About the Australia House

The Australia House is an exciting art project which started as part of the 4th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale in 2009, one of the world's largest international art festivals held in the rustic mountainous Echigo-Tsumari region of Niigata Prefecture. For the fourth Triennale, three Australian artists and a coordinator transformed an abandoned rustic Japanese-style farmhouse into an art installation called "Australia House". They worked in residence in collaboration with the Urada community adding to the ideal of the so-called "Tsumari Method" with the hope to create a unique community with an Australian identity.

In 2010 again from June to August, the House provided opportunities for cultural exchange between Australia and Japan through the Artist in Residence Program and Japan Australia Art Musings by art students from both countries. (Please visit the Australia House Diary website) We would like to thank the people of Urada, Joetsu Japan-Australia Society and everyone who helped to make this project a success.

To our great regret, Australia House was severely damaged in an aftershock in the days that followed the catastrophic earthquake that hit Japan on 11 March. Even though the initial Australia House has now been lost, we believe it is important that the program proceeds in order to further strengthen the ties between Australia and Japan.