Events

  • Finished

Really Really “Free” Market

Genre:
  • Art Project ,
  • Workshop ,
  • Others

TERATOTERA, which organizes various art projects in areas along the Chuo Line, and Musashino Place have joined forces this summer to hold the Really Really “Free” Market — the first initiative of its kind in Tokyo — as part of Place Festa 2017.
Unlike the conventional flea markets with which everyone is familiar, this program involves no money whatsoever. Instead, what people exchange are goods, skills, and information. For example, in return for sharing your worries, a stallholder might suggest to you a book that could help you solve your problem. Or children might receive a toy that is no longer needed in exchange for telling someone about their most enjoyable memory to date. Or you might tell a stallholder about your health concerns so that they can teach you some stretching techniques that might help. It is a truly free (=free of charge) market in which stallholders exchange the various goods, skills, and information that they have for something that is not money.
In modern society, money is an essential part of our lives. Without money, it is hard to obtain food, clothes, or a place to live. However, I believe that this Really Really “Free” Market initiative holds a wealth of possibilities for forging hitherto-unimagined new links between individuals — between you and me — by temporarily removing the accepted practice of using money.
The word “free” has two meanings: “without money” and “liberty.” Do feel free to come along to our Really Really “Free” Market, where you can freely exchange something that you have for something that someone else has without the use of money.
(Nozomu Ogawa, Director of TERATOTERA)

Event Overview

Date & time: Saturday, July 22, 2017, 15:00-18:00
Venue: Kyonan Fureai Hiroba Park (northern side of Musashino Place / Kyonancho 2-3, Musashino City, Tokyo)

Feel free to come along and browse the stalls of the 20 or so groups due to take part.
[Examples of Stalls]
・Exchanging Goods for Goods
People who bring a book to leave on the stall can take another one home free of charge.
・Exchanging Goods for Skills
People who bring something they have lying around at home, such as old plastic bags, can learn how to make something that would be useful in the event of a disaster.
・Exchanging Time for Skills
Stallholders listen to your concerns about your body and teach you stretches, strength training techniques, or yoga in return.

*The market will go ahead on the scheduled date in the event of light rain. Postponed to Sunday, July 23 in the event of severe weather. Please check Musashino Place’s Facebook and/or Twitter accounts for details.
*Children may not participate unaccompanied after 17:00.
*Event details may change.

Participating artist

Aokid
Post Museum

Associated Programs

Two special exhibitions and a talk show will be held in conjunction with the Really Really “Free” Market.

EXHIBITION 1:Aokid city meets Musashino Place.
Aokid incorporates drawing and three-dimensional structures into his dance- and performance-centered work. This exhibition will feature works inspired by ideas from Musashino Place visitors and staff.* Guerrilla performances are also planned.
Date & time: Thursday, July 13 – Sunday, July 30, 2017, 09:30-22:00
Venue: 1F Gallery (until July 28), 3F Space E, and other venues at Musashino Place
Admission fee: Free

EXHIBITION 2:Tokyo Really Really Free Store
This exhibition features works from Post-Museum, which launched the Really Really Free Market in Singapore and holds it every other month. It is also due to feature an area where you can experience the Really Really “Free” Market for yourself.
Date & time: Thursday, July 13 – Sunday, July 30, 2017, 09:30-22:00
Venue: Space E, 3F Musashino Place
Admission fee: Free

TALK SHOW: What is Art That Builds Community?
Post-Museum member Jennifer Teo joins us as a special guest to talk about the catalyst for launching the Really Really Free Market, the intentions behind it, and her thoughts on its Japanese incarnation. (Consecutive interpreting provided)
Date & time: Saturday, July 22, 2017, 19:00-21:00
*Postponed to Sunday, July 23 in the event of severe weather
Venue: Forum, 4F Musashino Place
Guest: Jennifer Teo
Capacity: 100 (priority will be given to RRFM stallholders)
Participation fee: Free (no application required; first come, first served. Please come directly to the venue on the day.)

Contact

Musashino Place: Musashino City’s Center for Developing People, Communities, and Information
Tel: 0422-30-1901 (Really Really “Free” Market Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Support Section)

Venues

Kyonan Fureai Hiroba Park (northern side of Musashino Place / Kyonancho 2-3, Musashino City, Tokyo)

Flyer

Credit

Organized by
Musashino Lifelong Learning Promotion Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation), Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), Ongoing (General Incorporated Association)
Supported by
The Kao Foundation for Arts and Sciences