Hiratsuka is located in the center of the Sagami Bay coast facing the Pacific Ocean, 50km southwest of the capital Tokyo, and flourished as one of the post towns on the Tokaido road during the Edo period. Today, the city has a total area of 67.88 square kilometers and a current population of about 260,000. Blessed with a warm climate and abundant nature, it is a core city with a balanced mix of industries, and is also popular as a resort town.
Many artists have lived in the area known as "Shonan," including Hiratsuka, since the Meiji period (late 19th century), and have developed art movements here. For example, the magazine "Shirakaba," which had a major impact on modern Japanese art and literature, was founded in Kamakura, while Ryusei Kishida's Sodosha, which pursued a new style of oil painting, was founded in Kugenuma. Many artists have been active here since then, right up to the present day.
The idea of building an art museum in Hiratsuka was first proposed shortly after the war. It was led by local artists who had been holding exhibitions independently during the city's recovery from the air raids. In the early 1960s, they began a campaign to donate one work per artist to the city, and following the construction of schools, community centers, and libraries, the Hiratsuka City Museum opened in 1976, establishing an art department. Then, in line with the nationwide movement towards lifelong learning and the construction of art museums, the Hiratsuka Museum of Art Construction Research Committee was formed in 1984, and concrete steps towards opening the museum began. In 1986, the Hiratsuka Museum of Art Basic Concept was formulated, followed by the Hiratsuka Museum of Art Construction Master Plan in 1986. Construction work and preparations for the project began, and the museum opened in March 1991.
Since its opening, as an art museum located in the center of the Shonan region, the main theme has been "Art and Light of Shonan," and the museum has implemented various projects with the major goal of deepening citizens' understanding of culture and stimulating their desire to create and learn by providing public access to excellent art from Japan and abroad in a good environment.
We will continue to play a part in the maturation of culture in the Shonan region and strive to enrich our museum activities so that many people can enjoy the museum.
