The Neo Exhibition was intended as an opportunity to present the research findings of the CRR project in its final year. As such, we began preparations for this top priority event back in 2020. The exhibition presented 24 works, which was more than we had expected, garnering the participation and cooperation of almost 50 locals. This was the product of our cooperative relationship with the local community fostered through long-term fieldwork in the District of Neo. The exhibition gathered visitors from not only Seki, the city where the museum is located, but also other parts of Gifu such as the District of Neo. The exhibition was a milestone for the Gifu Prefectural Museum, which was aiming to expand the scope of its local cooperation activities following the first revision of the Museum Act in 70 years, and received the museum’s acclaim. The exhibition was covered in major newspapers including the Asahi, Chunichi, and Gifu, attracting numerous visitors involved in the museum sector
from in and outside Gifu. Ultimately, more than 760 people attended the exhibition (as per the museum’s announcement) over the 26-day period. The visitor questionnaire (completed by 10% of visitors) showed that the exhibition was a great success, with the responses “very satisfied” and “satisfied” marking 57% and 33%, respectively. Many visitors noted that the exhibition raised their interest in Neo’s nature and culture, suggesting that we may be able to give back to the local community through our research. Several events were held in association with exhibition, including a Neo bon dancing event and a symposium featured in a magazine, which helped increase the opportunities to present the research findings even further.

We were looking for a venue/method to present the project’s research findings other than at conferences or IAMAS exhibitions or by research papers. In the process, we had an idea to hold an exhibition at the prefectural museum with which we had collaborated before. We consulted with the prefectural museum and successfully gained its full cooperation with our new endeavor. We carried out most of the planning, production, and installation work, while the museum took care of publicity and provided installation support. In addition, we were responsible for asking stakeholders for their cooperation in preparing the exhibition content, building on our past experience in local cooperation.