The Aomori Contemporary Art Centre (ACAC), officially known as the International Art Center Aomori at Aomori Public University, is a public art center surrounded by the forests and natural landscapes of Aomori City. As an affiliated facility of Aomori Public University, it serves as an important cultural hub where artists, students, local residents, and visitors can encounter contemporary art.
ACAC is also part of AOMORI GOKAN, an art network connecting five major art museums and cultural institutions in Aomori Prefecture. Artists and art lovers from Japan and abroad visit the center to experience exhibitions, artist residencies, workshops, and other creative programs.
The buildings were designed by world-renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. His concept of “invisible architecture” allows the buildings to blend into the surrounding landscape rather than dominate it. The result is an unusual environment in which architecture, forest, light, and contemporary art appear to become part of a single experience.
ACAC consists of three main buildings: the Exhibition Building, Studio Building, and Residence Building. Each has a different purpose, while together they form an integrated environment for viewing and creating art.
The Exhibition Building is characterized by its distinctive horseshoe-shaped gallery. A circular outdoor stage is also located nearby, providing a space for performances and outdoor events.
Inside and outside the building, visitors can encounter a variety of contemporary artworks while surrounded by the greenery of the forest. The architecture itself becomes part of the artistic experience, with carefully framed views connecting the galleries to the natural landscape.
The Studio Building features a more linear architectural design and serves as a creative workspace for artists participating in residency programs.
Artists from Japan and overseas stay at ACAC and develop new works while responding to the surrounding environment. The forests, changing seasons, local culture, and atmosphere of Aomori can all become sources of inspiration for their creative activities.
The Residence Building provides accommodation for artists taking part in the residency program. Located within the natural surroundings of ACAC, it offers a quiet environment where artists can concentrate on their work.
The combination of accommodation and studio facilities allows artists to spend an extended period in Aomori and develop projects that would be difficult to create during a short visit.
One of the defining features of ACAC is its emphasis on the coexistence of art and nature. The center is not simply a place where artworks are displayed indoors. Art can also be encountered throughout the surrounding forest.
Outdoor sculptures are scattered around the grounds, allowing visitors to discover works of art while walking through the trees. The scenery changes dramatically with the seasons, creating a different experience in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
The center also has a lounge where visitors can freely browse art-related books and publications. Workshops, lectures, artist talks, and other programs are held at various times, making ACAC a place not only for sightseeing but also for learning and hands-on experiences.
ACAC was established as part of a project commemorating the 100th anniversary of Aomori City’s municipal government and opened in December 2001.
Since then, Aomori Public University has operated the center as a base for artistic and cultural activities. Artists from Japan and around the world have stayed at ACAC to create new works, with the results of their residency projects subsequently introduced to local residents and visitors.
This approach has helped create opportunities for international artistic exchange while encouraging new forms of cultural expression rooted in Aomori.
ACAC regularly presents exhibitions featuring a wide range of contemporary art, including painting, sculpture, video, and other forms of visual expression.
Works created through the artist residency program are particularly distinctive. Because artists spend time living and working in Aomori, their projects may incorporate elements of the region’s natural environment, culture, history, and local communities.
The center also organizes participatory workshops and artist talks. These programs provide opportunities for visitors and local residents to interact directly with artists and learn about their ideas and creative processes.
Through these activities, ACAC encourages people to experience contemporary art not simply as something to observe in a gallery, but as something that can become part of everyday life and community.
Regular hours: 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
During exhibitions: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Year-end and New Year holidays: December 29–January 3
The center may also be closed on dates related to university entrance examinations.
From JR Aomori Station, take a JR Bus or Aomori City Bus bound for Moya Hills / Aomori Public University. Get off at the Aomori Public University bus stop. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes.
By car, ACAC is approximately 5 kilometers from the Aomori Chuo Interchange on the Aomori Expressway.
From Aomori Airport, the center is approximately 20 minutes away by taxi.
The Aomori Contemporary Art Centre is a unique destination where contemporary art, architecture, forests, and local culture come together. Designed by Tadao Ando, the buildings are carefully integrated into the natural landscape, creating an atmosphere in which visitors can experience art in a setting quite different from a conventional urban museum.
From exhibitions and outdoor sculptures to artist residencies, workshops, and talks, ACAC offers many ways to engage with contemporary art. The changing scenery of the surrounding forest adds another dimension to the experience, ensuring that a visit can feel different depending on the season.
For travelers exploring Aomori City, ACAC offers an opportunity to discover a different side of Aomori—one where creative expression and the natural environment exist side by side.