Representatives of the National Gallery Prague (NGP) and the Tokyo National Museum (TNM) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on 14 November 2024 in Prague. The Ambassador of Japan to the Czech Republic, Kansuke Nagaoka, was also present at the signing. NGP General Director Alicja Knast and TNM Director Makoto Fujiwara committed to cooperate in the academic and cultural fields.
“I am pleased that we are now starting a new, interesting cooperation with this prestigious Japanese museum, which opens up the possibility of exchange work placements for experts on both sides, as well as future joint exhibition projects. TNM has signed similar memorandums with the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, and the Musée Guimet in Paris, for example. I am very glad that the National Gallery Prague has joined this excellent company and look forward to the fruits of this endeavour,” said Alicja Knast, Director General of the National Gallery Prague, after signing the memorandum.
The teams of both institutions presented their respective agendas and shared their working experience. They talked mainly about educational programmes and exhibition plans, possibilities of loans, and the importance of exchanging know-how and experience related to displaying and offering insight into Asian art in the European context and vice versa. Markéta Hánová, Director of the NGP Collection of Asian Art, presented the new NGP permanent exhibition The Art of Asia, which is in preparation and will open in April next year at the Salm Palace. Guests from Japan also visited several exhibitions at the National Gallery Prague, including the current show École de Paris: Artists from Bohemia and Interwar Paris.
