Kyoto Experiment, the city's monthlong international performing-arts festival that debuted in 2010 and has been growing in popularity in the vanguard of contemporary performance every year since, is now set to embark on its fifth and most radical edition.
The ongoing success of this publicly funded event owes a lot to its mission to support artists in the development of fearless cross-disciplinary pieces, often over several years. Furthermore, a willingness to showcase overseas work, especially by lesser-known artists, has also helped to boost its buzz factor, and its attendances — which last year topped 20,000 to double that of the first year.
In addition, the festival's artistic energy has helped to nurture a sizable year-round audience for experimental work in a city known more for tradition than the avant-garde.