Deadline: 02-Dec-2025
The Grant Program for Dispatching Artists and Cultural Specialists offers vital support to artists and cultural practitioners in Japan who are invited to share their work and expertise overseas.
Managed by the Performing Arts Section of the Arts and Culture Department, the program provides financial assistance for cultural exchanges that showcase Japanese traditions and creativity on the global stage. By enabling participation in performances, demonstrations, lectures, and workshops abroad, it aims to strengthen international cultural ties and highlight Japan’s rich artistic heritage.
From fiscal year 2025 onward, the program has been streamlined, with the second round of applications discontinued. Eligible applicants include individuals and groups active in the arts and cultural fields, as well as organizations and agencies in Japan that arrange such projects. A key requirement is that applicants must have secured an invitation from a foreign institution. Projects supported under this scheme range from performing arts such as theater, music, dance, and folk arts, to workshops, lectures, and demonstrations related to Japanese culture, including sports. However, projects already receiving grants from Japanese governmental or affiliated agencies, or those based solely on invitations from diplomatic missions or applicant branch offices abroad, are not eligible.
For the 2026 fiscal year, the program supports projects taking place between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027. Participants must depart from Japan after April 1, 2026, and return by March 31, 2027. The grant provides partial coverage of international travel costs and baggage or freight expenses, with the condition that only round-trip flights departing from Japan are supported.
In fiscal year 2025, the program demonstrated its competitive nature, with 43 projects awarded out of 163 applications. The maximum grant amount awarded reached approximately JPY 4,000,000, showing the significant scale of support available for projects that stand out. This initiative remains an important channel for cultural diplomacy, ensuring Japanese artists and specialists can continue to contribute meaningfully to global conversations through art and culture.
For more information, visit Japan Foundation.
