The annual Suminoe Art Beat returns this year with a big programme. Just like last year, the one-day art festival will expand beyond its main site at Creative Center Osaka (CCO) to also include the nearby Kitakagaya Park.
The event’s signature icon, the giant 9.5m-tall ‘Rubber Duck’ by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, will reclaim its rightful place at the shipyard dock to welcome visitors. Naturally, exclusive ‘Rubber Duck’ merchandise will be available for purchase during the event.
There’s a lot to do at this free art festival, so be prepared to spend the whole day here. At the former shipyard dock that now houses the CCO, you’ll find a red London bus you can step inside and explore. Just remember to look up at the sky from time to time; there will be Flying Duck drone shows held four times throughout the day.
Running concurrently is the Minna no Uen Festival, where more than 50 vendors gather for a food and crafts market offering locally sourced produce, handmade accessories, workshops and more.
Inside CCO, you can join a balloon maze workshop, while students from Osaka Prefectural Konan Zokei High School’s Public Art Club will showcase interactive, site-specific artworks that make creative use of the shipyard’s unique architecture.
Additionally, three local theatre groups will perform a series of short plays at different times throughout the day. This particular programme is ticketed at ¥1,500 per session.
Over at Kitakagaya Park, you’ll find a large-scale walk-in installation created by Japanese artist Akihito Okunaka.
If you plan to check out all the programmes, we suggest joining the Kitakagaya Stamp Rally via the Line app. Visit five checkpoints around the neighbourhood for a chance to win limited-edition Rubber Duck goods or local shop vouchers.
AloJapan.com