Despite across-the-board cuts in government budgets, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has been given a hefty 8.3% increase in their 2002 budget.

Over the last two years the Agency's budget has jumped from ¥80.8 billion in 2000 to ¥90.9 billion last year and now climbs to ¥98.1 billion (AUD$1.3 billion), as the Government puts its "Cultural Nation" vision into action. While the majority of last year's increase was swallowed up by building projects such as the new National Gallery Roppongi (due to open in 2003), this year will see the creation of an entirely new category of activity. ¥19 billion will be spent on the Cultural Arts Creation (Bunka Geijutsu Sozo) Plan (aka Arts Plan for the New Century). This Plan is broadly divided into three sections: 1] ¥12 billion (AUD$170 million) will be spent on performing arts such as opera, ballet and film, with special consideration going to 'top level' performers and productions. ¥874 million of this sum has been set aside for five international and ten national performance groups to participate in international festivals in Japan. 2] ¥3.3 billion (AUD$46 million) has been set aside for developing young talent through such programs as grants for study overseas and within Japan. The figure also includes funds for 50 international artists to visit Japan. 3] ¥3.9 billion (AUD$55 million) will be spent on aquainting children with culture. 395 productions of performance art, along with 1,765 specially-commissioned artists, will be despatched to schools throughout the country.

This news story was sourced from Japanese Art Scene Monitor.