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Nagano City, which flourished as the city around Zenkouji Temple, a national treasure, has seen in recent years empty storefronts here and there, even in the old neighborhoods. The Artist in Residence in the Grounds of Zenkouji Temple program has taken empty storefronts and empty homes near Nagano's Zenkouji and created a residence for artists in residence. The program invites artists from Japan and around the world to come and stay, and to create works locally. Our purpose from the start has been to bring new art and cultural life to Nagano through these activities, and to energize the town, focusing on Zenkouji.

In addition, and at the same time, we are trying to have these facilities be the base for transmission of artistic information from our local region to the world. Furthermore, we hope that by holding open studios and workshops with the visiting artists we can, together with the people of Nagano, grow the Nagano art scene. We hope to have exciting exchange activities with artists, aiming to have exchanges with similar facilities both within Japan and abroad. Anyone interested in the Artist in Residence in the Grounds of Zenkouji Temple program, please contact us.

The home that is now the programs residence is in the remains of the Maruyama Ironworks, which is said to have begun production after the Zenkouji earthquake of 1847. It closed in 2006, with approximately 150 years of history behind it. It is said that the Maruyama Ironworks focused on manufacture of traditional Shinshu blade crafts, such as sickles and hoes, and the tools used by nearby farmers were popular products. At one time they were blacksmiths located on a main street in the lively Sakuraechou area.