MoMAK is a national institution devoted to the collection and preservation of artworks and related reference materials of the twentieth century in Japan and other parts of the world. Particular emphasis is placed on artists or artistic movements in Kyoto and the Kansai area (the western region of Japan), such as Japanese-style paintings of the Kyoto School, while overviewing the mainstreams of Japanese modern art and craft movements as well as works from all over the world covering every genre of the crafts.

In addition to five special and traveling exhibitions per year, the Museum rotates the works on display in the Collection Gallery approximately five times per year. Included therein are specially themed sub-exhibitions that are synchronized with the concurrent exhibition or present the Museum’s research results. The Collection Gallery also acts as the site for workshops and other educational programs organized by the Museum.