The arts festival Oku-Noto Triennale (Japanese 奥能登芸術祭) takes place every three years in Suzu, Japan.
[1] Contemporary artists install site-specific works in the city and surrounding countryside and region.
[6] Suzu is located at the tip of the Noto Peninsula, which juts into the Sea of Japan[7] where warm and cold ocean currents meet.
[10] Local residents offer tours and lectures that bridge the gap between contemporary art and the region's heritage.
[7] The festival sets contemporary art installations against a backdrop of pristine nature, sea views[1] and Satoyama mountain fields.
[13] A bustling seaport for several hundred years,[11] Suzu has already lost half of its population since 1954 in tribute to the modernization of the country.
[10] The city office organized the budgeting, infrastructure, volunteer work and educational talks with local leaders and residents.
As part of a holistic, economic concept, the city is expanding the hotel, catering and transport sectors with local companies.
[11] As venues were chosen[11] and unique artworks for the region were created,[13] local participation increased.
During the festival period, it was observed that the more involved the residents were, the more exhibition locations were in demand by the visitors.
[10] Already after the first festival in 2017 it could be stated that the number of visitors in the region had increased and that the population was shown the potential of their resources.
[10] Also involved are representatives of the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology / Soka University and the Kanazawa College of Art.
[11][18] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival planned for autumn 2020[19] was delayed for one year, taking place September 4 to October 24, 2021[7] and was extended until November 5, 2021.
[7] The organizers announced that the artists were able to connect their works even more closely with the local character due to the longer preparation time.