Funding

From the year 2023-2024, all applications should be digitally submitted and applicants should register to make an account for the procedures.

Only grant programmes open to UK applicants are listed below.

Please click here for examples from the previous year (for reference only).

Visual Arts

Exhibitions Abroad Support Program

This programme is designed to financially support museums, galleries and other relevant organisations mounting exhibitions or introducing Japanese art and culture to the UK.

Grant Coverage (Part of the following expenses):

• Packing and shipping costs of Japanese exhibits (excluding insurance costs)
• Catalogue production costs (including digital catalogue costs)
• Travelling costs for invited Japanese artists, curators, and specialists (excluding costs for preliminary research and development).

Eligible project period: Exhibitions that will open between 1 April 2027 and 31 March 2028
Application Deadline: 1 December 2026 (TBC)

Notification of Results: April 2027

Please click here for further information about this programme (for reference only).

For further information, and to discuss eligibility and the application procedure, please contact Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer.

 

Previous Grant Recipients

 

Ishibashi Foundation / The Japan Foundation Fellowship for Research on Japanese Art

This programme aims to support the development of professionals specialising in the study of Japanese visual art by providing an opportunity for curators and researchers from abroad to conduct research in Japan, and by doing so, promote the study of the field and the introduction of Japanese art overseas.

This fellowship is implemented by the Japan Foundation with generous funding from the Ishibashi Foundation.

Duration

21 to 59 days

*The fellowship’s beginning date (date of arrival in Japan) for FY 2027-2028 must fall between 20 June 2027 and 31 March 2028.

Benefits

• Round-trip airfare (discount economy class [most direct route])
• Stipend and other allowances

Application Deadline: 1 December 2026 (TBC)

Notification of Results: April 2027

For application instructions, please click here (for reference only)

For further information, and to discuss eligibility and the application procedure, please contact Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer.

 

Previous Grant Recipients

 

Local Project Support Programme

This programme is designed to give limited grant assistance to non-profit making projects/events relating to Arts and Culture that help to promote a greater awareness of Japan in the UK (e.g. exhibitions, performing arts, seminars, workshops, and conferences), benefitting the wider general public. The content of the project/event must be wholly, or for the most part, related to Japan.

Grant Coverage:

• Only specific items such as travel expenses, honoraria, venue hire costs, printing/publicity costs etc. which are deemed to be essential in order to carry out the project.

Successful applications may be granted up to £1,500. Due to the circumstances surrounding Covid-19, we now accept applications for online projects.

Application Deadline: Rolling deadline (At least two months before the start of the project)

Please click here for further information about this programme.

For further information, and to discuss eligibility and the application procedure, please contact Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer.

Japanese-Language Program for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields

This programme is open to specialists working in museums and galleries e.g. curators, who require improvement of their Japanese language skills as part of their work.

Application deadline: 1 December 2026 (TBC)

For application instructions, please click here (for reference only).

Touring Exhibitions

For details about the availability of Japan Foundation Visual Arts Exhibitions, please click here.

Performing Arts

Local Project Support Programme

This programme is designed to give limited grant assistance to non-profit making projects/events relating to Arts and Culture that help to promote a greater awareness of Japan in the UK (e.g. exhibitions, performing arts, seminars, workshops, and conferences), benefitting the wider general public. The content of the project/event must be wholly, or for the most part, related to Japan.

Grant Coverage:

Only specific items such as travel expenses, honoraria, venue hire costs, printing/publicity costs etc. which are deemed to be essential in order to carry out the project.

Successful applications may be granted up to £1,500. Due to the circumstances surrounding Covid-19, we now accept applications for online projects.

Application Deadline: Rolling deadline (At least two months before the start of the project)

Please click here for further information about this programme.

For further information, and to discuss eligibility and the application procedure, please contact Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer.

Film

If you wish to organise Japan-related film screenings, talks and conferences in the UK, and would like the Japan Foundation to be involved financially or in other ways as your partner, we would like to hear from you.

Please discuss with Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer.

Please note that we will likely only consider involvement in projects focusing on Japan.

Publication

Support Program for Translation and Publication

This programme is designed to provide financial assistance for foreign publishers to translate and/or publish Japan-related books.

The original book written in Japanese must already be published, and both fiction and non-fiction (including the humanities, social sciences and the arts but excluding the natural sciences) titles are eligible.

Priority is given to translations of texts specified by the Foundation included in the list Worth Sharing - A Selection of Japanese Books Recommended for Translation which can be accessed by clicking here.

Grant Coverage (Part of the following expenses):

• Translation fee
• Publication and production costs (costs for paper, plate-making, printing, binding, etc. paid to printing companies, etc.)

Application Deadline: 1 December 2026 (TBC)
Notification of results: Late April 2027

Please click here for information (for reference only).

For further information, and to discuss eligibility and the application procedure, please contact Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer.

Previous Grant Recipients