Funding

Visual Arts

Exhibitions Abroad Support Programme

The Japan Foundation provides funding for Japan related exhibitions through our Exhibition Support Programme. This is designed to give financial assistance to organisers mounting exhibitions or introducing Japanese art and culture to the UK. The Japan Foundation accepts applications once a year only from museums/galleries or other relevant organisations. The deadline is 1 December 2011 for Japan-related projects taking during the fiscal year from April 2012 to March 2013.

Please click here for more information about this programme. For an application form, please click here.

Our grant can be used to cover

• packing and transportation of exhibits
• airfare and lodging of the invited Japanese artists or specialists
• catalogue production

We do not support:

• individuals
• commercial events
• events taking place between sister cities
• exhibitions by amateur groups

*Please consult Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer before you apply.

Local Project Support Programme

If you miss the deadline for the Exhibitions Abroad Support Programme or the expenses in question are not covered by the pogramme, please enquire about our Local Project Support Programme. Through the Local Project Support Programme, the Japan Foundation can also support visual arts related educational projects such as seminars, workshops, demonstrations and conferences. A limited fund of up to £1000 is available throughout the year.

Contact: Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer for further information.

Language Programme for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields

This programme has been extended and is now open to specialists working in museums and galleries e.g. curators, who require improvement of their Japanese language skills as part of their work. Applicants must be under the age of 40. For more information, please click here. Anyone who is interested in his programme should contact the London Language Centre before applying

 

Previous Grant Recipients

 

Touring Exhibitions

For details about the availability of Japan Foundation Visual Arts Exhibitions, please click here.

Performing Arts

The Japan Foundation supports performing arts activities in the UK through the following grant programmes:

Performing Arts Japan (PAJ) Programme for Europe

This annual grant programme is available to those UK and other European organisers who are planning Japan related performing arts projects in this country and other European countries.

There are two grant categories: Touring Grant and Collaboration/Co-Production Grant.

Our grant can be used to cover:

• airfares and other travel expenses in the UK and other European countries for Japanese individuals or company members that are engaged in productions.
• their accommodation costs in the UK and other European countries.
• the transport costs for the equipment they are bringing in/out
• translators/interpreters costs to assist them

For the Touring Grant, priority will be given to projects that are touring at least two countries and for which the living expenses are being covered by the applicants.

For the Collaboration/ Co-Production Grant, this programme will only fund the costs incurred during the development process involved in creating new works.

The next round of applications will be for projects that will be taking place between 1 April 2012 and 30 June 2013. The deadline for applications is 4th November 2011.

For the Performing Arts Japan (PAJ) Programme for Europe guidelines, please click here and for an application form, please click here. Please note that all those considering making an application should first contact Junko Takekawa to confirm their eligibility.

Performing Arts Overseas Programme

This annual grant under this programme is given only to Japanese companies or individuals who wish to perform overseas. It is therefore not possible for British organisers to apply to this programme. British organisers, however, can suggest to the Japanese companies or individuals that they are inviting that the latter apply to our Head Office should funding for their airfares be needed from the Japan Foundation. This programme has multiple deadlines that depend on when the proposed project would take place. Please consult with Junko Takekawa for advice and more information before initiating application procedures.

Local Project Support Programme

This is a small grant programme run by the Japan Foundation London Office. The British organisers can apply for funds for Japan related performing arts projects in the UK. Applications are accepted throughout the year but please make sure that you contact us at least three months before your project commences. For details, contact Junko Takekawa.

Previous Grant Recipients

Film

Film Festivals

Financial Assistance

Under the Grant Program for Film Showing Abroad, grants are provided to cover part of the cost of international film festivals, art festivals and screenings of special series of Japanese films held in the UK. The grants can be used to cover costs including film-shipping fees.

The deadline for applications is once a year in December (December this year) and you should contact Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer, to discuss your project before you apply, as this programme is not open to general application.

Alternatively you may be able to apply throughout the year to our Local Project Support Programme for a small grant. The grant is available for those projects, that either miss the annual December deadline or whose cost items are not covered by our main grant programme. Again, please contact Junko Takekawa for details.

Film Loan

The Japan Foundation holds a stock of Japanese films (35mm or 16mm) with English subtitles in Tokyo for loan (subject to availability) for use in projects with which the Japan Foundation is associated.”.

In order for us to release films for loan, you need to produce the loan agreement made with the relevant distributors, which shows the permission for screenings.

Please note that we are generally reluctant to cover any of the costs of film loan. You will be expected to pay all the necessary shipping costs for the films as well as agreed loan fees to the distributors.

For details and further assistance, please contact Junko Takekawa.

Film Productions

The Support Program for Documentary Production on Japan has been suspended until further notice.

Previous Grant Recipients

Support Program for Documentary Production on Japan

Publication

We offer funding for publishers towards the translation of major works from Japanese, or for the publication of books on Japan written in languages other than Japanese. For translations priority is given to titles on our “recommended list of works”. Fields covered include the humanities, social sciences and the arts but exclude the natural sciences. Publication must take place during the period of the next financial year following the normal deadline for applications at the end of Novemeber. The grant is a percentage of the translation fee or the direct publication costs. Applications for “translation and publication” are also acceptable.

For further details on both programmes and application forms contact Neil Cantwell.

Previous Grant Recipients

Other Cultural Activities

The Japan Foundation is also able to offer support for pre-eminent specialists of Japanese culture to travel abroad. If you would like to invite a Japanese cultural practitioner to the UK, it may be possible to gain funding from our Head Office in order to do so. Please contact Junko Takekawa for further assistance.