Akiko Sakamoto | In the Midst of Tremors Again: A Record of Recovery and the Road to Full Reopening
A curator recounts the Kumamoto earthquake of 2026 and the museum's swift recovery, culminating in full reopening and new disaster preparedness measures.Summary
Marking ten years since the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, the Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto had just opened an exhibition on cultural prescriptions when a new magnitude-7 earthquake struck in July 2026. Despite the building's seismic isolation, there was shifting of movable walls and dust fall, though no major damage. The museum immediately closed, confirmed staff safety, inspected the premises, and communicated via social media. The ongoing "Minä Perhonen Tsugu" exhibition required cleaning and protective measures; the free zone reopened on August 5 and the entire museum on August 9. Meanwhile, other cultural institutions such as the Yatsushiro City Museum and Shiranuhi Museum remained closed, and the museum offered space for displaced workshops and charity events. The recovery was faster than in 2016, and the museum has since revised its emergency manual, conducted evacuation drills, and launched a respite program. The article reflects on the role of art and museums in disaster recovery.
(Source：artscape)