Because I am both a Japanese Studies and Theatre double major, it was important to me to be able to be involved in the arts community in some way while abroad to supplement my studies at KCJS. The CIP program was the perfect time to get in touch with my creative side during my time in Kyoto; for both these reasons I began volunteering at the Kyoto Arts Center, whose mission is to connect not only theatre artists, but dancers and visual artists as well, with the city, the general public, and other people involved in the arts. Furthermore, the center works hard to foster young and up and coming Japanese artists, who otherwise would not have the means to practice their art, by letting them use resources such as studio space for free, giving them platforms for readings and showing of their work, and being host to an artist in residence program. This objective in particularly is close to me, as I myself am a young artist, and realize how difficult it is to commit yourself to art when you are not being supported. The Kyoto Arts Center offers young artists the kind of support I wish I could bring back with me to New York City, if I do indeed decide to take on the big, bad performing arts world there after I graduate.

Volunteering at the Kyoto Arts Center has allowed me to be exposed to an artistic community unlike any other community I have experienced during my time in Japan. The Arts Center actually attracts over 200 volunteers, young and old, Japanese and foreign, meaning that every time I work I am interacting with a different strata of Kyoto residents. Not only that, but because I have volunteered serving various events at the center, I have also had the opportunity to meet patrons and artists. Volunteering at events as an usher, I have learned vital language with regards to communicate with the public, such as how to properly welcome visitors, how to give directions, and how to enforce rules in the building. Additionally, I have offered my English skills in order to edit some translated articles and interviews for the center’s newsletter. Via all of these interactions and events, I have been introduced to local performance and visual artists that I would not have known about otherwise.

Overall, volunteering for the Kyoto Arts Center was a great way to get involved in the Japanese artistic community. I was able to interact with a vast Japanese community, and participate in interesting events at the center. However, because the center has so many steady volunteers already, I did not get specific projects to work on or regular, weekly volunteer work. Every time I worked I met many new volunteers, but never established lasting relationships. Nonetheless, I hope that my volunteer work there contributed in small part to their mission of supporting the diversity of the Kyoto artistic community, and fostering it’s young members.

私の専門は舞台芸術と日本語だから、KCJSで勉強している間、舞台芸術のことにも参加したかったです。それから、京都芸術センターでCIPをすることに決めました。芸術センターは四条烏丸の近くの古い小学校の校舎にあります。京都芸術センターは京都の若いアーティストが支え合うことにこだわりがあります。そのために、制作室利用者というプログラムがあります。そこで京都の市民はアーティストに会えるし、演奏や展示会や茶道などを見られるし、ワークショップにも参加できます。センターに図書館と喫茶店があります。スタジオもあって、そのスタジオを借りられます。

京都芸術センターで私はウェブサイトのために英語の翻訳のものを編集したり、イベントがある時手伝ったりします。先週末、Dance4Allというイベントでボランティアしました。そのイベントはダンスの中の包括性を推進するものでした。イベントのメッセージは「誰もが踊ることができる」でした。一日中ワークショップと講演と演奏がありました。私はお客さんに挨拶して、プログラムを配りましたので、様々な人に会えました。他のボランティアとも話しました。そして、ダンスの演奏を見ました。一つの演奏は一番感動したダンスで、お年寄りと子供と障害者と一緒に踊りました。その後でボリウッドというインドのダンスも見ました。このイベントは、様々は舞台芸術ができることを示しました。本当に面白かったので、次のイベントにぜひみんな来てください。