Assosiate Professor Nishita from the Okayama University Faculty of Economics and Senior Assistant Professor Aoo from the Global Discovery Program held a joint research seminar from April to July outlining digital marketing strategies while focusing on the Ohara Museum of Art in the Historic Area of Kurashiki city.

As part of the seminar, students considered how to increase interest in the museum, which had to close temporarily as a result of the spread of COVID-19, by coming up with ways to increase its social media presence. The seminar had to be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but students benefited from the regular participation of President OHARA Akane and other staff from the Ohara Museum
of Art. As a result, students had the rare opportunity of collaborating with professionals. After participating in class discussions, visiting the museum in person, and hearing feedback to their ideas directly from staff, students designed social media marketing proposals that could potentially be implemented by the museum.

On the 30th of September, while taking measures against the spread of COVID-19, 6 students presented their proposals in front of President Ohara. After all the students had presented, museum staff announced that MORI Natsumi’s (third year student, Global Discovery Program) proposal, titled “Ohara Photogenic Museum”, to be implemented by student volunteers and museum staff by the end of the fiscal year. Ms. Mori commented that, “It was a rare opportunity to plan a social media marketing proposal as a student in collaboration with museum staff. My proposal targets young people who do not frequent art museums by creating a stronger social media presence while considering current SNS trends. I plan to keep working on and improving the proposal.”

Assistant Manager of the Business Promotion Division at Ohara Museum of Art OKAZAKI Shota said that,“All of the proposals had their own character and were very impressive. I could see that the students puta lot of thought into making their proposals.”