The Japan Foundation, Budapest
Local Project Support Program 2021/2022-Arts and CultureGuidelines
1. Description of the ProgramThis program is designed to provide partial assistance for implementing projects related toJapanese arts and culture, with the aim of enhancing cultural exchange between Japan andcountries of Central and Eastern Europe.
As the Japan Foundation, Budapest (JFBP) oversees grant programs of the JapanFoundation in countries of Central and Eastern Europe, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia,Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia, interested entities that are active in thesecountries are eligible to apply. The Japan Foundation maintains an office in Budapest only.
Therefore, entities that are based outside of Hungary should contact JFBP and inquire
directly.

2. Eligibility
Eligible applicants- Applicants must be institutions or organizations which are based in Hungary, or countries
where JFBP oversees JF grant programs in Central and Eastern Europe (see above).
Applications from individuals are not acceptable. Organizations based in Japan are noteligible.
- Applicants must be institutions or organizations that have the capacity necessary for
implementing projects based on a concrete plan of action.
- Applicants must not be commercial organizations.
- The receipt of a grant or support from JFBP must not violate any laws, regulations, orordinances in their countries.
- Applicants must have a bank account in the organization’s name in order to receive grant
funds from JFBP.
Eligible projects:- Projects should commence on or after April 1, 2021, and be completed by March 20, 2022, inconsideration of the end of the Japanese fiscal year 2021, which is March 31, 2022.
- Projects should be of a non-profit nature that will enhance international cultural exchange
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with Japan. - Projects that seek support should be arts and culture oriented, e.g. exhibitions,performing arts, music, dance, and literature, or other activities introducing Japanese culture.
It should be wholly or for the most part, related to Japan. Lectures and demonstrations arealso eligible.
- JFBP considers the prevention of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) of utmost
importance, therefore the applying projects must comply with the safety regulations of the hostcountry. Accordingly, it is required that applicants indicate the epidemiological regulations of
their country, as well as the planned preventive measures for the duration of the project in theApplication Form.
- Projects implemented online are eligible- From 2018 film screenings fall under the grant program Local Project Support Program –Film Showing, which has different guidelines and application form.
The following projects are not eligible:-Religious and political activities.

-Profit-making activities.

-Projects that take place in Japan.

Policy limiting support to organizations for a maximum of three consecutive years.
The Japan Foundation has a policy to limit support to organizations for a maximum of up to threeconsecutive years. This is a measure to avoid providing ongoing support to the same applicant,and to distribute grants to as many applicants as possible. Unless the Japan Foundation
believes that there is a compelling reason to continue with support, organizations that havecontinuously received funds from the same grant program for the past three fiscal years will not
be provided with funds for the fourth fiscal year. Applicants can apply for a fourth round ofsupport but should be aware that lower priority will be placed on such applications.

3. Grant coverage
Only specific items can be covered with the grant.
-As a rule, travel expenses, honorarium, hire of venue, printing/publicity costs areeligible.

The following costs are not eligible for funding:-Preliminary project research or development costs.

-Travel costs to or within Japan.

As this program is designed to provide partial assistance, in principle, the grant amountprovided by JFBP will be up to 50% of the total budget.
4. Number of grants for JFY 2021 and scale of the grants
An average of ten grants are made per fiscal year. Grant sizes vary according to project,with an upper limit to 1000 Euros per grant, in principle.
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5. Selection policy
Screening will be made in line with the following policy-

Demonstration of a strong need of a grant from JFBP.

-Contents of the project: past achievements, artistic quality, pioneering approach, future

potential, sustainability and development of plan, feasibility and spillover effect, etc.
- System for project implementation: Status of preparations, cost-benefit of a performance orexhibition, etc.
-Co-funding preparedness: Willingness to put forth the applicants’ own funds as well as

funds from other sources in order to implement the project are appreciated and should beincluded in the project design.
The following projects will be given lower priority-

Projects from applicants who have received grants from JF Head Office or JFBP in thesame fiscal year. (The applicant cannot select more than one grant programadministered by the Japan Foundation for the same project.)-

Projects whose effects are restricted to and can be shared only as exchanges between
specific groups/individuals.

-Projects with an extremely low number of participation and attendance.

-Solo performances, solo exhibits, and solo recitals may be given lower priority.

6. Application deadline and reporting requirements
Please contact JFBP staff before making a formal application in order to discuss eligibility
and other pertinent matters. Applicants are encouraged to submit a brief outline of theirproject in writing, prior to the discussion.
Different from previous years, in FY 2021-22 we accept applications in multiple rounds thathave a set deadline.
1st Round: March 8, 2021 (for projects which take place between April 1, 2021 and March 20,2022)
2nd Round: June 1, 2021 (for projects which take place between July 1, 2021 and March 20,2022)
3rd Round: September 1, 2021 (for projects which take place between October 1, 2021 andMarch 20, 2022)
4th Round: December 1, 2021 (for projects which take place between January 1, 2022 andMarch 20, 2022)＊ With consideration of the unprecedented situation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic and the protocol for reopening cultural activities being different in each country,applicants, who plan to implement a project in the First Round period, however may not be able
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to meet the deadline of March 8th because of uncertainties related to the epidemic situation,
shall contact our staff in charge to discuss further options.
＊Applicants cannot reapply for funding at a later Round of screening for a project that wasrejected during any former Round.

Applications should be submitted in English by the deadline. This fiscal year we only accept
applications submitted electronically. Please take note that the scanned version of the original,
signed documents is required to make the application valid.

As the fiscal year in Japan ends in March, projects that are scheduled for the end of thefiscal year, especially in February and March need a special time frame in order to meet thereporting requirements before the end of the fiscal year. Such applicants should contact
JFBP staff for details well beforehand to discuss the deadline for application as well as theschedule for meeting other requirements.
7. Notification of Results
The applicant will be informed of the results of the screening. If the grant application issuccessful, the grant funds will be transferred after the project has been implemented and allreporting duties have been fulfilled.

8. Conditions
1) In receiving and using the grant, the applicant must not act in violation of laws of Hungary
nor the country where the applicant is based. The grant cannot be used for religious nor
political purposes.
2) JFBP reserves the right to open to the public, the details of the project, including the JapanFoundation’s support for the project.
3) JFBP reserves the right to revoke a decision to provide the grant, or order to return thegrant already paid (in whole or in part), if any one of the following events occurs inrelation to the grant.
- The grantee gave false information in making the application for the grant.
- The supported project is ceased or abandoned.
- There is no chance of the grantee’s execution of the grant project.
- The grant project is proved to be against the conditions of the grant.
Further Terms and Conditions of the grant will be communicated to successful applicants
directly.

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9. Procedure
Applicants can download application forms from the JFBP website.
http://www.jfbp.org.hu/en/grant-programs/
Application flow-chart: Application process and notification of acceptance, projectcompletion.
*(A)=Applicant, (J)=Japan Foundation, Budapest(A) Refers to the Program Guidelines(Discuss eligibility and project content with JFBP staff as necessary.)↓(A) Obtains an Application Form
(Download from JFBP website)↓(A) Submits Application Form and Budget Form before the deadline(For deadlines please see p.3)↓(J) Screening↓(J) Sends out Provisional Notice of Grant Approval↓(A) Submits Acceptance/Declination Form
(One month before the start of the project)↓(A) Project takes place↓(A) Submits following documents within one month after completion of the project-

Project Report-

Financial Report-

Copies of all relevant receipts-

Payment Request Form↓(J) Confirms all documents, sends Confirmation of Grant, transfers grant funds.

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