Deadline: 31 October 2019
The Japan Foundation is now accepting proposals for projects, which take place between 1st April 2020 and 30th June 2021, for Touring and Collaboration grants.
Performing Arts Japan Programme for Europe (PAJ Europe) was started by the Japan Foundation in 2006 to revitalise and facilitate the exchange between leading artists in Europe and Japan. The main feature of this scheme is that this grant will be made available to those organisers based in Europe who are planning to organise Japan-related performing arts projects in European regions. The applications will be screened by an annually appointed panel of advisors who are specialists in the area of performing arts in Europe.
Successful applicants will receive grants towards part of the cost of implementing their project.
The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 as a special legal entity supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reorganised in 2003 as an independent administrative institution. Through its headquarters in Tokyo, a branch office in Kyoto, two Japanese-language institutes and 25 overseas offices in 24 countries, the Japan Foundation conducts a wide range of programmes concerning arts and cultural exchange, Japanese language education, Japanese Studies and intellectual exchange. The Foundation operates on the income from an endowment, annual subsidies from the Japanese government, and donations from the private sector.
Objectives
The primary objectives of PAJ Europe are:
- To support the effective introduction of carefully selected Japanese performing arts projects that have a plan for an even geographic coverage across Europe.
- To assist well-envisioned Europe-Japan collaborative projects through the creational phases of new works.
- To encourage educational and outreach activities in addition to the actual performances, such as workshops and residency activities; to acquaint European audiences with Japanese performing arts in the context of their history, culture and development.
Categories
The PAJ Europe programme comprises of the following two categories:
- Touring Grant: assists the presentation process of Japan-related performing arts projects in which the Japanese artist is included in the tour at multiple cities in Europe, with emphasis on locations outside major capital cities where there is no regular exposure to Japanese performing arts. Note: The PAJ definition of ‘Touring’ means a project that is presented as one continuous tour without large gaps of time between performances.
- Collaboration Grant: assists the development stage of a project in which Japanese and European artists work collaboratively in order to create a new work through research, residencies, artists’ discussions etc., that has the potential of being developed into a touring project in the future, enhancing the understanding of Japanese culture when presented to European audiences.
Benefits
- For both Touring Grant and Collaboration Grant
- PAJ grant is only applicable to cover the following costs for the project that takes place during the eligible funding period (April 2020 – June 2021):
- Expenses for invited Japanese artists/professionals:
- International airfare (discounted economy class)
- Travel costs within Europe (deemed appropriate)
- Lodging and Per Diems
- Freight
- Expenses for the Translator/Interpreter:
- Translation and interpreting costs (between Japanese and European languages) related to the project
- Expenses for invited Japanese artists/professionals:
- Grants are made on a cost-sharing basis. PAJ Europe will not fund more than 50% of the total project costs, nor will it fund overheads and/or administrative costs of the applicant organisation such as an employee’s salary.
- The grant amount provided by PAJ Europe can vary according to each application. The maximum amount awarded to an application for the year 2019-2020 was €15,000.
- Costs relating to activities outside the eligible PAJ European countries will not be covered by PAJ.
- PAJ grant is only applicable to cover the following costs for the project that takes place during the eligible funding period (April 2020 – June 2021):
- For Touring Grant only
- PAJ Europe will only fund the costs incurred during the performance stage of a performing arts tour. Costs related to the research and development of a tour will not be covered by the Touring grant.
- For Collaboration Grant only
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- PAJ Europe will only fund the costs incurred during the development process of creating new works.
- Costs for the public presentation of a completed work, including its rehearsal, as a result of the collaboration, will not be covered by the Collaboration grant.
Eligibility Criteria
- The purpose of the project must be to present Japanese performing arts and/or to conduct Europe-Japan artistic collaborations in the field of the performing arts.
- The project must take place between 1st April 2020 and 30th June 2021.
- Applications can be accepted from performing arts-related organisations, such as festivals, theatres, or arts promotion companies which are based in the list of eligible PAJ European countries.
- Applicants can submit only one application for consideration and this must be for either the Touring category or the Collaboration category.
- The project must be undertaken by professional artists. Non-professional members can be included only if the objective of the project is to present performing arts of high quality and not to train or educate the members.
- Commitments to the project must be secured from the venues and the artists/professionals concerned at the time of application.
- The project must not be used for religious or political purposes.
- In the case of an adaptation, the copyright arrangements concerning the original work must have already been completed. The applicant is also requested to attach a copy of the documents which prove that the applicant has already cleared the copyright.
- If a project receives a grant from any other of the Japan Foundation’s programmes, such as the -3- QU-PAJE Grant Programme for Dispatching Artists and Cultural Specialists and Local Project Support Programme, it cannot be funded through PAJ Europe at the same time.
Eligible PAJ European Countries
Applications for this programme can only be accepted from organisations who are based in the following countries – Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Vatican City.
Assessment Criteria
- Touring Grant
- Below is a list of criteria by which each application will be assessed.
- Artistic quality of the project
- Artists’ proficiency and achievements to date
- Impact on audiences and the performing arts scene in Europe
- Geographic reach
- Feasibility of project implementation
- Propriety and adequacy of the planned project
- Strength of educational and outreach activities
- Capacity to provide future continuity
- Cost effectiveness
- In addition, priority will be given to projects that meet the following criteria:
- Projects that involve Japanese artists based in Japan
- Projects created through past PAJ Collaboration grants
- Projects which will tour at least two European countries
- Projects implemented in countries which are expected to expand the PAJ Europe network in terms of Touring and Collaboration, besides countries such as France, UK, Germany and Italy where a sufficient number of applications are constantly received every year
- Projects where the applicants can afford to cover some of the expense items that are included in the PAJ grant coverage
- Projects which are of high quality or that aim to introduce the latest trends in Japanese performing arts
- Projects related to important international festivals, or major diplomatic anniversary events. Please consult the relevant Japan Foundation office in Europe for further information about the forthcoming year’s anniversary events.
- Below is a list of criteria by which each application will be assessed.
- Collaboration Grant
- Below is a list of criteria by which each application will be assessed.
- Dynamic interaction between Japanese and European artists
- Artists’ proficiency and achievements to date
- Cost effectiveness
- Feasibility of project implementation
- Artistic quality expected of new work potentially created as a result of the collaboration
- Potential to develop into a Touring project in the future
- Expected impact on audiences and the performing arts scene if presented in the future
- Propriety and adequacy of the planned project
- Strength of educational and outreach activities
- In addition, priority will be given to projects that meet the following criteria:
- Projects that involve Japanese artists based in Japan
- Projects implemented in countries which are expected to expand the PAJ Europe network in terms of Touring and Collaboration, besides countries such as France, UK, Germany and Italy where a sufficient number of applications are constantly received every year
- Projects where the applicants can afford to cover some of the expense items that are included in the PAJ grant coverage Projects which are of high quality or that aim to introduce the latest trends in Japanese performing arts
- Projects related to important international festivals, commemorative cultural events, or major diplomatic anniversary events. Please consult the relevant Japan Foundation office in Europe for further information about the forthcoming year’s anniversary events.
- Below is a list of criteria by which each application will be assessed.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted to the Japan Foundation office assigned to applicant’s country at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit https://jpf.org.uk/cms/files/PAJ-2020-2021-Guidelines.pdf