About MOA Museum of Art images

About MOA Museum of Art

Concept

MOA Museum of Art opened its doors to the world in 1982 and, to build on its successful 35 years, underwent a whole design revamp project from 2016 to 2017 to renew its galleries and modernize various amenities.
The interior designs, notably the lobby area and galleries, were undertaken by the New Material Research Laboratory, led by internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Sugimoto Hiroshi and architect Sakakida Tomoyuki.
The new architectural design demonstrates the ingenuity of uniting centuries-old materials and building techniques with modern architecture, creating a space where tradition takes modern experiences to a higher plane. Upon its new departure, the museum will strive to embody the following concepts for its purpose of being:

  1. A platform for introducing Japanese culture to the world
  2. A backbone for promoting the tourism, arts and kōgei (decorative crafts) sectors
  3. A model of “public utility with a new perspective” through the partnership between governments and the public sector
  4. A museum relevant to local communities in their efforts to promote Atami as a city of international tourism and culture that offers people, residents and visitors alike, opportunities to enrich their minds
  5. A partner for schools to nurture artistic sensibility and creativeness in children through the power of arts and beauty
  6. A source of great satisfaction and contentment for all visitors

Diverse activities are organized at MOA Museum of Art based on these concepts, including ones for school children and their teachers to enrich their artistic sensitivity and become more involved in arts.
To pursue all the above, we have membership and fund raising programs.

History

1952June 15: Hakone Museum of Art opened
Sept. 15: Tomei Art Preservation Association incorporated
1953May 25: Hakone Museum of Art Annex completed
1957Jan. 1: Atami Museum of Art (predecessor of MOA Museum of Art) opened
1976May 1: Construction of MOA Museum of Art started
1981Dec. 23: MOA Museum of Art construction completed
1982Jan. 1: MOA Museum of Art opened
Feb. 27: Tomei Art Preservation Association renamed MOA Art and Culture Foundation
1983June 20: The main building and the circular hall won the Building Contractors Society Award
1985Mar. 2: The Kōrin’s residence reconstruction project
July 31: The first outdoor Noh program The Takiginoh
Dec. 22: Three-year anniversary reception
1986Feb. 19: The first tea ceremony event Kōrin Chakai
June 2-3: The first tea ceremony celebrating Ogata Kōrin and Kenzan
1988Aug. 1: The first Okada Mokichi Award
1989Dec. 15: The first MOA Children’s Art Exhibition
1992Oct. 25–Nov. 18: Special exhibition “Nonomura Ninsei” for the ten year anniversary, co-hosted by Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
1997Oct. 10–31: Special exhibition “Rediscovering Atami” for the 15th anniversary of the museum and celebrating the 60 years of municipal administration of Atami
2002Feb. 5: Reception celebrating 50 years of Hakone Museum of Art and 20 years of MOA Museum of Art
2012Mar. 6–25: Exhibition on tour at Sendai City Museum “MOA Museum of Art Collection” in support for the Tohoku Region after the 2011 major earthquake, in association with the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan program for promoting museum activities
July 21: Reception celebrating 60 years of Hakone Museum of Art and 30 years of MOA Museum of Art
2013Apr. 1: MOA Art and Culture Foundation renamed Mokichi Okada Art and Culture Foundation
2015Feb. 4–Mar. 3: Special exhibition “Japanese Iris and Plum Blossoms” as part of Kōrin and Modern Art, in celebration of 300 years since Kōrin’s death
2016Mar. 7: Museum closed for renovation
2017Feb. 5: Museum completed the renovation and reopened
2020Dec. 4: Kōgei Dining held.
2022Apr. 1–May 8: Special exhibition The Great Makie Exhibition: A Millennium Tale of Lacquer and Gold.
May 1: Commemorative Noh Performance celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Hakone Museum of Art and the 40th anniversary of the MOA Museum of Art.
May 31: 40th Anniversary Special Performance: Atami-za — Martha Argerich & Living National Treasure Bunsō Ōtsuki, “A Feast of Bach’s Partitas and Noh Dance.”
Oct. 28–Dec. 11: HOMO FABER, 12 Stone Garden — Naoto Fukasawa and 12 Living National Treasures.
2024July 6–Sept. 9: Pokémon × Kōgei Exhibition — Discoveries of Beauty and Craftsmanship.
Nov. 1–Nov. 26: Kōrin — National Treasure “Red and White Plum Blossoms Screens” × Important Cultural Property “Wind and Thunder Gods Screens.”
2025May 31, Aug. 2: World Culture Forum held.