At a Leading National Research Institution, a Facilitator Training Course for "Dialogue-Based Appreciation" that Opens New Ways of Seeing Art is Launched – Participation from Corporate HR and School Officials Also Welcomed
Kyoto University of the Arts' Art Communication Research Center (ACC) is launching its 7th annual "Dialogue-Based Appreciation Facilitator Training Course 2026" online in July 2026. This program, designed for individuals seeking to master dialogue-based art appreciation facilitation, offers systematic learning of theory and practical skills, adapting to business, medical, and community development contexts. The course is open for applications from April 21 to May 11, 2026, with a maximum capacity of 25 participants.
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The Art Communication Research Center (ACC) (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City / Director: Takahiro Date), an affiliated institution of Kyoto University of the Arts (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City / President: Taku Sato), is a research institution established in 2009 with the aim of contributing to problem-solving in communication and improving "vitality" through the field of art.
This center utilizes the dialogue-based art appreciation education program "ACOP / Eikoppu (Art Communication Project)," which was developed based on the educational programs "VTC (Visual Thinking Curriculum)" and "VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies)" of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the origin of dialogue-based art appreciation in Japan, to develop various educational and training programs through dialogue.
ACC will launch the "Dialogue-Based Appreciation Facilitator Training Course 2026" in July 2026, marking its 7th year. Dialogue-based appreciation*, which contributes to the development of various abilities such as observation, thinking, and communication skills through appreciating artworks, has been implemented mainly in museums and schools nationwide. In recent years, it has also been widely applied as an approach to social issues, including capability development in business and medical settings, as well as the creation of communication and communities.
This course is an online program for those who wish to master dialogue-based art appreciation facilitation, offering systematic learning of theory and practical techniques. Through practical exercises in regular practice sessions held concurrently with the course, participants will aim to improve their facilitation skills while honing their "seeing" ability as appreciators.
We await applications from those who wish to learn dialogue-based art appreciation in a serious and specialized manner.
*Dialogue-based appreciation: An art appreciation education program that teaches the abilities necessary for appreciation and the literacy required when appreciating artworks by interpreting art pieces through communication.
This banner image is an illustration of a dialogue-based appreciation session conducted by students after completing the course. The actual course will be held entirely online (Zoom).
■ Voices from Participants
– My initial goal in taking this course was to incorporate dialogue-based art appreciation as one of my workshop techniques, but the course further broadened its potential. Dialogue-based appreciation includes essential elements of communication such as observation, listening, reflection, and verbalization, allowing me to visualize its practical application more concretely. (Company Employee / Human Resources Development Manager, 2024 Course Participant)
–– I proceeded with my appreciation by connecting elements within myself, considering the impressions received from the artwork, associations from shapes and colors, and the opinions of other participants. A significant change was becoming more conscious of "what this artwork makes us say" while looking at it, listening to each other's opinions, and I realized that this deepened my appreciation further. (Editor / Content Designer, 2023 Course Participant)
Course Outline
■ Implementation Period: July 4, 2026 – March 31, 2027 (Scheduled for 20 sessions)
■ Schedule:
① Course (Mandatory Participation) *8 days total, Online
[Part 1] July 4 (Sat) & 5 (Sun), 2026
[Part 2] September 12 (Sat) & 13 (Sun), 2026
[Part 3] November 14 (Sat) & 15 (Sun), 2026
[Part 4] January 16 (Sat) & 17 (Sun), 2027
[Time] Saturdays 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM / Sundays 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (includes 1-hour break)
② Regular Practice Sessions (Optional Participation) *12 days total
[Dates]: July 18 (Sat), Aug 11 (Tue/Holiday), Aug 22 (Sat), Sep 8 (Tue), Sep 26 (Sat), Oct 13 (Tue), Oct 24 (Sat), Nov 10 (Tue), Nov 28 (Sat), Dec 8 (Tue), Dec 19 (Sat), Jan 12 (Tue)
[Time] Tuesdays 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM / Saturdays 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
*In addition to regular practice sessions, independent practice sessions by participants are also held annually.
■ Eligibility: Those who can attend all 8 days of the course and can actively participate in practical exercises during regular and independent practice sessions.
■ Participation Method: Online platform (Zoom, Facebook)
■ Capacity: Maximum 25 people (Application required)
■ Tuition Fee: ¥200,000 (tax included)
■ Application Period: April 21 (Tue) – May 11 (Mon)
■ Application Form: https://forms.gle/uuN5TXWLaairhBtE9
*If there are many applicants, a selection process will be conducted. Selection results will be announced in early June (tentative).
■ Course Content (Tentative):
Part 1 (July): Appreciation skills for becoming a facilitator
Part 2 (September): Facilitation skills to encourage appreciation
Part 3 (November): Advanced Dialogue-Based Appreciation – Deepening "Artwork Appreciation"
Part 4 (January): Advanced Facilitation
■ Lecturer: Takahiro Date (Professor, Kyoto University of the Arts / Director, Art Communication Research Center, Kyoto University of the Arts)
Notes
■ About the learning environment
– Please prepare a Zoom account and a Google account. If you do not have one, please obtain a free account from the official Zoom and Google websites. Refer to the official pages for details on how to obtain them.
– We request that participants use a personal computer for the course. In principle, please prepare and use a computer for attending the course. Participation via smartphone or tablet may limit your experience with practical programs and online services due to app usage restrictions.
– Regarding internet environment: Continuous participation with video and microphone on is required. Wired LAN connection is recommended.
■ About application and tuition fees
– Regarding cancellations: Please request withdrawal within the deadline after your participation is confirmed. Please check the dates of the mandatory course sessions before applying.
– Tuition fees are to be paid in full. Refunds will not be provided after application, except in cases of cancellation by the organizer.
■ About recording the course
– The course proceedings will be recorded via images and videos. These may be used for public relations activities such as on the university's website and in activity reports, as well as for research by this center.
About the Art Communication Research Center
Established at Kyoto University of the Arts as a research institution exploring the potential of art from multiple perspectives. Based on the educational programs "VTC (Visual Thinking Curriculum)" and "VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies)" developed at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, it implements the dialogue-based art appreciation education program "ACOP / Eikoppu (Art Communication Project)." It also engages in joint research with museums and universities nationwide, regional revitalization and community creation in collaboration with art festivals and art projects, initiatives for social inclusion, training for healthcare and welfare professionals applying ACOP, and corporate internal training and human resource development programs for business professionals since fiscal year 2012, expanding its scope of activities year by year. URL: https://www.acop.jp
About Kyoto University of the Arts
As one of Japan's largest art universities, it is an educational institution that attracts over 23,000 motivated students of diverse age groups from Japan and abroad, through its campus-based and distance learning programs. It cultivates the skills necessary for society through art education. With the educational goal of "Art-based Nation Building," where students who learn art change society, the campus-based program emphasizes art education that focuses on the connection between "society and art." It implements over 100 "Social Implementation Projects" annually where students solve challenges faced by companies and local governments using the power of art and design. Through interdisciplinary group work and real-world projects, it nurtures expressive individuals with social skills.
Address: 2-116 Kitashirakawa Uryuyama-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, 606-8271, Japan
URL: https://www.kyoto-art.ac.jp/
This center utilizes the dialogue-based art appreciation education program "ACOP / Eikoppu (Art Communication Project)," which was developed based on the educational programs "VTC (Visual Thinking Curriculum)" and "VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies)" of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the origin of dialogue-based art appreciation in Japan, to develop various educational and training programs through dialogue.
ACC will launch the "Dialogue-Based Appreciation Facilitator Training Course 2026" in July 2026, marking its 7th year. Dialogue-based appreciation*, which contributes to the development of various abilities such as observation, thinking, and communication skills through appreciating artworks, has been implemented mainly in museums and schools nationwide. In recent years, it has also been widely applied as an approach to social issues, including capability development in business and medical settings, as well as the creation of communication and communities.
This course is an online program for those who wish to master dialogue-based art appreciation facilitation, offering systematic learning of theory and practical techniques. Through practical exercises in regular practice sessions held concurrently with the course, participants will aim to improve their facilitation skills while honing their "seeing" ability as appreciators.
We await applications from those who wish to learn dialogue-based art appreciation in a serious and specialized manner.
*Dialogue-based appreciation: An art appreciation education program that teaches the abilities necessary for appreciation and the literacy required when appreciating artworks by interpreting art pieces through communication.
This banner image is an illustration of a dialogue-based appreciation session conducted by students after completing the course. The actual course will be held entirely online (Zoom).
■ Voices from Participants
– My initial goal in taking this course was to incorporate dialogue-based art appreciation as one of my workshop techniques, but the course further broadened its potential. Dialogue-based appreciation includes essential elements of communication such as observation, listening, reflection, and verbalization, allowing me to visualize its practical application more concretely. (Company Employee / Human Resources Development Manager, 2024 Course Participant)
–– I proceeded with my appreciation by connecting elements within myself, considering the impressions received from the artwork, associations from shapes and colors, and the opinions of other participants. A significant change was becoming more conscious of "what this artwork makes us say" while looking at it, listening to each other's opinions, and I realized that this deepened my appreciation further. (Editor / Content Designer, 2023 Course Participant)
Course Outline
■ Implementation Period: July 4, 2026 – March 31, 2027 (Scheduled for 20 sessions)
■ Schedule:
① Course (Mandatory Participation) *8 days total, Online
[Part 1] July 4 (Sat) & 5 (Sun), 2026
[Part 2] September 12 (Sat) & 13 (Sun), 2026
[Part 3] November 14 (Sat) & 15 (Sun), 2026
[Part 4] January 16 (Sat) & 17 (Sun), 2027
[Time] Saturdays 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM / Sundays 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (includes 1-hour break)
② Regular Practice Sessions (Optional Participation) *12 days total
[Dates]: July 18 (Sat), Aug 11 (Tue/Holiday), Aug 22 (Sat), Sep 8 (Tue), Sep 26 (Sat), Oct 13 (Tue), Oct 24 (Sat), Nov 10 (Tue), Nov 28 (Sat), Dec 8 (Tue), Dec 19 (Sat), Jan 12 (Tue)
[Time] Tuesdays 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM / Saturdays 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
*In addition to regular practice sessions, independent practice sessions by participants are also held annually.
■ Eligibility: Those who can attend all 8 days of the course and can actively participate in practical exercises during regular and independent practice sessions.
■ Participation Method: Online platform (Zoom, Facebook)
■ Capacity: Maximum 25 people (Application required)
■ Tuition Fee: ¥200,000 (tax included)
■ Application Period: April 21 (Tue) – May 11 (Mon)
■ Application Form: https://forms.gle/uuN5TXWLaairhBtE9
*If there are many applicants, a selection process will be conducted. Selection results will be announced in early June (tentative).
■ Course Content (Tentative):
Part 1 (July): Appreciation skills for becoming a facilitator
Part 2 (September): Facilitation skills to encourage appreciation
Part 3 (November): Advanced Dialogue-Based Appreciation – Deepening "Artwork Appreciation"
Part 4 (January): Advanced Facilitation
■ Lecturer: Takahiro Date (Professor, Kyoto University of the Arts / Director, Art Communication Research Center, Kyoto University of the Arts)
Notes
■ About the learning environment
– Please prepare a Zoom account and a Google account. If you do not have one, please obtain a free account from the official Zoom and Google websites. Refer to the official pages for details on how to obtain them.
– We request that participants use a personal computer for the course. In principle, please prepare and use a computer for attending the course. Participation via smartphone or tablet may limit your experience with practical programs and online services due to app usage restrictions.
– Regarding internet environment: Continuous participation with video and microphone on is required. Wired LAN connection is recommended.
■ About application and tuition fees
– Regarding cancellations: Please request withdrawal within the deadline after your participation is confirmed. Please check the dates of the mandatory course sessions before applying.
– Tuition fees are to be paid in full. Refunds will not be provided after application, except in cases of cancellation by the organizer.
■ About recording the course
– The course proceedings will be recorded via images and videos. These may be used for public relations activities such as on the university's website and in activity reports, as well as for research by this center.
About the Art Communication Research Center
Established at Kyoto University of the Arts as a research institution exploring the potential of art from multiple perspectives. Based on the educational programs "VTC (Visual Thinking Curriculum)" and "VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies)" developed at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, it implements the dialogue-based art appreciation education program "ACOP / Eikoppu (Art Communication Project)." It also engages in joint research with museums and universities nationwide, regional revitalization and community creation in collaboration with art festivals and art projects, initiatives for social inclusion, training for healthcare and welfare professionals applying ACOP, and corporate internal training and human resource development programs for business professionals since fiscal year 2012, expanding its scope of activities year by year. URL: https://www.acop.jp
About Kyoto University of the Arts
As one of Japan's largest art universities, it is an educational institution that attracts over 23,000 motivated students of diverse age groups from Japan and abroad, through its campus-based and distance learning programs. It cultivates the skills necessary for society through art education. With the educational goal of "Art-based Nation Building," where students who learn art change society, the campus-based program emphasizes art education that focuses on the connection between "society and art." It implements over 100 "Social Implementation Projects" annually where students solve challenges faced by companies and local governments using the power of art and design. Through interdisciplinary group work and real-world projects, it nurtures expressive individuals with social skills.
Address: 2-116 Kitashirakawa Uryuyama-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, 606-8271, Japan
URL: https://www.kyoto-art.ac.jp/