Current Program Guidelines
Programs
The Arts
The Commission believes that the arts are at the heart of a people's creative genius. It is therefore pleased to see the rapidly growing demand in both countries for expanded artistic exchange. The Commission notes, however, that the presence of American artists in Japan has been limited in terms both of diversity and geographical coverage. American performing and visual arts presentations in Japan have often been conducted on a limited and sporadic basis, frequently decided by commercial interests of individual promoters. To counteract this trend, the Commission has determined that, until further notice, it will give priority to sending American visual and performing arts to Japan, especially to venues outside Tokyo.
Present arts policy calls for support to the highest quality endeavors with the following elements:
- Contemporary forms of art
- Collaborative projects, both in terms of interdisciplinary forms and among artists from the two countries
- Projects reflecting the breadth and depth of American cultural diversity
- Projects including public outreach activities, as well as sites and venues in Japan that historically have not had a tradition of exchange with the United States
After determining the most significant objectives in terms of artistic standards of quality, critical funding needs, and previous neglect, the Commission has established the following categories in the arts:
- Creative Artists Exchange Fellowship Program
- Performing Arts Exchanges
- Exhibition and Visual Arts Exchanges
- Infrastructure Support for Arts Exchanges
Each year the Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts jointly select five leading contemporary and traditional artists from the United States spend
five months in Japan as part of the United States/Japan Creative Artists Exchange Fellowship Program. Cultural understanding is at the heart of this program. The Fellows are free to live anywhere in the country to pursue activities of greatest relevance to their creative process.
The Commission will not consider projects in the arts in the following areas:
- Touring of symphony and other strictly musical groups or of solo performing artists. In the field of music, only those projects that are interdisciplinary artistic collaborations in nature will be considered.
- Amateur and university groups
- Support for American museums for regular staff, acquisition of objects, or cataloging of existing collections
- Japanese performing arts groups and exhibitions traveling to the United States
Potential applicants are urged to consult with Commission staff before submitting an application.
