【Bringing the Talents of People with Disabilities to Society through Art Rentals】What New Form of Self-Support is Being Created by Miroku Yugafu's Representative Sawada?

Art holds great potential for showcasing talent, even in the face of disabilities.

Proving this is the rental art business initiated by Yuki Sawada, the representative of the General Incorporated Association Miroku Yugafu.

Sawada is striving to support the independence of artists with disabilities by widely promoting their talents to society. What initiatives are being undertaken to realize this vision?

This article delves into the activities of the General Incorporated Association Miroku Yugafu and Yuki Sawada, exploring the future they envision.

1. What is the General Incorporated Association Miroku Yugafu?

The General Incorporated Association Miroku Yugafu operates with the aim of promoting the independence and social participation of people with disabilities by providing a service that rents out their art.

The name Miroku Yugafu is derived from a collaboration song "Miroku Yugafu" by the Okinawan folk group "Unaigumi" and Ryuichi Sakamoto, resonating with the worldview of songs based on Miroku beliefs, which inspired the name.

The logo embodies the image of water, which "transforms freely and connects everything on Earth".

In addition to the art-based independence support project for people with disabilities, they also engage in community contribution activities and hold exhibitions to showcase the art of people with disabilities.

1-1. What is the appeal of art created by people with disabilities?

[Interviewer (Writer): Fukuoka / Interviewee: Sawada]

Fukuoka: How are artworks by people with disabilities created?

Sawada: Many artists simply draw what they love or want to express. Some require assistance when creating their art, so they work together with support staff at facilities.

Art born in social welfare organizations has the charm of being "art created through enjoyable times, collaborative work, and the unique space".

1-2. Social contribution through art

Fukuoka: How do you think the activities involving art by people with disabilities contribute to society?

Sawada: We believe that using our rental art service can be one option for companies to contribute to social responsibility and CSR.

Companies are expected to contribute not only by offering products related to their business but also by engaging in broader social contributions such as supporting local communities and people with disabilities. However, coming up with ideas for social contribution is not always easy for employees.

Through feedback from users, we realized that displaying art by people with disabilities offers more than just decoration; it provides opportunities to learn about local social welfare.

This can lead to broader perspectives for employees, improved imagination and customer service skills.

Learning about and imagining worlds unknown to oneself can inspire ideas and plans, enhancing thinking and action, so we share these insights as well.

1-3. How to use rental art

Fukuoka: What specific activities do you engage in to introduce art by people with disabilities to a wider audience?

Sawada: Currently, we primarily offer a rental art business for companies. Specifically, we provide a subscription service where art is delivered to company offices monthly for display.

We also offer a full service, from coordination to display, for events or trade shows for a specified period.

The rental artworks are provided by artists and social welfare organizations, and out of the monthly fee of 5,500 yen, 1,500 yen is returned to the artists through the social welfare organizations.

For exhibitions, we may create original works based on company orders, while for the subscription model, we provide one piece every three months.

Upon request, users can sometimes select their preferred pieces from the available artworks, but generally, we ask them to trust our selection to ensure a balanced representation.

2. Who is Yuki Sawada?

Yuki Sawada has loved drawing since childhood, valuing sensitivity and imagination. However, she found verbal communication challenging, which sometimes made social interactions difficult.

As she deepened her connections with friends from various fields, she realized that relying solely on sensory communication was insufficient to convey her thoughts.

She discovered that expressing herself through her art, supplementing verbal communication, was also a form of communication.

Sawada believes that by combining elements that move her heart, she can create the scenery she wants to see, which is the charm of art.

Let's explore the roots of Sawada's journey.

2-1. Career and accomplishments

[Career]

• Born in Niigata Prefecture. Yuki Sawada
• Studied abroad in Ohio, USA, during her second year of high school
• Graduated from Ritsumeikan University, majoring in International Marketing in the College of Business Administration
• Worked in a trading company related to shipbuilding and plant engineering, and in a sealing manufacturer after graduation
• Developed an interest in social activities from NPO work in 2018, becoming the representative of "Miroku Yugafu"
• Learned about unique sensibilities from disability art, working to deepen human connections
• Held the "Borderless Art Exhibition" at Genkichoan Ginza Main Store from 2023/4/18 to 5/28
  
  

2-2. The turning point in valuing the senses and characteristics of people with disabilities

Fukuoka: What led you to focus on art by people with disabilities?

Sawada: There were several triggers, but initially, when I saw their art, I felt it was very innovative and surprising. Although some works are on the market, they are recognized and exhibited in a limited scope, so I saw potential for the future.

Additionally, I noticed companies pioneering the rental art business with general artists' works. Seeing this business grow, I wanted to promote the appeal of easily enjoying disability art through rental art.

Japan's museum admission fees are higher compared to overseas, indicating fewer opportunities to engage with art than in other countries.

Through the rental art business, I aim to create a society where more people can easily engage with art.

As mentioned earlier, disability art is full of surprises and has a freedom not taught by anyone. It challenges conventions and established norms, which I believe is a value of disability art, and I want to share that appeal.

2-3. Supporting artists' independence through the rental art business

Fukuoka: How does renting out artworks support the artists?

Sawada: One form of independence support is that rental fees for each artwork are returned to the artists.

Additionally, it provides activity support by creating opportunities for artists to have their works seen by many, expanding their social connections and self-expression.

Depending on the severity of their disabilities, some may receive welfare benefits or seek social connections but find it challenging alone.

As a future challenge, we aim to establish a system to effectively utilize funds from the rental art business to provide diverse support, addressing various needs for independence or activity support.

Fukuoka: What impact or changes do you hope to bring to artists and society through activity support?

Sawada: Artworks often vividly express the inner world and emotions of artists, reflecting their individuality. Through art, we can feel close to the emotions and thoughts of people with disabilities.

Art, as a form of expression, can transcend barriers and share feelings, so we aim to move forward with artists and users toward our envisioned society.

For artists, the process of shaping their ideas and emotions into artworks is a source of joy and self-expression.

Having their works displayed in various places and receiving empathy and praise can help build their confidence and identity.

3. Exploring the future prospects of Miroku Yugafu!

Fukuoka: What activities do you plan to pursue in the future?

Sawada: I want to create more opportunities for people to learn about disability art.

We are working on creating a system to extend our rental art service to general households, not just corporations.

While the rental business for disability art is not primarily focused on commercial sales, increasing the number of users is essential for sustainable activities.

Therefore, we aim to increase opportunities for various people, not just those from social welfare organizations or companies, to learn that "renting disability art can be a contribution to a visible local community".

4. In conclusion

Through the interview, I felt that Sawada emphasizes individual creativity utilizing social perspectives and the power of art.

By developing the rental art business, we can connect art and society, creating a richer and more attractive society.

This vision of the future is one of the charms of "Miroku Yugafu".

If you are interested in using the rental art service, please contact them through their official website.

Official website: https://mirokuyugafu.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirokuyugafu/

Ayumi provides content introducing the paths and future of challengers and those supporting people with disabilities. If you want to read more articles, please find related articles below.

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