of curated performance is both exciting and provocative. We invite you to follow the blogs and reflections throughout the year.  Here is a link to learn more about TPAM and what this convening is all about: https://www.tpam.or.jp/info/en/about-us