April 20, 2021
On Monday, April 19, Keio University's first museum, the Keio Museum Commons (KeMCo for short), opened.
KeMCo is a university museum that serves as a "hub" to connect the diverse collections of cultural assets accumulated by Keio University over its more than 160-year history with the educational and research activities behind them, fostering exchange. It functions as a "commons," a place where diverse communities related to the university—including students, researchers, and alumni—can interact with objects as a starting point to generate new discoveries and ideas. Based in the newly constructed East Annex on Mita Campus, KeMCo aims to be a new kind of museum where the digital and analog merge through the use of advanced IT.
At a ceremony held on Wednesday, April 14, prior to the opening, addresses by President Akira Haseyama and KeMCo Director Takami Matsuda were followed by a congratulatory speech from Mr. Akira Shimizu, Chairman of the Century Cultural Foundation, which donated the art collection that forms the basis of KeMCo. This was followed by a lecture from KeMCo Deputy Director Yoko Watanabe, who introduced the concept and activities of KeMCo to date. Finally, Vice-President Tojiro Aoyama gave the closing remarks.
After the ceremony, a private viewing was held, and attendees toured the exhibition facilities on Mita Campus, including KeMCo, the exhibition space at the Mita Media Center (Keio University Library), the Keio University Art Center (KUAC), and the Keio History Museum, which is scheduled to open in May.
From April 19 to June 18, KeMCo is holding its grand opening exhibition, "Cross-scapes," featuring newly donated materials from the Century Cultural Foundation and cultural assets related to Keio University. In conjunction with this commemorative exhibition, related exhibitions are also being held at the exhibition space of the Mita Media Center (Keio University Library) and the Keio University Art Center (KUAC) on Mita Campus.
Advance reservations are required to visit, so please check the website for information before you come.
Photography by Takeshi Kishi