Timeline

August 1949

The idea for the Museum was conceived in 1949 at a gathering of resident artists, scholars, and critics of Kanagawa Prefecture, who worked together to establish an art museum. They formed the Kanagawa Prefecture Artists’ Assembly

June 1950

Preparatory Committee for the Prefectural Museum of Modern Art launched.

November 1951

The first public museum of modern art in Japan, housed in a building designed by Junzo Sakakura, was open to the public with the exhibition “Cezanne and Renoir”. Ryosaku Murata became the first director

April 1965

Teiichi Hijikata became the second director

June 1966

An extension was constructed next to the original building. Exhibition “150 years of Japanese Modern Paintings
the 15th Anniversary of the Museum” was held.

April 1981

Hideo Takumi became the third director.

July 1984

The Annex, designed by Masato Otaka, was open.

April 1985

Heihachiro Tsuruta became the fourth director.

April 1992

Tadayasu Sakai became the fifth director.

August 1994

The Committee for the Reorganization and Planning of the Museum of Modern Art was established and began looking into a new organization for the Museum. Gitaro Wakimura, former president of the Japan Academy, was appointed to the chairman.

July 1996

Master concept for the Reorganization and Planning of the Museum of Modern Art was established.

October 1996

Maintenance Research Committee for the Museum of Modern Art was established, appointing Ikuo Hirayama, former President of Tokyo University of the Arts, to the chairman.

May 1997

The Committee decided to construct a new museum on Isshiki Beach in the town of Hayama.
Architectural designer selected (AXS SATOW INC.).
Maintenance Research Committee for the New Museum of Modern Art was established, appointing Tsuneaki Kawamura, former Director General of Agency for Cultural Affairs, to the chairman.

1999

The Kamakura Museum was amongst the 20 selected architectures of modern Japan by DOCOMOMO(Documentation and Conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the Modern Movement).

January 1999

The architectural plan for the new building of the Museum of Modern Art was approved.

March 1999

General drawings completed. The application for the PFI project was decided for the new building.

April 2001

“Ryusei Kishida: the 110th Anniversary of his Birth” was open to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Museum.

September 2001

The construction of the Hayama Museum was begun.

April 2002

The Kamakura Annex was temporary closed for moving artworks to the new museum.

March 2003

The construction of new museum in Hayama completed. The Kamakura Museum was temporary closed for preparation work.

October 2003

The Museum of Modern Art, Hayama was open with an commemorating exhibition “Another Modern”.

November 2003

The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura was reopened with the exhibition “HORIUTI MASAKAZU” and The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura Annex with “Contemporary Prints in Japan”.

April 2004

Toshio Yamanashi became the sixth director.

September 2007

New wing (Gallery 3) of the Kamakura Museum was decided to be closed to the public.

October 2008

The fifth Anniversary of the Hayama Museum was celebrated with the exhibition “The Abundance of the Collection”, which consists of three parts at three Museums.

April 2011

Tsutomu Mizusawa became the seventh director.

November 2011

The 60th Anniversary of the Museum was celebrated with the exhibition “The Best Collection” and “Charlotte Perriand and Japan”.

October 2013

The 10th Anniversary of the Hayama Museum: “WAR/ART 1940-1950” .

April 2015

The last exhibition series “It Began in Kamakura: 1951-2016”, consists of three periods, was open at the Kamakura Museum.

January 2016

The opening of the Kamakura Museum ended.

March 2016

The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura was closed.

November 2016

The main building of the Kamakura Museum was designated as a prefectural cultural property of Kanagawa Prefecture.

December 2016

New building and curatorial office building in the Kamakura Museum was demolished. The main building of Kamakura Museum was transferred to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

September 2017

The Kamakura Annex was temporarily closed for renovations.

October 2019

The Kamakura Annex re-opened with the exhibition "Modern Art Revisited" after renovation work.

December 2020

The main building of the former Kamakura Museum was designated as a national important cultural property.

October 2023

The 20th Anniversary of the Hayama Museum was celebrated with the exhibition “The Future 100 Years Ago: Modernists on the Move 1920-1930”.

April 2024

Nagato Saki became the eighth director.