Art Tower Mito 水戸芸術館

Published on : 08/02/2019
by : S.V.

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Youtube

Culture Above All

In Mito, in the prefecture of Ibaraki, the cultural complex Art Tower Mito, inaugurated in 1990, has a theater, a concert hall and a contemporary art gallery. Its rich program is the illustration of a fierce will; that of making music, theater and art accessible to all.

Culture for all

To commemorate the hundredth anniversary of its creation in 1889, the Municipality of Mito has seen the big picture. It undertakes a huge and ambitious construction program: that of the Art Tower Mito .

The city has indeed decided to equip itself with quality cultural facilities so that the population can enjoy them at their leisure. After two years of work, the ATM complex is born . Designed by the great architect Arata Isozaki, the Art Tower Mito or Mito Geijutsu-kan is a place entirely dedicated to arts and culture. In this setting, take place a theater, a concert hall, a contemporary art gallery as well as an extraordinary metal tower 100 meters high.

The Art Tower Mito has quickly become a cultural hotspot thanks to its extensive event program and the many cultural activities on offer. In its ambition to make culture accessible to all , the management of the ATM works to ensure that the local population appropriates all forms of art.

Let the music

The ATM Concert Hall is renowned for its exceptional acoustics. The rows of seats that can accommodate up to 680 spectators surround the hexagonal stage like a cocoon.

To discover: Traditional Japanese instruments

The place has several musical groups in residence, the most famous of which is the Mito Chamber Orchestra (MCO). The latter is directed by the remarkable conductor Seiji Ozawa who has also been the director of the ATM since 2013. The Mito Chamber Orchestra is made up of some of the greatest Japanese musicians. The group thus regularly embarks on major international tours.

Among the other groups in residence, it is worth mentioning the most recent of them; the New Davidsbuendler which takes up the musical ideals of the great romantic composer Robert Schumann . Young musicians and young singers from all over Ibaraki prefecture also have the opportunity to perform on this stage during certain events.

salle-concert-atm — The concert hall
Courtesy of Art Tower Mito

Under the aegis of the three helices

In addition to the theatrical company in residence , a good number of professional or amateur companies take to the stage at the Art Tower Mito theatre. Noh theater , kyogen, and dance performances are offered year-round.

As for the contemporary art gallery, it offers to see a program that is often described as audacious and original . The young generation of artists is very often invited there and all forms of contemporary art have their place. The conferences and educational programs, intended for all audiences, that take place there have one and only goal: to break down preconceived ideas about contemporary art .

Also to visit: MOT - Museum of Contemporary Art

Finally, it is impossible not to mention the most emblematic element of the Art Tower Mito: its tower ! 100 meters high, it dominates the whole complex but also the whole city. It also houses an observatory located 86 meters high. The view of the city of Mito is remarkable. Its original structure, composed of a stack of 28 tetrahedrons takes up a complex geometric figure called the Boerdyk-Coxete r helix. This huge, sparkling spiral tower is like the DNA of the artistic and cultural complex of Mito.

Our circuit in freedom: Art & Architecture in the inland sea

Address, timetable & access

Address
Phone
+81-29-227-8111
Timetable
From Tokyo, take the Limited Express on the JR Joban Line from Ueno, Shinagawa or Tokyo Stations and get off at Mito Station (65-85 min). From Mito Station, take a bus bound for Daiku-machi from stop no. 4, 5, 6 or 7 at the north exit of the bus terminal and get off at the fourth stop (170 yen). The Art Tower Mito is a 2-minute walk away.
Price
Contemporary Art Gallery: Adults: 800 yen / Children 15 and under, seniors 65 and over: free. Tour: Adults: 200 yen / Children 15 and under: 100 yen
Access
Contemporary Art Gallery: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry 30 minutes before closing). Tour: Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. / Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed on Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday, closed the following day), during New Year's and New Year's holidays.
Website
https://www.arttowermito.or.jp/index_en.html