<P><U><B>The Mandate</B></U></P>
<P>The Agency for Cultural Affairs (ACA) was established by legislation in 1968. Its mandate is the promotion of culture and the preservation and utilization of cultural property.</P>
<P>The ACA serves professional arts, community arts, amateur arts, music, theatre, dance, visual arts, crafts, cultural animation, heritage, folk or traditiional culture, museums and galleries, archives, archeology, the preservation and conservation of artifacts, language preservation, language training (limited to Japanese-language training for foreigners), the training of artists and/or cultural workers, media arts, film, and multi-media.</P>
<P>The Agency</P>
<UL>
<LI>provides financial support to arts/cultural organizations
<LI>provides financial support to individuals in the arts/culture
<LI>has responsibility for government legislation related to the arts/culture
<LI>develops national arts/cultural policies
<LI>implements national arts/cultural policies
<LI>conducts research in the arts/culture
<LI>compiles and maintains the national cultural statistics and databases
<LI>promotes public understanding and appreciation of the arts/culture
<LI>has lead responsibility at the national level for coordinating international cultural relations and exchanges
<LI>has responsibility for copyright and intellectual property matters
<LI>organizes and manages cultural activities or events
<LI>manages cultural facilities or venues
<LI>arranges tax benefits for contributions to the arts/culture
<LI>awards prizes/honours in the arts/culture
<LI>provides training and professional development in artistic/cultural fields </LI></UL>
<P><U><B>The Staff</B></U></P>
<P>The Agencys employees (753 in fiscal year 2000) are members of the public service. The chief executive officer is appointed by the Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture.</P>
<P>The staff who have direct program responsibilities (those who manage programs of support to organizations and/or individuals) do not generally come from the field. The organization does not have regional offices.</P>
<P><U><B>Budget and Revenue Sources:</B></U></P>
<P>The ACAs total budget in the current year is 81 billion yen (or $80,000,000 in U.S. dollars). The entire budget is contributed by the national government. ACA receives annual funding from the governments general revenues or culture budget. Over the last five years, funding from government has remained at the same level.</P>
<P><U><B>Programs of Financial Support for the Arts/Cultural Community</B></U></P>
<P>The ACA provides financial support to organizations. It also provides financial support to lower levels of government. Most of its programs are organized by discipline or sector.</P>
<P>The funds can be used for</P>
<UL>
<LI>creation
<LI>research and development
<LI>production, presentation and exhibition
<LI>conservation and preservation </LI></UL>
<P>Religious and political activities cannot be funded.</P>
<P><U><B>Assessment of Applications for Financial Support</B></U></P>
<P>Applications for financial support are assessed by a screening committee with due consideration for the circumstances and characteristics of each artistic genre.</P>
<P>In selecting peer assessors, the Agency seeks people who are deeply versed in the arts and culture. The assessors recommend funding decisions to the Agency. An assessor may serve no more than three times (three years) in that capacity.</P>
<P>The ACA has conflict of interest rules for assessors. Those who have direct relations with the applications cannot participate in the screening committee meeting.</P>
<P><U><B>Greatest Current Challenge</B></U></P>
<P>Besides possessing innate significance on its own, culture distinguishes the character of a nations people and provides them with a common ground. Due to abrupt changes in Japanese society, including changing and diversifying values, advancing international integration, and intensifying mega-competition, however, there is increasing apprehension about the current state of Japans culture. Science and technology are rapidly assuming greater importance in the lifestyles of Japanese people.</P>
<P>Due to extensive changes in Japans socio-economic circumstances, various problems and challenges are emerging in relation to culture. The major challenge is to direct nation-wide efforts toward the urgent task of creating a culturally-oriented nation.</P>
<P><U><B>Greatest Current Strength</B></U></P>
<P>Cultural administration needs to be comprehensively promoted with due consideration for its environment. Among the current goals of the Agency for Cultural Affairs are:</P>
<UL>
<LI>Preparation of a comprehensive plan for promoting culture
<LI>Increasing collaboration and cooperation among local authoorities
<LI>Making use of the diverse resources within Japanese society
<LI>Improving collaboration with educational institutions </LI></UL>
<P>To bring a culturally-oriented nation into being, the following initiatives are being launched:</P>
<UL>
<LI>Conducting a feasibility study on the ideal organizational structure of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, from the standpoint of strengthening its functions in the planning and coordination of cultural policy
<LI>Increasing and enhancing opportunities for liaison and discussion among the national government authorities concerned with culture
<LI>Creating opportunities for representatives of both the ACA and local authorities to exchange opinions regarding cultural policy with one another and with other expert people
<LI>Further incorporating the diverse resources available within society by organizing opportunities in local areas for liaison and discussion regarding such topics as corporate patronage of culture
<LI>Requesting that schools and communities cooperate in advancing the cultural program for children in community as an integral part of the educational reform plan. </LI></UL>
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