ARCUS Project was initiated by Ibaraki Prefectural Government as part of its policy to cultivate international and artistic potentials in the southern region of the prefecture, to coincide with the plan to inaugurate the new campus of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in Toride, in southern Ibaraki prefecture in October 1991. The rapid urban development in the southern region at the time had prompted the prefectural government to explore innovative projects with professionals in the field of arts and culture.
In 1995, the prefecture decided to start an art program with "artist-in-residence" as its core program in partnership with Moriya City, which provided its community facility as artists' studios, and other supporters. For the first five years until 1999, the project was run as pilot project that aimed to foster exchange between the artists and involve the local community in the process of artists' creative process.
With the success of the pilot program, which was able to raise interest among the professionals and the public alike and to support young promising artists, the program was renewed as an official project, "ARCUS Project," in 2000.
Currently, the ARCUS project is carried out by the Ibaraki Prefectural Government in partnership with Moriya City and ACC (Asian Cultural Council), and support from embassies, Japanese and international cultural institutions, and private companies.