The new Hirosaki Museum of Art, Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum (Yoshinomachi, Hirosaki City) is currently under construction for the opening on April 11.

This museum renovates and utilizes the "Yoshinomachi Brick Warehouse" in Yoshino Park in the center of Hirosaki. It was built as a brewery from 1907 (Meiji 40) to 1923 (Taisho 12), but it has long been used as a warehouse, and it is said that the idea of an art museum had already been considered in the early 1990s.

On January 24, the Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum Opening Preparation Room announced the eight artists participating in the layout of the building and the opening memory program "Thank You Memory-From Brewing to Creation."

The facility is divided into the main building of the museum and the "cafe, shop, cider workshop", and the brick road "Museum Road" connects them. As a permanent exhibit at the museum entrance, there is a white dog object "A to Z Memorial Dog" by Yoshitomo Nara, a contemporary artist from Hirosaki. The second-floor library has books related to art, free Wi-Fi and free space. 36 seats are planned. Free entrance to the entrance and library.

The main exhibition room has an area of 1228 square meters, and the former brewing room on the first floor and the old material warehouse on the second floor are divided into five exhibition rooms, with a 15-meter high colonnade space that stands out. The 3 studios in the main building are available for rental. It consists of "Studio A" that can be used for manufacturing and workshops, "Studio B" that has a screen and a projector, and "Studio C" where you can practice and play musical instruments.

"Cafe Shop Cider Kobo" will be a cafe space that sells original goods and museum goods, and offers menus such as drinks and snacks. A cider workshop will be installed in the back of the cafe, where you can enjoy dining and shopping while looking at the manufacturing tank.

The opening memorial program displays works with the theme of "memory" of place and building. In addition to Nara's photographic work "SAKHALIN", Chinese contemporary artist In Siu Zhen will exhibit three-dimensional works with the motif of the city of Hirosaki, using 100 old clothes of Hirosaki citizens. Mr. Nawin Rawanchaikhun of Thailand will exhibit an interview video of 30 Hirosaki citizens and a large painting of about 14 meters.

In addition to this, the opening commemorative program will also display images and photographs of the process of renovation work and glass sculptures of apples. The admission fee is 1,300 yen for the general public and 1,000 yen for university and vocational school students. Free of charge for high school students and younger, Hirosaki citizens aged 65 and older, and international students.

Mina Osawa, a public relations manager in the opening preparation room, said, “The construction is proceeding smoothly. A new issue of the public relations magazine “Hirosaki Creative Communication”, which informs the entire museum, will be distributed in the near future. Please look forward to it."