Arts/Culture Support

Mitsui USA Foundation supports performing arts groups to promote the directors, composers, musicians, singers, and dancers who strive to perpetuate Asian and Japanese culture, building bridges through the universal language of music. These groups include:

• Asian Artists & Concerts

• Harmonia Opera Company

• Inoue Chamber Ensemble

• Music From Japan

• Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company

The Foundation has also developed some named projects in support of education in the arts.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Mitsui USA “Family Guide Kids’ Q&A” publication: based on the questions sent by the Museum’s youngest visitors to their Education Department, the Kids’ Q&A 4-page brochure guides readers through a colorful, floor-plan format to answer the “greatest hits” questions in a sampling of the Museum’s wonders.

Midori Foundation / Mitsui USA “Making Music” Programs: since the 2003-04 school year, Mitsui USA Foundation has sponsored Midori’s teaching artists’ programs at PS 72 in East Harlem, NYC, including flute, clarinet, or saxophone lessons for the fourth and fifth grade and vocal and rhythm lessons for the second grade, all geared for an end-of-year ensemble or recital for their parents and school-wide assembly.

Museum for African Art / “Mitsui USA Family Days” educational program: held each year on five Saturday or Sunday afternoons, past Mitsui USA Family Day programs included interactive workshops in dance, drumming, puppet-, mask-, print-, collage-, card-, and jewelry-making, sing alongs, storytelling and lectures, free of charge for all participants.

New York Philharmonic / Mitsui USA “Musical Encounters” symphonic education program: each year about 3,000 students in grades 4 through 12 from about 60 schools participate in one of two open rehearsal options. Before attending the rehearsal, students with little musical background are given a workshop with a Philharmonic teaching artist to introduce them to the composers and repertoire, or students with a more advanced musical background participate in a Q&A session with a Philharmonic orchestra member after attending a rehearsal.