Chihiro Nakadaira, an art teacher in Sakuragaoka Junior High School, started "Nagano Art project" 7years ago when he was assigned to Togura-Kamiyamada Junior High School. After holding experimental art classes, "Togabi － [To]gura Kamiyamada Junior High School, Chu[ga]kko wo [Bi]jutsukan ni Shiyo － Make the junior high school into museum" project launched in 2004, and it became annual event. After his move to Sakuragaoka Junior High School school in 2007, he launched another project "Sakurabi" for [Sakura]gaoka. As for "Togabi", the batton is passed to his wife Noriko - art teacher as well.
In last year, 718 people visited for a single day event "Sakurabi", and 1,100 people for two days event "Mega Togabi".


In recent group exhibitions, many of artists gather to vacant places to be demolished such as closed/relocated embassy, school, factory, etc. for performing/exhibiting their arts.
In two of Junior High Schools in Nagano prefecture, Kids curators are turning their studying place into museum.


Nakadaira, eloquently made presentation about the projects at 'Pecha Kucha Night' held in Roppongi, in July. In his presentation, most impressive image imprinted to audiences' mind must be great smiles of the students. Nakadaira revealed its secret. Students, they do love art activities, but more than that they enjoy communication with people involved to the project and feel very happy about the development of communication senses.

For the projects, "Kids Gakugeiin - Kids Curator" covers all the process for their exhibitions, such as select theme, select artist, artwork loaning negotiation, artwork creation, installation, interpretation, and so on. In last year's Sakurabi, one student installed three stories "Shiro - Castle". He guarded his castle in armour-clad style. One student who loves Chanson produced his stage, clothed in yukata, and sang on instrumental audio which he elaborated to suit talk & singing. Some held fashion show, some made human-sized cholk board eraser, and so on. School facilities are by occupied with full of amazing creativities!
Those projects are empowered by professional and amateur artists, teachers, past alumni who experienced "Togabi" and "Sakurabi", and museums. Nagano Prefectural Shinano Art Museum, located in Joyama Park adjacent to Zenkoji Temple supports with their permanent collections of Kaii Higashiyama (famous Japanese painting master in 20th century).