1. JFNY Grant for Arts & Culture
This program provides support to non-profit organizations in the U.S. that organize projects that will further the understanding of Japanese arts and culture within the 37 states east of the Rocky Mountains, plus Washington D.C.
Successful projects generally take the form of performances, exhibitions, film screenings, and workshops. This grant also supports online projects related to Arts & Cultural Exchange such as virtual exhibitions, virtual performances, film streaming, online conference as well as webinar. Priority will be given to those projects that have secured additional funding from sources other than the Japan Foundation, as well as projects that take place in areas where access to Japanese cultural events are relatively limited.
| Proposal deadline | Rolling (applications must be submitted at least 3 months prior to the project start date) |
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| Funding opportunity | Institutional funding for U.S.-based institutions/organizations with 501(C)(3) status |
| Funding Maximum | $5,000 (average: US$2,000) |
2. Exhibitions Abroad Support Program
This program is designed to provide financial support for museums and art institutions outside of Japan that organize exhibitions introducing Japanese art and culture to international audiences. In addition, this program is designed to support international exhibitions held outside of Japan such as biennials/triennials introducing Japanese artists and their works.
| Proposal deadline | 11p.m. EST, November 30, 2026 |
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| Coverage | Part of the following expenses: packing and shipping costs, catalog production costs and traveling costs. |
| Eligibility | Museums and art institutions outside of Japan *If the exhibition travels to more than one venue, the host institution should consolidate the grant requests and only one application should be submitted for the whole project. The Japan Foundation will not accept multiple applications for one project. |
3. Ishibashi Foundation / The Japan Foundation Fellowship for Research on Japanese Art
This program aims to develop human resources specializing in Japanese visual arts by providing an opportunity for curators and researchers from abroad to conduct research in Japan, and by so doing, promote the study of the field and the introduction of Japanese art outside of Japan.
This fellowship is implemented by the Japan Foundation with generous funding from the Ishibashi Foundation.
| Proposal deadline | 11p.m. EST, November 30, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Funding opportunity | Individual funding for projects of 21-59 days in length |
| Coverage | Includes airfare, insurance, research allowance and stipends |
| Eligibility | Individuals who conduct the activities stipulated in “Eligible Area and Activities” living in a country outside of Japan (curators, researchers,educators, conservators, etc.). All of the following criteria must be met: 1 Applicants must hold nationality (or permanent residency) incountries that havediplomatic relations with Japan. 2 Applicants must be in good health both physically and mentally. 3 Applicants must be proficient in either Japanese or English. 4 Applicants must be able to stay continuously in Japan for the term offellowship. 5 Applicants must not violate the law or regulations of their owncountry by receivinga fellowship from the Japan Foundation. 6 Individuals who do not apply for other grant programs of the JapanFoundation. 7 Previous recipients of Japan Foundation Fellowships (not only theFellowship forResearch on Japanese Art but also all the other Fellowships of theJapanFoundation) are eligible to reapply only if, on April 1, 2027, a full threeyears haselapsed since the termination of their most recent Fellowship. 8 The research must not be conducted for religious or political purposes.*For details, please refer to the Application Instructions of the Fellowship. |
4. Support Program for Translation and Publication
This program is designed to provide partial financial support for overseas publishers intending to translate and publish works originally written in Japanese. The program aims to foster better understanding of Japan by encouraging overseas publishers to translate and publish Japanese works.
| Proposal deadline | 11p.m. EST, November 30, 2026 |
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| Funding opportunity | Translation and publication projects of works written in Japanese and already published in Japan (works of fiction and works of nonfiction in the humanities and social sciences) |
| Coverage | Part of the following costs incurred and paid between April 1, 2027 and February 29, 2028: translation fee and/or production costs (e.g. costs for paper, typesetting, platemaking, printing, and binding) |
| Eligibility | Publishing companies outside of Japan |
5. Grant Program for Dispatching Artists and Cultural Specialists
This program is designed to provide financial support for artists and Japanese cultural specialists who are invited by institutions outside Japan to participate in cultural events (e.g., performances, demonstrations, lectures, and workshops) overseas with the aim of introducing Japanese arts and culture or of contributing to international society through arts and cultural projects.
| Proposal deadline | 11p.m. EST, November 30, 2026 |
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| Funding opportunity | a. Performing arts (e.g., theatre, music, dance, folk arts, etc.); b. Lectures, workshops, and demonstrations related to Japanese culture, including sports |
| Coverage | International travel expense and carriage (baggage/freight) for projects which take place between April 1, 2027 and March 31, 2028 (including the date of departure and returning) |
| Eligibility | Applicants must be either: 1 Groups or individuals in the arts and cultural fields who are based in Japan and havereceivedinvitations to participate in cultural events overseas from foreign organizations; 2 Organizations and agencies, based in Japan that arrange and produce the projectsdescribed above. |
6. International Creations in Performing Arts
The Japan Foundation seeks organizations or individuals that will jointly organize international creations in performing arts between Japanese and international artists.
| Proposal deadline | 11p.m. EST, November 30, 2026 |
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| Funding opportunity | All works in the field of the performing arts shall be covered by this program including theater, dance, music, performance, traditional/folk performing arts, etc. |
| Coverage | Cost Coverage JF will bear as its share of the cost to jointly organize the program, less than 70% of the total cost for planning and implementation AND a maximum of JPY 10 million (including taxes) or JPY 5 million (including taxes). See the Application Instructions for details. |
| Eligibility | Any organization or individual located in Japan that meets all the requirements listed below may apply. 1 Category A (1) An organization with legal status in Japan that operates in the field of culture and the arts, or an executive committee in which such an organization plays a central role. 2 Category B (1) An individual working in the field of arts and culture, or an organization without corporate legal status in Japan. (2) The principal collaborative partner artist(s) for the proposed project is(are) active in ASEAN countries. 3 Applies to both Categories A and B (1) The collaborative foreign artist(s) has approved implementation of the project. (2) The collaborative foreign artist(s) has approved implementation of the project. (3) An organization that approves the acceptance of an external expert (i.e., process observer) to record the creation process. (4) An organization that will be able to produce videos for distribution, including premiere performances after creations, and agrees to online distribution by the Japan Foundation. (5) Not being a member of an organized crime group or any other antisocial forces, and having no relationship whatsoever with such forces. |