Japan's first museum archives exist here.
Japan's first "public museum library" was born in 1976, the next year the new museum was opened. Just after the opening of the library, the surviving family of Saneatsu Mushanokoji (1885-1976) who was also a collector of artworks donated his book collection to the library, thinking that it would be desirable if his books were opened to the public as useful material. After that, donation from artists and surviving families of artists continued, and the valuable collection was formed. A part of the book material and artworks owned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum were transferred to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo when it was opened in 1995. Later, new material had been added to the book material, and the library was renamed "Library and Archives" when the the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum was reopened in 2012. "Library and Archives" also offers the functionality as Japan's first "museum archives" to researchers and visitors who seek material regarding the museum and its history. (continued in the lower column)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum has currently been run as a place where special exhibitions, themed exhibitions of contemporary art, artists groups' exhibitions, educational exhibitions and art-related meetings are held. At the Keitaro Sato Memorial Art Lounge, a variety of information related to art can be read and obtained. Visitors of different ages who talk together can be seen at the lounge. On the second floor of the networking activity wing, there are also an art study room and a project room where "Tobira Project" that is a collaborative project between the museum and the Tokyo University of the Arts has been carried out. A variety of basic and practical courses and projects are offered, and art communicators called "Tobira-a" who connect viewers, artworks and people are nurtured. Lectures by "Tobira-a" and others has been held as art communication programs.
Keitaro Sato Memorial Art Lounge
Spiral staircase leading from the lobby floor (the first basement) to the first and second floors
Interior of the restaurant "IVORY"
The museum's restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere is very popular, and both lunch and dinner are well received. The future of the museum as a multipurpose complex facility can be seen.
