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Programs for General Audiences
*in Japanese, except some lectures and Google Arts & Culture

All NMWA programming is conducted in Japanese. However, some lectures are presented in the preferred language of the speaker. The NMWA Google Arts & Culture section has an English page. Please see the relevant NMWA website Japanese pages for program details and attendance applications. Past programs conducted at the NMWA are listed in the relevant Annual Bulletin of the National Museum of Western Art issues.
(see https://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/research/publication.html#annual)

Art Talks

Volunteer Staff members conduct “Art Talk” gallery talks on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of every month. Focusing on five to seven NMWA collection works, these talks are suitable for all visitors, including first-time visitors to the NMWA.

Friday Night Talks (currently suspended)

In addition to “Art Talk” gallery talks held on Saturdays, these Friday Night Talks are held during the NMWA’s late opening hours on Fridays. A Volunteer Staff member chooses three NMWA collection works and gives an approximately ten-minute talk about each work. (No set schedule).

Architectural Tours

Volunteer Staff members lead tours of the NMWA buildings on the second and fourth Wednesdays and first, third and fifth Sundays of every month. Enjoy walking through the Le Corbusier-designed Main Building and Forecourt with a guide. These tours are suitable for all visitors, including those with little knowledge of architecture.

Lectures / Symposia

NMWA curators and invited specialists from Japan and overseas present lectures and participate in symposia related to current exhibitions and set themes.

Gallery Talks / Slide Talks

Focusing on current exhibition topics, the NMWA curators and art history graduate students and other scholars present talks in front of the currently displayed works, or slide lectures in the Auditorium.

Workshops

Through various experiential activities, whether creative projects, discussions, or physical activities, these workshops provide visitors with a deeper understanding of art works.

Other Events

The NMWA hosts concerts and various other special events open to all visitors. These events include talks about Christmas-themed works and concerts as part of our “Christmas at the National Museum of Western Art” programming, as well as drop-in programs led by the NMWA Volunteer Staff.

Google Arts & Culture

Here, you can find gallery talk videos by NMWA curators. The nine short videos in “Curators’ Talks on the NMWA Collection, Part I” focus on nine works displayed in the NMWA Main Building, “Curators’ Talks on the NMWA Collection, Part II” presents nine works displayed in the NMWA New Wing. These videos are available in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean versions.

High-resolution, enlarged close-up images show painting and sculpture details and brushwork. You can enjoy looking at those details and listen to a curator give an approximately three-minute explanation of each art work’s highlights. You can also access our “Museum View” video, which provides a walk through the NMWA Main Building (UNESCO registered World Heritage Site) and exhibition galleries. Why not enjoy this great chance to experience the NMWA Main Building’s wonderful architectural space and displayed artworks from the comfort of your own home?

Google Arts & Culture外部リンク