Euskadi - Japan 2023

The Euskadi - Japan 2023 initiative aims to strengthen ties with Japan, a priority in the Basque Country´s internationalisation strategy. After opening channels of collaboration in recent years based on visits and meetings with stakeholders and political leaders from both countries, this pioneering initiative will promote bilateral projects in different areas – institutions, economy, business, culture, gastronomy, tourism –in both Japan and the Basque Country.

On 22 July, the framework for bilateral collaboration was presented to representatives of the main festivals, programmes and cultural infrastructure in the Basque Country. The event, which took place in San Sebastian’s Tabakalera building, was attended by Marian Elorza, Secretary General for Foreign Action of the Basque Country; Irene Larraza, director of the Etxepare Basque Institute; Keiko Morito, director of the Japan Foundation in Madrid; and Alejandro Rodríguez, coordinator of cultural and artistic programmes at the Japan Foundation.

Elorza explained that all departments at the government level will be oriented towards Japan and special effort will be made to undertake bilateral projects. In terms of cultural activities, the Etxepare Basque Institute and Japan Foundation will provide support aimed at developing exchange projects between the two territories. The heads of the the two organisations have announced the grants under the programme.

Japan Foundation

The Japan Foundation was founded in 1972 to promote international cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries around the world.

The Foundation works in three areas: art and cultural exchange programmes, Japanese studies and intellectual exchange programmes, and Japanese language learning programmes.

Every year the Japan Foundation offers two types of financial support: grants from its Tokyo headquarters and grants from the Madrid headquarters to promote local projects.

Japan Foundation Grant Programme

Grants are administrated from the Foundation´s central office in Tokyo. The goal is to facilitate grants aimed at individuals and organisations planning to carry out international exchange projects. The projects must fall within one of the organisation´s areas of activity. The next call will be in September to apply for projects carried out between April 2023 and May 2024.

• For individuals and organisations in Japan:

Grants will cover partial travel expenses for specialists or artists from Japan who travel abroad to undertake cultural or artistic projects.  The aim is to encourage participation by artists and specialists in Japanese culture in international cultural events (performing arts, exhibitions, conferences, workshops). The artists and specialists themselves must apply directly to the organisers abroad after having been invited by the organisers.

•  For organisations in Spain:

• Grants cover partial expenses for organising exhibitions on Japan in foreign museums (in this case in the Basque Country). They must be requested by foreign museums and art institutions and will cover expenses related to the production of catalogues, transporting works of art and travel costs for artists, curators or specialists.
  
  
• Partial costs for translation into foreign languages and publication of books written in Japanese by foreign publishers (in this case from the Basque Country) are covered. They must be applied for by foreign publishers and can cover between 20 and 80% of translation and publishing costs.

Japan Foundation Madrid: programme to support local projects

These grants are administrated from the Madrid office. They are designed to support cultural, artistic and intellectual exchange activities and research on Japan, promoted by non-profit organisations.

All the information about the Japan Foundation grants here.

Japan Foundation Madrid: other avenues of cooperation

The Japan Foundation in Madrid organises its own activities in the area of art and culture and collaborates directly with other institutions to co-organise and support all kinds of cultural and artistic activities. Proposals for collaboration for the coming fiscal year must be submitted before 15 December so that they can be studied and assessed for later approval by the Japan Foundation head office. Projects can be submitted by all types of institutions and structures, but for the coming fiscal year, proposals received from the Basque Country will be given special consideration.

For more information: alejandro.rodriguez@fundacionjapon.es

Japanese Embassy in Spain

Special direct support

The Embassy of Japan in Spain will offer direct support for the activities of Japanese cultural creators in the Basque Country. This will cover part of the artists´ fees, mobility within Spain, accommodation, promotion and translation costs.

For more information: ambjapon@md.mofa.go.jp

Etxepare Basque Institute

Special direct support

The grants offered by the Etxepare Basque Institute will support travel to Japan. In addition, special aid will be granted for cultural promotion and translation.

Contact: Kizkitza Galartza k-galartza@etxepare.eus