Call for applications: 2020 Tokyo Tokyo Festival in Japan

The festival is an initiative that will see a variety of cultural programmes unfold in the run-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The ACT says the programme is "aiming to provide opportunities for the citizens of Tokyo to experience the various arts and cultures around the world as well as to enhance and promote the attractiveness of Tokyo as the hub of creation.”

The cultural programmes, including the festival, are meant to:

• Introduce Tokyo culture with originality and diversity including the coexistence of tradition and modernity to the world and proactively promote international artistic/cultural exchanges.
• Generate opportunities for participation and exchanges among all people including the disabled, the elderly, children and people from other countries.
• Encourage artistic/cultural activities with new concepts and develop human resources for the next generation.
• Generate a citywide festive mood for arts and culture.

The application deadline 13 January 2020.

Who can apply?

Overseas organisations are required to collaborate with local partners. These partners should be based in Japan and should either be an artistic organisation, private theatre or art space, private corporation, executive committee, foreign government institution or academic institution.

An organisation can make multiple applications. Applicants may also choose multiple categories per project. However, projects may be selected as categories differing from those specified by the applicants.

Artists exploring the following art forms can apply:

• Music
• Play
• Dance
• Visual arts
• Photography
• Literature
• Media arts (video, comics, animation, games etc.)
• Traditional arts
• Performing arts
• Lifestyles and culture
• Fashion
• Architecture

Project eligibility

The proposed collaboration project should:

• Be by artists residing abroad who encourage the creation of new art (including collaborative work).
• Involve an activity that will garner global interest and attention.
• Present the diversity of the world’s culture and pursue new ideas and forms of expressions.

The following type of projects are eligible for the grant:

• Activities organised for political, religious or charity fundraising purposes.
• Lectures and events organised solely by cultural schools, student associations, clubs etc.
• Activities organised mainly for competition or contest purposes (except for the grant category: The Citizen-Led Cultural Activities).
• Activities that benefit only particular organisations.
• Activities organised mostly for profit-making purposes or existing commercial performances
• Activities organised mainly for selling their products or works.
• Project delivered solely by national governments or local public bodies.
• Project delivered exclusively by organisations funded by federal governments or local public bodies.

Projects selection will be based on:

• Innovativeness and creativeness. The project should include ground-breaking ideas, which may lead to the advancement of arts and culture.
• Internationality. Ability to enhance the attractiveness of Tokyo as the hub of creation.
• Impact and appeal. Ability to attract attention and interest from the domestic artistic institutions/artists and encourage their creation.

Funding

The fund can award a maximum grant of 20 000 000 yen (about $180 000), but projects should be at least 50% match-funded.

How to apply

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

• Application form, which is available in Japanese only. 
• Income and expenditure budget.
• Information about your organisation.
• A signed form undertaking that each party does not fall under any of the anti-social forces.
• Governing document such as articles of incorporation, bylaw, etc.
• If your organisation is a corporate/company, the most recent financial statement.
• Program outline, operational structure, communication plan and promotion plan of Tokyo Tokyo Festival.

All the electronic data should be in Word and Excel format, and saved on a disk/device etc.

All documents should be sent to the following address:

Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture)
Paralympic Cultural Strategy, Arts Council Tokyo
Kudan First Place 8F, 4-1-28
Kudankita
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo
102-0073

For more information email bp-josei@artscouncil-tokyo.jp

View the original call here.