Aimed at discovering and cultivating leaders of arts and culture for the coming age, the Arts Council Tokyo: Arts Academy program has since 2018 offered a capacity building course to help future leaders develop the multi-faceted thinking abilities and skills essential to finding solutions to the problems they face in their creative endeavors, as well as to achieving their goals. The program is based on the principal constituents of practical lectures and discussions with instructors, and the writing and presentation of a report on problem-solving strategies. The program offers an opportunity for students with established careers in a variety of fields to come together and gain new perspectives by learning from each other. This program provides support to those with a broad perspective on the relationship of society with arts and culture, and who strive to improve the overall creative environment. The program also helps strengthen the infrastructure for, and give greater impetus to, the activities of creative leaders who have the courage to form their own practices; leaders who want to draw up and put into practice a ten-year vision and take their current activities to a higher level. At the same time, our aim for the program is to offer a research function for the exploration of new possibilities with the freedom of creative endeavors.

This on-the-job training program leveraging the skill set and appeal of Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre is aimed at cultivating future professionals who will play an active role in the performing arts in various capacities, including positions at theaters and other public cultural facilities, arts related NPOs, and festivals. Through lectures, seminars, and on-site training, participants will not only gain the knowledge and abilities that their target professions require but also enjoy opportunities to network with other theater personnel. At the same time, we will be holding various public lectures looking at the performing arts field.