ARCUS Project

The ARCUS Project, founded in 1995, is an art and culture project promoting “regional development through the arts.” 

The project, organised by Ibaraki Prefecture Government and based in Moriya City, evolves around two programmes: The Artist-in-Residence Programme invites emerging and internationally active contemporary artists for a residency of fixed length with the aim of supporting artists in their creative investigations and fostering artists of high quality and the Local Programme offers regional residents of all ages opportunities to experience art. Connecting art with the region enables regional residents to take an active role in creating an environment for art activities and promoting measures for regional revitalisation.

“ARCUS” is a Latin word meaning “gate.” The name “ARCUS Project” embodies the hope that the project will become a gate for fostering emerging artists and sending them onto the international stage, and a center (ART x FOCUS) for art activities in Japan.