What is Our Concept of “Cultural Prescription” ?
We believe that "Cultural Prescriptions" create resilient spaces and creative experiences where individuals can truly be "themselves". By combining art, healthcare, social welfare, and technology, this approach takes into account each person’s unique challenges, relationships with society, and the characteristics of local cultural and artistic resources. Through this process, we aim to inspire joy and emotional openness, encouraging meaningful and pleasurable connections between people. For individuals, "Cultural Prescriptions" are designed to boost motivation, enhance happiness, and support health recovery and prevention. For communities, they promote tolerance and inclusivity through methods, systems, and tools that foster both individual and collective well-being.
Effects to be pursued in Cultural Prescrioption
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Individual effects
Mindfulness
Concentrate on a present self and
discover carefully what is happening
about what we see, which gives not
only relaxing environment but also
psychological wellbeing.
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Individual effects
Multiple perspectives
Look at a thing from various aspects,
which gives more options to solve
a problem. Find more emotions and
values of inner self, which leads more
self-understanding.
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Individual effects
Free from
chronological constraintFree from a daily timeline by
imagination from the past and
present to the future.
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Individual effects
Acquiring sense of wonder
Awe of nature and excitement to
something unexpected, which offers
an individual and universal experience
with a feeling connecting to beauty
and a magnificent world.
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Local effects
Inclusivity and tolerance
Be able to get along with a variety of
people in multi-cultural background.
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Local effects
Social connectivity
Note a different aspect of relationship
and create a new connectivity
in the society.
Basic model of Cultural Prescription
"Cultural Prescription" is produced by the collaboration among medicine, cultural institutions and local communities so that people can be well-connected to a varieties of cultural activities in the city/town. There are two possible models of "Cultural Prescription" for the public well-being and prevention of isolation and loneliness via art creation or related activities supported by cultural link workers.
1
- Utilize cultural resource in town -
The type is to make a link between people and cultural resource from museums through the touch-point (such as public bath, barber shop, restaurant or school) and medical clinic. A cultural link worker introduce cultural resource to the public. The system of link to the local cultural activities can improve the quality of community, as we say quality of life.
2
- Applying to health check-up -
In this type, at the health check opportunities, a tool kit of cultural prescription is distributed for the awareness of wellbeing brought by art and cultural activities. It works well for the public to participate more in the activities of art and culture. Health check is an opportunity for the local people to visit a medical facility and they can care their mental and physical condition. Combined with the traditional health check with cultural prescription, a key message is delivered: “cultural activities can contribute to the health condition of the people” is delivered.” It expands a possibility of public awareness and more participation to the cultural prescription.
Roadmap of Art platform
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Year 1~2
Prototype of cultural prescription
Prototyping a cultural prescription based on an essential consideration
of issues in some local model areas
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Year 3
Establishment of effective models
Creating several local model areas of cultural prescription
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Year 5
Popularization of
cultural prescriptionPackaging cultural prescription for
local governments and medical/
welfare practices and directing
more to multi-generations/multi-
cultural understanding
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After Year 8
Social acceptance by
a brand-new marketInternationalizing cultural prescription to research institutions abroad and creating a brand-new market for psychological well-being
Social implementation MAP
Toride City: A facility of train station called “VIVA atre Toride” offering “Experiencing art spot” and “Lecture to change the society by art”
Urayasu City: “Urayasu Geidai,” a community among citizens to solve the local issues by art Taito Ward: Collaborating with the social welfare council and the community hospital, Dozen Hospital, to practice cultural prescription Kawasaki City: Art communicator called “Kotolers” run “Koto Laboratory” to facilitate the practical programs for “Town and people,” “viewing,” and “care” Nabari City: Starting “Art classroom in town” for anyone from children to senior people in a community to enjoy creation and interaction of art in their daily lives Ehime Prefecture: Art communicator called “Himelers” start their local projects Kumamoto prefecture ：Cultural prescription as the Kumamoto version Research and development of cultural prescription in Kumamoto AreaOjikamachi (Nagasaki Prefecture)：Nagasaki Peace Cultural Festival 2025 started the practices of cultural prescription in the area, Goto Ojika machi, nominated as the world heritage with its various historical and cultural background
Gifu Prefecture: National cultural festival 2024 in Gifu started an educational program of cultural link workerIshikawa Prefecture: Ishikawa one million koku National Cultural Festival holds a music concert for the future directed to the young students with disabilities
Toride City: A facility of train station called “VIVA atre Toride” offering “Experiencing art spot” and “Lecture to change the society by art”
Urayasu City: “Urayasu Geidai,” a community among citizens to solve the local issues by art Taito Ward: Collaborating with the social welfare council and the community hospital, Dozen Hospital, to practice cultural prescription Kawasaki City: Art communicator called “Kotolers” run “Koto Laboratory” to facilitate the practical programs for “Town and people,” “viewing,” and “care” Nabari City: Starting “Art classroom in town” for anyone from children to senior people in a community to enjoy creation and interaction of art in their daily lives Ehime Prefecture: Art communicator called “Himelers” start their local projects Kumamoto prefecture ：Cultural prescription as the Kumamoto version Research and development of cultural prescription in Kumamoto Area.Ojikamachi (Nagasaki Prefecture)：Nagasaki Peace Cultural Festival 2025 started the practices of cultural prescription in the area, Goto Ojika machi, nominated as the world heritage with its various historical and cultural background
Gifu Prefecture: National cultural festival 2024 in Gifu started an educational program of cultural link workerIshikawa Prefecture: Ishikawa one million koku National Cultural Festival holds a music concert for the future directed to the young students with disabilities
List of Projects Developing Cultural Prescription
VIEW MOREDevelop and Expand “Cultural Prescriptions,”
to Create an “Industry of the Mind”
At the ART-based Platform for Co-creation, our goal is to create highly resilient spaces—places that embody "Quality of Community"—where simply being present contributes to recovery. To achieve this, we aim to develop and expand "Cultural Prescriptions" tailored to each individual, creating an "Industry of the Mind" that can address diverse needs across society.
A variety of technologies can support the "Industry of the Mind." However, as we advance further into the AI era, we focus on technologies that truly contribute to human happiness. At the ART-based Platform for Co-creation, we explore and develop harmonious ways for humans and technology to interact, driven by art and empathy.
For more information
Here is more details on cultural prescription.
