The 1st ever Koji Kunutani Tenku Art Museum Kids Art Contest ［PR］

Painting on a blank canvas…
I paint often and find it difficult to start from a blank canvas, but it sure is fun!
Maido! Kim here!
I want to tell you about art contest for children that’s taking place at Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum in Umeda Sky Building. The paintings will be judged, by none other than 2021 Order of Culture recipient, Koji Kinutani. What an amazing honor it would be to have him view your art!

■Contestant artwork displayed in museum and booklet

The contest theme is “people, nature, and townscapes that matter to you.” I’m sure everyone has family members and friends that they care about, scenery that has been the backdrop for good memories.

The first step is choosing what to draw.
If I were to enter the contest, I would probably draw my good friend Bob. Or maybe a part of Osaka that I love. Which reminds me, the Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum is located on one of the top floors of Umeda Sky Building and the scenery is amazing!

Perhaps the New Years celebrations are fresh in your mind or you’ll get some inspiration at an upcoming graduation ceremony. This could be a good project to work on over spring break too.
Entries should be drawn on white paper (approx. 27cm × 39cm) and media can include colored pencils, crayons, watercolor, acrylics, etc. There is no submission fee.
Artwork can be submitted between Wednesday, Jaunuary 5 and Thursday March 31.
Submissions are accepted in three different age brackets: 1–3 grade elementary, 4–6 grade elementary, and junior high school.

Artworks that receive the following distinctions, Koji Kinutani Prize, Distinguished in Division, Honorable Mentions, and Selections will be displayed in the Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum from Friday, April 29 through Monday, June 27.That would be so neat to see your art, or your kid’s art displayed in a museum like this!

▲Umeda Sky Building, home to Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum

▲Koji Kinutani’s work inside the museum. 3-D art and sculptures are on regular display.

In addition to the exhibit, selected artworks will be printed in a special booklet. What a special thing to have your artwork exhibited and published in book-form. And at the award ceremony you would get a chance to meet Koji Kinutani, himself!
Winning a prize would be an amazing experience.

■Order of Culture recipient, Koji Kinutani as chief judge

There are many art contests out there, sure. But the amazing thing about this—the first kids art contest at Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum—is that the museum’s Honorary Director, Koji Kinutani himself will be a judge.

Koji Kinutani is, of course, a well-known fresco painter in Japan.
After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, he studied fresco painting techniques in Italy. His work is renowned for its colorful and vivid style. Besides designing official posters for the 1998 Nagano Olympics, he has designed murals and ceiling paintings for a number of buildings. Last year (2021), he received the Order of Culture , an honor conferred by the Emperor of Japan.

It would be such an honor to have someone of this caliber view your artwork!
The contest is run by the same Sekisui House that manages Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum, and brandishes “humanity” as their fundamental corporate philosophy while promoting the arts.
In 2019, the museum was awarded the Kids Design Award for fresco experience workshops hosted at Koji Kinutani Tenku Museum. And they have continued their efforts to afford opportunities to children nationwide to take part in the joy and creative fulfillment that comes with making art.

The aim of the contest is to “Relay the wonder of the arts to as many children as possible while seeking out the shining talent in the diversity of individuals and the vast possibilities carried amongst the next generation and to provide an opportunity to nurture their hopes and dreams for tomorrow.”
What an amazing concept! I totally agree! This concept encourages creativity, and the concept is about enjoying our expressive freedoms. How wonderful!

■Entering the contest—draw important themes like nature and townscapes

Ok, so here is how you enter.

【Theme】

“People, nature, or townscapes that you value”

【Qualification Requirements】

Elementary–Junior High School students may apply (nationwide)

【Entry Conditions】

One entry per person. Limited to new artworks.

【Entry fee】

Free

【Divisions】

1. Lower Grades, Elementary (1st–3rd year students)
2. Upper Grades, Elementary (4th–6th year students)
3. Junior High School (1st–3rd year students)

【Materials】

Octavo sized paper (white paper approx. 27cm × 39cm). Media such as colored pencils, crayons, watercolor, acrylics, or other materials may be used to draw or paint, etc.

【Judges】

Koji Kinutani (Honorary Director, Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum)
Yosuke Horiuchi (Director, Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum)
Mamoru Nanjo (Advisor/Curator, Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum)

【Prizes】

Koji Kinutani Kids Prize (1), Distinguished in Division (1/division), and Honorable Mentions (6), Selections (20)
*Prizes and selected artwork will be announced on the official museum website on Monday, April 11, 2022.

【Awards, Certificate, Souvenirs】

Koji Kinutani Kids Award, Distinguished in Division recipients will receive an award certificate, trophy, and souvenir. Honorable Mentions will receive an award certificate and souvenir. Selections will receive a certificate.

【Award Ceremony】

Date: Friday, April 29, 2022, 11:00
Place: Koji Kinutani Art Museum

【Exhibit】

Winning and selected works will be on display Friday, April 29–Monday, June 27, 2022 at Koji Kinutani Art Museum.

【Booklet】

Winning and selected artworks will be featured in a booklet made in collaboration with the exhibition starting April 29, 2022.

【Application Method】

Download the application materials (application form and application label) from the official Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum and submit them with your artwork.

【Application Period】

Wednesday, January 5–Thursday, March 31, 2022. Submissions must be received by the deadline.
Submissions submitted in person will be accepted 10:00–18:00 (Tuesdays are Museum holidays)

【Address for Submissions】

絹谷幸二 天空美術館「キッズコンクール」事務局
〒531-0076　大阪府大阪市北区大淀中1丁目1番30号 梅田スカイビル タワーウエスト27階
Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum, Kids Contest Office
27 Floor, Umeda Sky Building, 1-1-30 О̄yodo-naka, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu

【Art Returns】

As a rule submissions will not be returned. We ask for your understanding.

■Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum official website, English

https://www.kinutani-tenku.jp/en/

■Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum official website, Japanese

https://www.kinutani-tenku.jp

I hope the contest receives a whole collection of future art full of individuality! Good luck making your pieces everyone!!!