Iwami Art Museum, Masuda-shi, Japan

Iwami Art Museum (島根県立石見美術館) opened in Masuda, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, in 2005. Together with Iwami Arts Theatre (島根県立いわみ芸術劇場) it forms part of the Shimane Arts Centre (島根県芸術文化センター), also known as Grand Toit (グラントワ), the French for “large roof”. The collection includes works by Kanō Shōei (狩野松栄), Unkoku Tōgan, Kuroda Seiki, Fujishima Takeji, Okada Saburōsuke, and Kishida Ryūsei.

The Shimane Arts Center is a facility that combines the Shimane Prefecture Iwami Art Museum and the Shimane Prefecture Iwami Arts Theater. This facility, as a point of convergence for arts and culture in the Iwami area, facilitates reciprocation between fields such as the visual arts, music, and theater, and sponsors opportunities to appreciate diverse, high quality arts and culture.

The museum collects a wide range of outstanding works of art from Japan and Overseas, regardless of region, theme, or age. The museum carries out research investigation in the areas of art work collection, preservation, exhibition, as well as the promotion of art education. The museum provides activities that promote education, such as lectures and workshops that deepen people’s understandings about art.

In addition, while supporting arts and culture indigenous to the Iwami region, it also aims to cooperate with the community in creating and cultivating new art.

The museum holds many special exhibitions that cover a wide range of fields. In addition, this venue provides thematic, high quality exhibits from its permanent collection.

It consists of Shimane prefectural Iwami art museum and Shimane prefectural Iwami art theater, opened on October 8, 2005. The official name is “Shimane Art and Culture Center”, “Grantwa” is nicknamed. The origin of “Grantwa” is French (Grand Toit) meaning a broad roof. It was chosen among 16,456 entries from across the country. It is derived from the fact that the roof of the building is made of a large gable roof which used the calm red stone tile, symbolizing the scenery and climate of Iwami.

Collection from Iwami Art Museum
Collection Policy: To collect a wide range of outstanding works of art from Japan and abroad, regardless of region, field or age, from antiques to contemporary art, including painting, crafts, sculpture, photography, clothes, etc. In order to give the museum a distinctive character, it was decided to focus on the following categories.
1.Items Connected with MORI Ogai
2.Fashion
3.Art from around Iwami

The Shimane Arts Center is a nationally prominent facility that was born in response to impassioned requests of the Shimane citizens to build an establishment in the Iwami Region that serves as both a museum of art and a theater.

Its nickname “Grand Toit”, in its original French means “large roof”. On that large roof and walls of the center have been used the Sekishu tiles that inherit the traditions and culture of the Iwami area. The characteristic red hue of these tiles shines on the stores and houses that line the street, and it is certain that they are a symbol of this area’s development.

As a shrine for the prefecture’s arts and culture, the center endeavors to act as a place for the creation of new culture while cherishing the history and natural spirit of the region. At the same time, this center offers the opportunity for everyone to appreciate the excellent art and culture of Japan and the world.

The courtyard is surrounded by the Large Hall, the Small Hall and the Art Museum. The tile (Sekishu-gawara) used for the roof and outside walls were specially created for Shimane Arts Center by the local tile industry.

Also the “Masuda City Comprehensive Promotion Plan of the 4th Mr. City Development Plan” and “Masuda City Central City Revitalization Basic Plan” formulated in March 2001 that the necessity of redevelopment in the center of Masuda City was talked about in the 1970s And redevelopment is proceeding around around Masuda station front district from around November 2004. Shimane Prefectural Art and Culture Center Grantwa was built by this part, and Masuda station building EAGA was built in front of Masuda station, and the Nakajima Daiba line passing through the old city was expanded and improved.

Access:
One minute walk from Iwami Traffic ‘Grantwa front’ bus stop
About 1 km from JR Masuda Station (15 min walk)
Approximately 6 km from Hagi · Iwami Airport (about 15 minutes to JR Masuda station by connecting bus)
The nearest bus stop is the Iwami Traffic “Grantwa front” bus stop but close to the Iwami Traffic Headquarters