New Platform ーAlternative Japanー

NEW PLATFORM – Alternative JAPAN – is an art fair organized by Art Center NEW and will take place from September 11–13, 2026, bringing together alternative art spaces from across Japan. An alternative space refers to an art space that operates independently from museums and commercial galleries, developing its own approaches to artistic practice, exhibition-making, and community engagement. Held annually at Art Center NEW, NEW PLATFORM aims to create a gathering place where such spaces can come together to share their activities, experiences, and how they run space in a sustainable way. This year, we feature 23 art spaces from 13 prefectures across Japan, spanning from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. By highlighting diverse practices rooted in different regions, the fair aims to reconsider the contemporary art scene in Japan, explore new possibilities for independent cultural activities, and foster connections among art spaces. In addition, the fair offers a unique opportunity for many independently operated and non-profit-oriented spaces to gather within the framework of an art fair. Through the context of exhibition and sales, participants can exchange knowledge, experiences, and strategies that support sustainable artistic and organizational practices. In addition, the fair will coincide with the final exhibition of artists selected for NEW AIR 2026, an artist-in-residence program in Yokohama open to artists with roots in Asia. The exhibition will present works developed during their residency in Yokohama. We warmly invite everyone to encounter the diverse practices of art spaces from across Japan alongside artistic expressions shaped through international residency programs. We look forward to welcoming you to Art Center NEW this summer.