Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 Launches Outreach Lessons at 23 Elementary and Junior High Schools Using AI and Programming This Year

The Sapporo International Art Festival (SIAF) is continuing its outreach lessons for elementary and junior high schools this year, starting today, July 14.

This initiative delivers programs developed with insights from frontline artists and corporate expertise directly to classrooms, offering creative experiences to children. Since its launch in 2023, the program has gained increasing recognition, and this fourth year marks the largest number of implementations to date.

The program has expanded to four types, enabling more diverse approaches than ever before. Additionally, it will be introduced in Oulu, Finland, and student outcomes will be publicly exhibited and displayed at the Sapporo International Art Festival 2027 (SIAF2027), opening in January 2027.

(Photo reference) Past session of "Challenging Art with Programming"

SIAF Outreach Lessons | 4 Key Features

Co-developed programs that bring the perspectives and ideas of leading artists directly to children. With growing feedback and expectations from schools, this initiative has evolved beyond the art festival itself into a vital community-engaged program.

Introduces cutting-edge technologies such as AI, programming, AR (augmented reality), and XR (cross-reality), along with corporate knowledge, into education. These intuitive tools allow children to experiment and take on bold creative challenges.

Incorporates STEAM education (interdisciplinary learning), enabling integration into various school subjects and offering multifaceted educational approaches.

Student outcomes from each lesson will be exhibited as artworks at SIAF2027 and featured in a "Work Guide Program" led by the children themselves. This advanced initiative allows students to actively participate in the festival beyond the classroom, a hallmark of SIAF.

2026 Outreach Lessons Overview

Implementation Period: July to November 2026

*Excluding the summer vacation period for elementary and junior high schools (July 25 – August 23). For details, please inquire.

List of Participating Schools (23 schools in Sapporo City):

Sapporo Municipal Toyohira Nishi Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Inaho Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Sakae Junior High School, Sapporo Municipal Sakae-machi Elementary School

Sapporo Municipal Mikazuki-yama Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Shirakaba-dai Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Shin-Kotoni Kita Elementary School

Sapporo Municipal Shinryou Junior High School, Sapporo Municipal Toyosono Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Toyohira Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Hachiken Kita Elementary School

Sapporo Municipal Higashi Kawashita Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Higashi Shirakaba Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Hiraoka Central Elementary School

Sapporo Municipal Fukuzumi Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Maeda Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Maeda Kita Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Misono Elementary School

Sapporo Municipal Minami Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Moinami Elementary School, Sapporo Municipal Motomachi Junior High School, Sapporo Municipal Wakou Elementary School

Nanporo Municipal Nanporo Junior High School

*For media coverage of the lessons, please contact the SIAF Executive Committee Office in advance, not the schools directly. Implementation dates and times will be provided individually.

Programs Offered:

① "Challenging Art with Programming"

Program Development Partner: Fujimori (Art Unit) Collaborators: Professor Emeritus Yoshizumi Furukawa, Hokkaido University; Sapporo City Museum Activity Center

② "What If This School Could Be Different? Transforming Schools with Graphics Tablets"

Program Development Partners: Wacom Co., Ltd. (Initiative Partner), Maki Satake (Video Artist)

③ "Rediscovering Sapporo’s Nature with AI and AR – Memories and Records of Living Creatures"

Program Development Partner: God Scorpion (Media Artist)

④ "How Do You View Contemporary Art? – Challenge the Work Guide"

Program Development: Sapporo International Art Festival

Organizers | SIAF Executive Committee / Sapporo City

Partner City | Oulu, Finland (UNESCO Creative Cities Network – City of Media Arts)

Sapporo-Born STEAM Education Program Launches First Overseas Outreach Lessons in Oulu, Finland!

The outreach lesson program "Challenging Art with Programming – Create Your Own Snowflake," co-developed by SIAF and the art unit Fujimori, will be implemented in Oulu, Finland, between August and September.

Sapporo and Oulu are both members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of Media Arts. Through this connection, the program will be delivered to approximately 1,000 students across 20–30 elementary and junior high schools in Oulu.

The students’ creations will be compiled into a single artwork by Fujimori and presented at the Lumo Light Festival 2026 in Oulu in November, with further exhibition planned at SIAF2027.

Details (Official Website)

We kindly request your support in publicizing these initiatives and welcoming media inquiries. Further details about SIAF2027 will be announced regularly. Please feel free to contact us for interviews.

<Contact>

Public Relations, SIAF Executive Committee Office: Sugimoto, Nishi

10F, Sapporo Clock Tower Building, 2-chome Kita 1-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0001

TEL: 011-211-2314 | FAX: 011-218-5157 | E-MAIL: [email protected]

WEB: https://siaf.jp/