Deadline: 02-Dec-2025
The Japan Foundation is seeking applications for its Exhibitions Abroad Support Program to provide financial assistance for overseas museums and art institutions to help them organize exhibitions introducing Japanese art and culture to audiences overseas.
Eligible projects include exhibitions that aim to introduce Japanese art and culture through initiatives planned and executed by foreign museums or art institutions; showcase Japanese artists and their works within international art platforms such as biennials and triennials; or develop exhibitions through overseas artist-in-residence programs that foster exchange among local citizens, artists, curators, and researchers, supported by a clear concept and concrete implementation plan.
The grant will cover part of the expenses incurred and paid during FY2026, including packing and shipping costs (excluding insurance), catalog production costs (including digital catalogs for international exhibitions, with partial support based on the ratio of Japanese artists), and travel expenses for dispatched or invited artists, curators, and specialists. The maximum airfare supported will, in principle, be the cost of round-trip economy-class discount tickets. Costs related to preliminary research, installation, production, and artists’ fees are not covered under this grant.
The Japan Foundation extends grants to foreign museums and art institutions located outside Japan that have the capacity to implement the planned project and meet the terms and conditions outlined by the organization. Applications from individuals or entities established by the Japanese government will not be accepted. Each organization may only submit one application, and if the exhibition tours to more than one venue, the host institution must consolidate the requests into a single submission. Institutions that have continually received support from this program for the past three years will not be prioritized unless compelling reasons are provided.
Selection will be conducted in consultation with external specialists, evaluating projects based on the necessity of the grant, the content of the exhibition, the organization’s implementation ability, and cost-effectiveness. Higher priority will be given to exhibitions with strong curatorial values that have not yet been staged in the applicants’ countries, and to exhibitions commemorating an Exchange Year. Projects organized by institutions that have recently received support from the Japan Foundation or that primarily serve commercial or goodwill purposes will receive lower priority.
The application deadline is December 2, 2025, 13:00 (Japan Standard Time).
For more information, visit Japan Foundation.
