Archive Category: News

present location: / News

Selected English Essays from the Art Writer Award for High School Students

/category: /Author:

Collection of outstanding works from the English category of the 11th High School Art Writer Awardsis published.
You can read the full texts of the two works that won the Grand Prize, as well as the seven works that received the Excellence Award.

Applications are currently being accepted for the English category of the 12th High School Art Writer Award.The application deadline is Wednesday, September 23rd.
https://www.geijutsu.tsukuba.ac.jp/~awa/

Selected English Essays from the 11th Art Writer Award for High School Students is now available.

The publication includes the full texts of the two Grand Prize-winning essays listed below, as well as seven essays that received Awards for Excellence.

The application deadline for the English Essay Category of the 12th Art Writer Award for High School Students, which is currently accepting submissions, is Wednesday, September 23.
https://www.geijutsu.tsukuba.ac.jp/~awa/

 

11th Grand Prize Winning Work
Grand Prize in the 11th contest

Naomi Gan, “Sparks” (School of the Arts, Singapore)
–Comments from the Selection Committee–
This piece is unique in addressing a challenge that young artists inevitably face—the doubt and struggle against pure creative desire—through the lens of poetic literary language while drawing inspiration from Van Gogh's life and works.

Lovelia Yuriko Zahida, “Art as an Escape and Solace” (MAU Amanatul Ummah – Islamic Senior High School Surabaya, Indonesia)
–Comments from the Selection Committee–
This excellent essay captures the ignition point of artistic expression from the perspectives of different life domains. By contrasting their experiences of transferring to a Japanese elementary school and later returning to school life in Indonesia, the author discovers the brilliance of “illustration” as a form of self-expression beyond linguistic boundaries and shares the experience of gaining the vitality to live.

Discover the Green Lightning of Zeus!

/category: /Author:

A statue of Zeus (some say it is a statue of Poseidon) stands in front of the second floor entrance to Building 6B, College of Art and Design.

Don't you think the ivy leaves growing on the exterior walls of the building resemble a thunderbolt strike, the bolt that the statue of Zeus is thought to have held in its right hand?

This is a bronze statue (BC) of what is believed to be Zeus or Poseidon in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.460This is a replica of the 1950s model.

The room where the statue is located is used by students in the art support field for their research.6BRight next to the building entrance6B205It's a room.

To everyone visiting our open campus today, please be sure to take a look at the arts support room, which is located where the statue of Zeus is pointing.

 

National Archaeological Museum of Athens (Collection explanation page)

For details on how this statue was installed at the University of Tsukuba, please see the following:"Tsukucom" 41Issue (Autumn 2018 issue)tel. +26 XNUMX for more information.


At the entrance to Building 6B (2nd floor), a powerful statue of Zeus greets visitors—though some believe it may actually represent Poseidon.

Look closely: don't the vines climbing the outer wall resemble a thunderbolt—the divine weapon Zeus is believed to have held in his raised right hand?

This statue is a replica of the famous bronze sculpture dated to around 460 BC, thought to depict either Zeus or Poseidon, and now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Just beyond the statue, Room 6B205 is used by students in the Art Environment Support area for research and study.

 National Archaeological Museum of Athens (Collection page)

https://www.namuseum.gr/en/collection/klasiki-periodos-2/

For the story behind how this statue came to be placed at the University of Tsukuba, see TsukuComm Vol. 41 (Autumn 2018), p.26:

https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/about/tsukucomm/pdf/vol41.pdf

 

 

 

The Art Environment Support program held its first mid-year research presentation session for 2026.

/category: /Author:

The first interim presentation for the Arts Support Program for the 2026 academic year was held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 1:00 PM in the Arts Studies building.
The students' presentation topics are as follows:

2nd year master's course (interim report on master's thesis)

  • Research on the transformation of perception and understanding of social issues through interactive art appreciation.
  • Characteristics of teacher behavior and role in art and craft classes

First-year Master's student (Research progress report)

  • Research on methods of supporting art appreciation through parent-child dialogue in art museums.
  • The Evolution and Positioning of Art Appreciation in Japanese Art Education: Historical and Institutional Considerations and Future Prospects
  • On the treatment of art in art education in Japan and France since the postwar period.
  • Supporting culturally distant viewers at art festivals: Exploring psychological barriers and designing digital support tools.
  • Exhibition Methods and the Role of Mediators in Participatory Art Projects: Through Two Exhibition Examples of Jun Kitazawa's "Fragile Gift"

Fourth-year undergraduate student (Interim report on graduation thesis)

  • The potential and challenges of artistic activities as a form of care in youth support.
  • The impact of exposure to art-related posts on social media on Japanese university students' intention to visit art museums: Focusing on media characteristics, posting formats, content creators, and content factors.
  • Typological classification of the conclusion of morning art appreciation sessions: A case study from Toride Municipal Toride Nishi Elementary School.
  • A proposal for simplified budget management and accounting support for artists working individually or in small teams: Budget management for artists before incorporation.
  • The impact of watching films on adults' motivation for creative activities.
  • Creating safe spaces for children through extracurricular arts activities and connecting them with school education.

The First Mid-Year Research Presentation Session for the Art Environment Support program was held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 1:00 pm at the Institute of Art and Design Building, University of Tsukuba.
The presentation topics were as follows.

Master's Program, Second-Year Students (Master's Thesis Progress Reports)

  • A Study of Changes in the Recognition and Understanding of Social Issues through Dialogic Art Appreciation
  • Characteristics of Teachers' Behaviors and Roles in Elementary School Art Classes

Master's Program, First-Year Students (Research Progress Reports)

  • A Study on Parent–Child Art Appreciation Support through Dialogue in Museums
  • The Historical Development and Position of Art Appreciation in Japanese Art Education: Historical and Institutional Perspectives with Future Directions
  • The Treatment of Art in Postwar Art Education in Japan and France
  • Supporting Culturally Distant Audiences at Art Festivals: Exploring the Structure of Psychological Barriers and Designing Digital Support Tools
  • Exhibition Methods and the Role of Mediators in Participatory Art Projects: A Comparative Study of Two Exhibitions of Jun Kitazawa's Fragile Gift

Fourth-Year Undergraduate Students (Undergraduate Thesis Progress Reports)

  • The Potential and Challenges of Artistic Activities as Care in Youth Support
  • The Influence of Exposure to Art-Related Posts on Social Media on Japanese University Students' Intentions to Visit Art Museums: Focusing on Media Characteristics, Post Format, Source, and Content
  • Classifying Types of Closure in Morning Art Appreciation Activities: A Case Study of Toride Nishi Elementary School, Toride City
  • A Proposal for Simple Budget Management Support for Individual Artists and Small Creative Teams: Budget Management for Artists Prior to Incorporation
  • The Influence of Viewing Video Works on Adults' Motivation for Creative Activities
  • Creating Places of Belonging for Children through Extracurricular Artistic Activities and Their Connection with School Education

Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 High School Art Writer Award.

/category: /Author:


High School Student Art Writer Awardis an essay contest that fosters the ability to think and communicate about art in one's own words.
2026: English Essay Contest
2027: Japanese Essay Contest

English Essay Category
Write your thoughts about art in English (up to 1000 words)

Recruitment theme
Japanese Art / Art Workshop / Art & Life 2026

Application deadline: Wednesday, September 2026, 9
Results announcement February 2027 on the web (planned)

Award (Certificate, art supplies provided by partner companies, commemorative gifts from the university)
Grand Prize: 1-3 entries / Excellence Award: 5-10 entries / Honorable Mention: 10-20 entries
(This may vary depending on the number of applications.)

High School Art Writer Award Official Website: https://www.geijutsu.tsukuba.ac.jp/~awa/

Organizer　University of Tsukuba School of Arts
Sponsorship　International Art Education Association InSEA
In cooperation with Unnan City Tourism Association 　Turner Color Co., Ltd.
Planning　University of Tsukuba Art Support Laboratory

The Art Writer Award for High School Students is an essay contest on art.
It allows students to develop the ability to convey their ideas and think about art in their own words.
2026: Contest of essays in English
2027: Contest of essays in Japanese

English Essay Category
Write your thoughts on art in English in no more than 1,000 words.

Topic Themes
Japanese Art / Creative Experience / Art and Life 2026

Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Announcement of Results: March 2027 (on the official website)

Awards: (Number of awards may change according to the volume of submissions.)
Grand Prize – 1 to 3 entries / Award for Excellence – 5 to 10 entries / Winning Entries – 10 to 20 entries
Winners will receive certificates, art materials from our sponsor, and commemorative gifts from the university.

Official Website https://www.geijutsu.tsukuba.ac.jp/~awa/

Hosted by School of Art and Design, University of Tsukuba
Endorsed by International Society for Education Through Art – InSEA
Cooperated by Turner Color Inc.
Directed by Art Environment Support, the University of Tsukuba

High School Art Writer Award Final Award Winners

/category: /Author:

The High School Art Writer Award Selection Committee has completed the selection process for the 11th High School Art Writer Award in the Japanese Essay category and has determined the winners of the Grand Prize, Excellence Award, Honorable Mention, and School Award.
The committee selected the winners of the Grand Prize, the Award for Excellence, the Winning Entries, and the School Award for the 11th Art Writer Award for High School Students, Essays in Japanese.

大 賞
Kumamoto Prefectural Second High School, Hikida Honoka, Oil Painting "Transience" – Eternal Beauty Residing in the Moment of Disappearance –
Aichi Prefectural Tenpaku High School, Momoko Obayashi: "I feel the 'blank space'"
Mai Shinoda, Nishogakusha University Kashiwa High School: The Meaning of Painting a "Self-Portrait"

17 entries received the Excellence Award, 30 entries received the Honorable Mention, and 5 schools received the School Award.

[Selection Results for the 11th High School Art Writer Award, Japanese Essay Division]]
[Award Winners in the 11th Art Writer Award for High School Students, Essays in Japanese]

The Student Selection Committee for the High School Art Writer Award, composed of Tsukuba University students, has selected the following work from among the excellent entries to receive the "Tsukuba University Student Award."
The Students Selection Committee of the Art Writer Award for High School Students selected the University of Tsukuba Students' Award

Tsukuba University Student Award
Kagoshima Prefectural Shoyo High School, Karen Mizogami: The Light of Creation

© Copyright - Art and Design, University of Tsukuba