About Mu:Arts
The thread of inspiration extending from ancient to contemporary times
Mu:Arts is an international producer and curator specialising in music and the performing arts.
Based in London and Tokyo, Mu:Arts delivers imaginative cross-cultural and interdisciplinary projects inspired by cultural elements and aesthetics primarily of Japan.
In the past 15 years Mu:Arts has brought established and emerging musicians and artists to major festivals and venues in over 40 countries.
The successful projects we have produced include the series of “Noh Reimagined” festivals which explore the art of Noh, the iconic theatrical tradition that originated in fourteenth-century Japan.
We aim to offer open and creative platform that encourages genre-defying, cross-cultural collaborations, connecting tradition with contemporary life, arts and culture.
In November 2023, Mu Arts Japan was founded in Tokyo to further promote the artistic collaborations and events in Japan and the UK, and beyond.
We are enthusiastic to develop and communicate with new audiences offering them inspirational experiences through various events and workshops.
Mu Arts（ムー・アーツ ジャパン）、日本と海外を繋ぐ文化のプロデューサー・キュレーター
イギリスと東京を拠点に、日本の美意識が文化、分野、地域を超えて繋がるような質の高い創造的な国際プロジェクトをプロデュース。文化や社会のさまざまな隔たりに挑戦しつつ、フェスティバルやイベントを通じて、海外の幅広い聴衆に、インパクトのある芸術体験を提供している。
ロンドンの主要な会場である Kings Placeと共催で開催する2日間のフェスティバル「Noh Reimagined（能リ・イマジンド）」ではキュレーター、プロデューサーとして、日本の象徴的な伝統芸術「能」が現代社会と人々に与えうる新たな価値と可能性を、日本の一流能楽師、様々な芸術分野の先駆的な芸術家らと模索しながら展開している。能リ・イマジンド特設サイト
Past projects and events produced and managed by Mu:Arts
2024
February: Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono tour in Germany, Italy, and the UK, with performances at Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), the Japan Cultural Institute in Rome, the Japan Cultural Institute in Cologne, and Kings Place (London).
January: “Rona島の詩”on 能舞台－Song of Rona Island for Noh Theatre- A collaboration with Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie (poet) , Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle player), Brìghde Chaimbeul(Scottish small pipes player) and Noh performers. Venue: Tessenkai Noh Theatre ( Tokyo)
2023
December: Noh Reimagined Residency in Tokyo
October: Noh Reimagined “12-beat Sanbaso” featuring Thick & Tight and Noh performers at Tessenkai Noh Theatre.
April: Collaboration between contemporary artist Cerith Wyn Evans and Noh: Taka Ishii Gallery
2022
The Third Noh Reimagined Festival held at Kings Place (London)
2019
October: French baroque meets Noh. A R&D session with Noh performers and Lyon based baroque orchestra Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu.
June- August: “THE鍵KEY” UK premier. A series of events and performances of a sight specific opera, as part of Tête à Tête Opera Festival and London Festival of Architecture.
June: Kimura Shunsuke & Kit Downes Performance, at The Japan House London
details on the Japan House website
2018
June: The Second Noh Reimagined Festival – The sublime Illusion at Kings Place London.
July: Noh Reimagined participating The Clásicos en Alcalá Festival at Teatro Salón Cervantes.
2017
July: Kentaro Kobayashi (comedian/actor) “Mr Potsunen’s Peculiar Slice of Life “at Print Room the Colonet.
2016
June: “Tohoku Remix” R&D tour with a French DJ, Etsuro Ono (Tsugaru- shamisen), Bunta Sato(tsugaru-fue), Kagura groups in Miyagi pref. and Tsugaru-hayahsi group. (Supported by Kigyo Mécénat Kyogikai (Association for Corporate Support of the Arts), Regional Culture Award Tax Accountant’s Fund)
16 May: Noh performances and lecture at Instituto Giappone di Cultura, Rome.(Supported by Japan Foundation.)
May: “The 1st Noh Reimagined Festival – The contemporary art of classical Japanese theatre”
at Kings Place featuring
Feb: Yukihiro Isso with Roger Turner & Takinojo Mochizuki & John Edwards concert at Cafe OTO.
Feb: Workshop with Noh musicians for British composers in collaboration with Sound and Music. (Secured funding from GBSF and Sound and Music.)
2015
Feb: Kentaro Kobayashi (actor)UK premier “Mr Potsunen’s Peculiar Slice of Life “ at Leicester Square Theatre
31 May-1 June: –Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra – Torino Jazz Festival
2014
30 Oct~7 Nov: Aki& Kuniko Swiss Tour in collaboration with Culturescapes Festival, official programme of Swiss-Japan 2014
30 Oct Bird’s Eye Club (Basel)/1 Nov Im Rathaus um 4 (Thun)/4 Nov Teatro Sociale (Bellinzona)/6 Nov Kulturpunkt (Flawil)/ 7 Nov ADEM (Genève).
Feb: Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono concerts at Musée d’ethnographie, as part of the official opening of Swiss-Japan 2014.
2013
15 Sept: “Letter to Theo, Encounter Van Gogh” by Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono in collaboration with a French actor, as part of the Festival Il de France
22-23 July: “Japan Music Festival 2nd Edition” at Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, featuring Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra, and Aki & Kuniko.
8 -28 May: Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono tour/ Germany, Belgium, Holland and Morocco in collaboration with Alba Kulture(Germany) and Festival Mawazane( Morocco).
Schedule: 8 May Köln/10 May Detmold /11 May Brüssel /13 May Bergkamen /14 May Hamm, WDR radio recording/ 15 May Düsseldorf/ 16 May Wuppertal / 18 May Leiden/(NL) /19 May Nijmegen / 21 May Hagen /22 May Herne/ 23 May Remscheid / 24 May Gelsenkirchen / 25 May Bonn/ 26 May Sankt Augustin.
28 May Festival Mawazine, Morocco Rabat -dedicated to Silk Road theme
31 May: Mieko Miyazaki (koto) Concert with Orchestra of the Swan premiering new piece.
13 April~ 27 April: Alnwick Garden, Sakura Festival (Secured funding from GBSF.)
8-17 March: Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono performances and workshops at WOMADelaide and WOMAD New Zealand.
2012
29-30 July: Marewrew and OKI at WOMAD Charlton Park 2012 (Supported by GBSF.)
25 July: London Bon Dancers at Japan Festival 2012
5-13 July: Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono Europe tour:
Schedule: 5-6th July: Forde Traditional and World Music Festival (Norway)/8 July: Zurich (Switzerland) Museum Rietberg/11 July: Rome (Italy) Auditorium Parco della Musica /12 July: Hannover (Germany) Masala World Music Festival / 13 July: Arles (France) Les Suds à Arles (Supported by Japan Foundation).
11- 12 July: “Japanese Music Festival 1st Edition” at Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, featuring Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono, Tsugu-Kaji KOTO ( Supported by JT)
7-8 July: Japanese Music Festival at Museum Rietberg, featuring Flying Zoo: Sizzle Ohtaka (vocal), Miwazo (chindon), Yoshiaki Sato (accordion), and Yuji Tsunemi (oud), Kumiko Suzuki Taiko group. (Supported by Japan Foundation).
18 May – 15 June: London Bon Dancers at BIG DANCE 2012 as part of Cultural Olympic. (Supported by Big Dance grand through Arts Council England.)
27 May: Bu U, Big Dance Bus on the White Lion Street, Islington
2011
26-30 October: WOMEX 2011 in Copenhagen, Official Showcase,
29 July: Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono WOMAD Charlton Park, UK
27 July: Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono FMM Festival, Portugal. (Supported by Japan Foundation and GBSF)
18 May: Geoffrey Museum, Japanese home cooking event with Atsuko Ikeda as part of the Japanese House exhibition.
3-5 March “HIBIKI: Resonances from Japan” – Japanese Music Festival at Kings Place featuring Mayumi Miyata(sho), Michiyo Yagi(koto), Evan Parker(sax) and others. (Secured funding from Arts Council England, Japan Foundation and GBSF.)
2 March: “Japanese Music -Tradition Toward the Future”, at Japanese Embassy in London
3~5 Feb: Kumiko Shuto (Satsuma Biwa) Europe Tour as part of Asian Festival in Uhtreht, Antwarp, and Amsterdam.
Partners Mu:Arts worked with:
Festivals in UK: Brighton Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, WOMAD Charlton Park, Little Chili Festival, Bath International Music Festival, City of London Festival, Canterbury Festival, International Aberdeen Youth Festival, Music Port Festival (Whitby,UK), Chelsea Festival (London), Liverpool Biennial, Peterborough Festival, Brighton Children’s Book Festival
Festivals in Europe: Paleo festival/Culturescapes (Switzerland), FMM Festival (Portugal), Imago Dei Festival (Krems, Austria), Osterfestival (Tirol, Austria), Istraetono Jazz Festival /Zagreb World Music Festival (Croatia), WOMEX (Europe) , Forde World Music Festival (Norway), Masala Festival (Germany), Music Meeting( Holland),Warsaw Cross Culture Festival (Poland), Les Suds a Arles/Festival Ile de France ( France), Torino Jazz Festival ( Italy), The Clásicos en Alcalá ( Spain).
Festivals beyond Europe: Istanbul International Music Festival (Turkey), Rain Forest Music Festival (Malaysia), WOMADelaide (Australia), WOMAD New Zealand, Mazawane Festival (Morocco) The International Folk Performing Arts Festival (Japan), Oct Jazz Festival( China).
Venues in UK: Southbank Centre, Barbican Centre, Cadogan Hall, St Johns Smith Square, Wigrmore Hall, LSO St. Lukes, ICA, Spitz, Ritzy Cinema, Banqueting House, St. James Church, Asia House, Brunei Theatre,Leicester Square Theatre, Japanese Embassy, Japan Foundation ,(Geffrye Museum, Royal Pavilion Theatre (Llangollen, Wales), Urbis (Manchester), St Cecilia’s Hall (University of Edinburgh), The Coronet Theatre, Kings Place.
Venues in Europe: Auditorium Parco della Musica (Rome),Tropentheare (Amsterdam), Rasa (Utrecht), Chester Beatty Library,Dublin(Ireland), Zuiderpershuis (Antwerp), Maison de la Culture du Japon, Jardin de la Maison-Atelier de Daubigny, Cafe de la Dance (Paris), Auditori Pau Casals (El Vendrell, Spain), Casa Armatei (Brasov, Romania), Museum Reitberg/ Musée d’ethnographie, Neuchâtel, ADEM, Birdseye Jazz Club, Teatro Sociale Bellinzona (Switzerland), Domforum, Teo Otto Theater, Jazzschmiede , Elbphilharmonie( Germany) and others.