The Japan Foundation, Budapest
Local Project Support Program 2024/2025-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 institutions and organizations
that are active in these countries are eligible to apply. The Japan Foundation maintains an
office in Budapest, Hungary only.

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 accepted. 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, 2024, and be completed by March 10, 2025, inconsideration of the end of the Japanese fiscal year (JPY) of 2024, which is March 31, 2025.
- Projects should be of a non-profit nature that will enhance international cultural exchangewith Japan.
1

JFBP_LPSP_2024/2025
Guidelines【AC】

- 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 are also eligible.
- Projects implemented online are eligible- Since 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 after three consecutive years.
The Japan Foundation has a policy to limit support to organizations for a maximum of up to
three consecutive 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 JapanFoundation believes that there is a compelling reason to continue with support,organizations that have continuously received funds from the same grant program for thepast three fiscal years will not be provided with funds for the fourth fiscal year. Applicants
can apply for a fourth round of support but should be aware that lower priority will be placedon 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.

-

Purchase of long-lasting equipments, supplies etc.

-Catering costs.

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 2024 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.

2JFBP_LPSP_2024/2025
Guidelines【AC】

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, futurepotential, sustainability and development of plan, feasibility and spillover effect, etc.
-System for project implementation: Status of preparations, cost-benefit of a performanceor exhibition, etc.
-Co-funding preparedness: Willingness to put forth the applicants’ own funds as well asfunds 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 the effects of 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 if you have questions about
eligibility and other pertinent matters. Applicants are encouraged to submit a brief outline of
their project in writing, prior to the discussion.
In JFY 2024 we evaluate applications in multiple rounds that have set deadlines:-Application deadline for projects which take place between April 1, 2024 and September 30,
2024: June 1, 2024-

Application deadline for projects which take place between October 1, 2024 and December
31, 2024: August 1, 2024-

Application deadline for projects which take place between January 1, 2025 and March 10,2025: December 1, 2024

＊ These are the final deadlines. You can submit your application to an earlier round even if
the final deadline for the date of your event falls in a later round.
＊ For projects taking place in April and May, please contact our colleagues to discuss thedeadlines and the details of the procedure.
＊ Applicants cannot reapply for funding at a later Round of screening for a project that wasrejected during any former Round.
3

JFBP_LPSP_2024/2025
Guidelines【AC】

Applications should be submitted in English by the deadline. We only accept applications
submitted electronically by email. 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 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 in every case. If the grantapplication is successful, the grant funds will be transferred after the project has been
implemented and all reporting 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 publicly share 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 in
relation 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.
9. Procedure
Applicants can download application forms from the JFBP website.
https://japanalapitvany.hu/en/lpsp-arts-and-culture-202424
Application flow-chart: Application process and notification of acceptance, projectcompletion.
*(A)=Applicant, (J)=The Japan Foundation, Budapest
4

JFBP_LPSP_2024/2025
Guidelines【AC】

(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.
＊ Deadlines for projects taking place in April and May, 2024 and February and March,2025 may differ.

5JFBP_LPSP_2024/2025
Guidelines【AC】