CO-CORE contents

The Graduate School of Tama Art University, inaugurated in 1964, was the first of its kind at a private art university in Japan, and has played an important role in cultivating talented people in the art world. The Graduate School is dedicated to the development of knowledge and technical ability in art and design in order to realize work at the highest level. Students concentrate on the expression of unrestricted imagination as well as practical techniques in order to forge their own direction.

Because art and design is an integral part of various kinds of cultural activity in society, artists and designers must be able to respond to the very rapid changes generated by science and technology and no longer restrict themselves to operating solely within their specialist areas; instead, they must explore other fields and seek an “open space” in which it is possible to interact with other genres of art and design.

Recognizing the importance of innovation in the field of art enables us to create forward-looking, interdisciplinary and international works. To assist in the realization of this ideal, the Graduate School accepts many foreign students every year and provides abundant opportunities for international exchange. Both daytime and evening courses have been offered since 1995, enabling working members of society to enroll.

The Master's Degree Course is composed of five courses: the Painting Course, the Sculpture Course, the Ceramic, Glass and Metal Works Course, the Design Course and the Art Science Course. To facilitate further study by specialists and researchers, the three-year Doctoral Degree Course in Art and Design was inaugurated in 2001.

The Ideology of Tama Art University

Freedom is a matter of the greatest significance, not least because without it there can be no art. Since its inception, Tama Art University has been dedicated to the pursuit of both freedom and art.

However, the concept of freedom incorporated in the university’s ideology is not a gift, but an obligation. Without exercising strong personal will, freedom is reduced to nothing more than a means to an end. Will creates freedom, and freedom fosters will. This dialectic forms a strong current underlying the activities of Tama Art University.

The world today is in the midst of a seemingly never-ending cycle of intolerance, hatred, and violence, but perhaps the human desire to create works of art can offer a solution. As its contribution to the pursuit of international peace and understanding, Tama Art University is fully committed to fostering the creative spirit.

The International Art and Design Critiques Session and the Critical Note are both innovative efforts that are common yet new to the world. These education programs are important as they must be firmly rooted in the daily educational courses.

A large workshop will be inaugurated to share and brainstorm visions with other domestic institutions. The topic will be “Research on Educational Effects by Critique and Critical Committees” (tentative name). What effects will criticism have on the artists, designers, and organizers in the field of art and design?

This workshop will foster active discussions by inviting domestic and overseas instructors, researchers, intellectuals, and students. It will be a forum for exchanging opinions on educational case studies on critiques and criticism in various fields.

The executive committee considers that critiques and criticism will offer a horizontal perspective to the students, broaden their horizons, and are an important educational process in creating instantaneous growth.

This workshop will be the first stage in discussing these unique topics.

We hope that many researchers, instructors, intellectuals and students will participate in this workshop from Japan and overseas.