Kyoto Art Center

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Here, arts meet citizens, the classrooms and corridors, frozen in time, provide an indelible sign of what educational environs were like long ago

A confluence point for art and people in Kyoto

Kyoto City set up this art center with the view of collectively promoting arts and crafts in Kyoto. The City linked up with artists and art entrepreneurs to support the myriad activities of artists and broadcast art-related info to the public from one multipurpose beacon, this center.
With galleries in the north and south wings, a tea ceremony room, and various other studios and spaces, the center can hold a diverse array of events, workshops and performances of traditional performing arts, music and drama. It also boasts a library, carrying literature on arts and cultures, and an information room and alike for putting out news and data about the arts and cultures of various places.
The building is a former elementary school built in 1931. It preserves that prewar ambience, which pervades the library room and café to the point that more than just a few people make a beeline to these erstwhile classrooms to take in that yesteryear atmosphere.