Tiffany Foundation Award for the Preservation of Japanese Traditional Arts and Culture in Contemporary Society
JCIE and the Tiffany & Co. Foundation established the Tiffany Foundation Award for the Preservation of Japanese Traditional Arts and Culture in Contemporary Society in order to recognize organizations that have made notable contributions to the promotion of Japanese traditional culture and to the revitalization of local communities. The first Tiffany Foundation Award was announced in 2008 and it is presented annually to two organizations.
Award Description
The Tiffany Foundation Award honors organizations in two separate categories: the Taisho Award is given to one organization that is nationally recognized and is expected to introduce a revolutionary or innovative element to their field; and the Shinkosho Award is presented to another that is recognized at the community level as having great potential or that has produced exemplary results through efforts in its region. The recipients each receive a ¥2 million award and a custom-designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany Foundation President
Fernanda Kellogg presents the First
Tiffany Foundation Award
The award recognizes those whose activities: (1) Incorporate the heritage of traditional local culture into the contemporary activities of modern society by mobilizing the participation of a wide range of citizens in traditional cultural activities; (2) Revive traditional cultural activities that have been passed down through the generations with the purpose of regenerating a sense of local pride and contribute to community revitalization; (3) Promote domestic and international exchange related to the theme of traditional arts and culture to rejuvenate local communities and open them to the rest of the world.
Established in 2000 in the United States, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations dedicated to the education and preservation of the arts and environmental conservation. JCIE operates this awards program on its behalf.
Selection Process
JCIE requests nominations for the award from experts and institutions active throughout Japan. In addition, organizations with a strong record of carrying out exemplary activities in keeping with the objectives of this award are invited to directly nominate themselves. An independent selection committee evaluates the nominees. The committee is comprised of the following three experts:
Selection Committee
Katsuhiko Hibino—Artist; Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts
Kengo Kuma—Architect; Professor, University of Tokyo
Fumio Nanjo—Director, Mori Art Museum
Yuko Tanaka—Professor, Hosei University
Awardees
2011
Amawari Roman Association (Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture)—Taisho Award
Taiguruma Revival Project (Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture)—Shinkosho Award
2010
Kyo-machiya Revitalization Study Group (Kyoto Prefecture)—Taisho Award
Red Brick Club Maizuru (Kyoto Prefecture)—Shinkosho Award
2009
Earth Celebration Committee (Sado City, Niigata Prefecture)—Taisho Award
Kurobei Project Team (Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture)—Shinkosho Award
2008
Mino Washi Akari Art Contest & Exhibition Organizing Committee (Mino City, Gifu Prefecture)—Taisho Award
Nishi-shiogo Revolving Theater Preservation Committee (Hitachi-Omiya City, Ibaraki Prefecture)—Shinkosho Award
The inaugural Tiffany Foundation Award winners are profiled in the November 2008 [pdf 152kb] issue of Civil Society Monitor.