パートナー’s レポート：アートを通じて見えてくる社会福祉の現場。

孤独で人は死なない、しかし孤立で人は死ぬ。
アートを通じて見えてくる社会福祉の現場。
(The English version follows the Japanese text.)

Creative Guildがパートナーシップを結ぶ ART WITH ME。現在、パートナーシップ構築に力を入れています。とりわけ、ART WITH ME主宰の白石さんが長年にわたり障害福祉・社会福祉の現場に関わってきたこともあり、リアルな現場の声を丁寧に拾い上げながら、アートを起点に社会における多様な個々人の可能性を探究し続けています。

その取り組みの一つとして、ART WITH MEが関連する団体である一般社団法人 発達支援アドバイザー協会では、内閣府の「つながりサポーター」関連講座の取り組みが12月から始まっています。地域の関係者を集め、孤独・孤立支援の在り方を共有する場づくりです。

孤独とは心理的な状態であり、関係性を築き、適切な働きかけを行うことで解消し得るものです。一方で孤立とは、物理的・社会的な接点が失われた状態を指します。孤立してしまうと、そもそも支援の手が届かず、孤独の解消すら難しくなってしまいます。だからこそ重要なのは、「孤独への対応」以前に、「孤立しない環境」をどうつくるかという視点です。

ART WITH MEの取り組みは、どんな人であっても社会と接点を持ち続けられる状態をつくることを目指しています。アートを媒介に、関係性の入口を増やし、孤立を防ぐ。その先にある孤独・孤立支援の具体策の一つとして、社会に提案されているのです。

また、同協会では自閉症体験VRの取り組みも継続的に進めており、2025年の年末にかけて、島根県歯科医師会や大阪・岸和田市でも実施されました。障害の理解を一度きりの啓発で終わらせるのではなく、当事者の視点を疑似体験することで、支援の質を高めていく。このアプローチは、とくに医療現場においてケアの質を大きく向上させる可能性を持っていますし、行政においても、必要な社会福祉をどのように設計し、提供すべきかを考える契機になります。

そして何より重要なのは、その体験を一過性で終わらせず、社会との継続的で自然な関わりへとつなげていくことです。ART WITH MEの取り組みは、当事者の視点を持ったうえで、障害の有無にかかわらず「可能性」という側面で人と人がつながる、その先のシナリオを提示する位置づけにもなっています。

ART WITH MEは、単独の活動としてではなく、障害福祉・社会福祉に関わる多様な取り組みと連動することで、その価値をより大きく発揮します。白石さん自身、放課後デイサービスやグループホームの運営に実際に携わりながら、公益社団法人 福岡県社会福祉士会やNPO法人 健康・介護ホリスティック協会などの理事としての取り組みを通じ、実践とネットワークの両面から可能性を広げてきました。

既存のつながりを深めつつ、新しい形のパートナーシップの在り方を模索する。その成果は、少しずつですが確実に形になり始めています。2026年には、さらに大きな動きが生まれてくる予感。Creative Guildも、ART WITH MEのその先に広がる可能性に向けて、共に試行錯誤し続けていきます。もちろんみなさんと一緒に、“楽しい”から。

Loneliness doesn’t kill people. Isolation does.
What the field of social welfare reveals through art.

Creative Guild’s partner ART WITH ME, is currently focusing on building meaningful partnerships. At the heart of this effort is its founder, Koichi Shiraishi, who has spent many years working directly in the fields of disability welfare and social welfare. Grounded in real voices from the field, ART WITH ME continues to explore the potential of diverse individuals in society—using art as its starting point.

One example of this work can be seen through a related organization, the Developmental Support Advisor Association, which began offering “Tsunagari Supporter” –related programs in collaboration with the Cabinet Office in December. These programs bring together local stakeholders to share perspectives on how to address loneliness and social isolation, creating spaces where common understanding can take shape.

Loneliness is a psychological state. It can be eased through relationships, connection, and intentional engagement. Isolation, however, is different. It refers to the loss of physical and social points of contact. Once someone becomes isolated, support simply cannot reach them—and as a result, even loneliness itself becomes difficult to resolve. This is why the most critical question is not how to respond to loneliness, but how to create environments in which isolation does not occur in the first place.

ART WITH ME aims to build conditions in which anyone can continue to have points of connection with society. By using art as a medium, the initiative creates new entry points for relationships and helps prevent isolation. In this sense, its work represents one concrete approach to addressing loneliness and isolation—not as abstract concepts, but as lived social realities.

Alongside this, the association has been steadily advancing its autism experience VR programs. Toward the end of 2025, these programs were implemented with the Shimane Dental Association and in Kishiwada City, Osaka. Rather than treating disability awareness as a one-time educational exercise, the VR experience allows participants to engage with the perspective of those directly affected, leading to deeper understanding and higher-quality support. This approach has a particular impact in medical settings, where it can significantly improve the quality of care, and in administrative contexts, where it encourages more thoughtful design and delivery of social welfare services.

What matters most, however, is ensuring that these experiences do not remain isolated events. The goal is to connect them to ongoing, natural relationships with society. ART WITH ME positions itself as an initiative that, while grounded in the perspectives of those directly affected, brings people together around the idea of “potential”—regardless of whether someone has a disability or not—and offers scenarios for what that connection can become.

ART WITH ME’s value grows even further when it works in conjunction with a wide range of disability welfare and social welfare initiatives. Shiraishi himself is involved in the operation of after-school day services and group homes, while also serving as a board member of organizations such as the Fukuoka Prefectural Association of Social Workers and the Health & Care Holistic Association. Through both hands-on practice and expansive professional networks, he has continued to broaden the scope of what is possible.

By deepening existing relationships while exploring new forms of partnership, these efforts are gradually—but steadily—taking shape. Looking ahead to 2026, there is a sense that even larger movements may begin to emerge. Creative Guild will continue to walk alongside ART WITH ME, embracing trial and error as it explores the possibilities that lie ahead—together with everyone involved, and always starting from what is fun.