PRESS RELEASE

June 3, 2020
2020‐No. 04

Survey Results and Starting a Support Fund
Impacts of COVID-19 on Corporate Mécénat andSupport for Maintaining and Developing Artistic and Cultural Activities
The Association for Corporate Support of the Arts (5-3-2 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Motoki Ozaki), in
cooperation with the NLI Research Institute, conducted a “Survey Regarding the Effects of Covid-19 on Corporate Mécénat
Activities” amongst our member companies and organizations.
Since beginning in January of this year, the spread of COVID-19 has dramatically impacted economic and culturalactivities all around the world. Japan’s cultural and artistic fields have also been deeply affected, with numerous
cancellations and postponements of cultural projects and closures of cultural facilities. Artistic groups and cultural facilities,
as well as artists and people working in cultural industries, have also suffered tremendously. From the results of our survey,
we can see that corporate mécénat activities have also experienced significant effects.
The Association for Corporate Support of the Arts is starting to provide support for arts and culture based on thesesurvey results. We will now be treating the COVID-19 situation as an additional disaster eligible for support from ourGBFund, a fund for supporting disaster recovery with art and culture, founded following the Great East Japan Earthquake.
In order to continue artistic and cultural activities and to further revitalize them after the virus has been overcome, we areasking for donations and providing aid to artistic and cultural activities.
*Press release (PDF): https://www.mecenat.or.jp/ja/news/pressrelease/8265■Main Points from the Survey Results
1.
2.
3.

The spread of COVID-19 has impacted the mécénat activities of 70% of companies and groups.
The majority want to “restart following careful consideration of when and how” after COVID-19.

4.

Many companies and groups are continuing mécénat activities despite the spread of COVID-19 or are discussing mécénat
activities with the COVID-19 situation in mind.

5.

Many companies that responded believe the social role and significance of culture and art will increase after COVID-19
has passed.

Nearly all of the companies that responded “think financial support is necessary” for artistic and cultural activities
during the COVID-19 crisis.

■GBFund（G: Geijyutsu/Arts, B: Bunka/culture, F: Fukkou / Revival & Fund）
https://culfun.mecenat.or.jp/grant/gbfund/h.html
We now recognize COVID-19 as an additional disaster eligible for this fund. As the initial stage of our support, we areasking for donations to support impacted artistic and cultural activities urgently in need and to further revitalize themafter the COVID-19 crisis has passed. *Donations to this fund qualify for a charitable contribution tax deduction.
Supporting activities impacted by COVID-19, such as:●Artistic and cultural activities forced to stop
●Groups or individuals hurt by the cancellation of artistic and cultural activities●Artistic and cultural activities conducted with the goal of restoring or revitalizing impacted
artistic and cultural fields●Artistic and cultural activities conducted with the goal of restoring or revitalizing society whereartistic and cultural activities are stagnating●Activities developing personnel for careers related to art and culture that have been negatively
affected by the interruption to activities■Association for Corporate Support of the ArtsA private public-interest corporation in which companies and cultural organizations participate and collaborate with theaim of social creation through the promotion of art and culture. To help realize a creative and vibrant, prosperous societythat respects diversity, the association conducts activities related to the promotion of art and culture such as surveys andresearch, accreditations and awards, grants, exchange, and dissemination of information with a focus on advocating
corporate mécénat.
Chairman: Tatsuyoshi Takashima (Adviser of Dentsu Inc.), President: Motoki Ozaki (Former Chairman of the Board, KaoCorporation) Full and Associate Members： 150 companies and organizations／Individual members：18（as of June 2020）
For inquiries regarding this matter, contact: Association for Corporate Support of the Arts
PR：Kanako Sato TEL:03-5439-4520 FAX: 03-5439-4521 E-mail: press@mecenat.or.jp
Aise Shiba Bldg. 8F, 5-3-2, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014 https://www.mecenat.or.jp/

2020 年 6 月 3 日
June 2, 2020

2020‐No. 04–Survey Results on the Impact of COVID-19 on Corporate Mécénat –Confirming the Impact of COVID-19 on Corporate Mécénat and theNeed for Support
Kigyo Mécénat Kyogikai (Associationfor Corporate Support of the Arts)The NLI Research InstituteWe have tabulated the results of the “Survey Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Corporate Mécénat ” carriedout by the Association for Corporate Support of the Arts and the NLI Research Institute amongst member companiesand organizations. The main points are as follows.
【Main Points from Survey Results】
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The spread of COVID-19 has impacted the mécénat activities of 70% of companies and groups.
The majority “want to restart following careful consideration of when and how” after COVID-19.
Nearly all of the companies that responded “think financial support is necessary” for artistic andcultural activities during the COVID-19 crisis.
Many companies and groups are continuing mécénat activities despite the spread of COVID-19 or
discussing mécénat activities with the COVID-19 situation in mind.
Many companies that responded believe the social role and significance of culture and art will increase
after COVID-19 has passed.

【Survey Overview】
・ Survey
objective

・Surveysubjects
・Questionnaire
period・Survey method・No. of valid
responses
・Survey Topics

To understand the current impact and future outlook of the spread of COVID-19
on corporate mécénat, to share this information with members, and todisseminate information about corporate mécénat activities now playing
significant roles in society.
Official Association for Corporate Support of the Arts members: 119 companiesand groups
May 11 – May 20, 2020
Email notification and online questionnaire
84 companies/organizations （valid response rate 70.6%）
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

The impact of the spread of COVID-19 on mécénat activities
Delayed or cancelled activities from Feb. 2020 – Apr. 2020
Planned delays and cancellations from May 2020 onward
Plans for after the COVID-19 crisis has passed
Contacts and consultations with organizations planning to support art groups,etc.
Handling cancellations and postponements of cultural programs
The necessity of support for artistic and cultural activities during COVID-19
Effects on future mécénat activities
Existing mécénat supporting other art and culture during COVID-19
The necessity of corporate mécénat as support for artists and art groups, etc.
The social role and significance of culture and art after COVID-19 has passed
The influence of COVID-19 on this year’s CSR budgets
Requests to Association for Corporate Support of the Arts and difficulties
related to mécénat activities
Profiles of companies that responded (industry, year established, capital,
number of employees)*Should you require more detailed survey results, please send an inquiry to the following email address.
Association for Corporate Support of the Arts PR: press@mecenat.or.jp

2020 年 6 月 3 日
1.

2020‐No.
The spread of COVID-19 impacted the mécénat activities of 70% of companies
and 04groups.

 54.8% responded that there had been

Impact on mécénat activities
Don't know /Can't say
14.3%
No impact
1.2%

Significant
impact54.8%“a substantial impact” on theircorporate mécénat activities, and17.9% that there had been a “mildimpact,” for a total of 72.6% reporting
an impact (significant impact + mildimpact).

Very littleimpact
11.9%

Mild impact
17.9%

2.

The majority want to “restart following careful consideration of when and how” after COVID19.
Plans for after COVID-19 has passed

Other6.2%
Still deliberating andhave not yet decided
on a policy
27.7%

Do not currently expect
to restart due to thesignificant effects of
COVID-19
1.5%

Want to restart originallyplanned facility operations
and cultural projects assoon as possible
10.8%

Want to restart after
careful consideration ofwhen and how
53.8%*Respondents that chose “our company is not operating cultural facilities
or cultural projects” (19 respondents) have been excluded from the data
represented here based on the purpose of this question.

 Whenasked about planning andoperating businesses affected by
COVID-19, 53.8% responded that they“want to restart following carefulconsideration of when and how,” after
the COVID -19 situation has been
resolved.

2020 年 6 月 3 日
3.

2020‐No.
Nearly all of the respondents “think financial support is necessary” for artistic
and 04
cultural activities during COVID-19.
The necessity of support for artistic and culturalactivities during COVID-19
Not necessary
at all1.2%
Not verynecessary
2.4%

 59.5%

respondedthatfinancial
support as well as supporting theresumptionofactivitiesbyindividualsandorganizations
involved
withartandculture
impacted by the spread of COVID -19
is “very nece ssary,” and 36.9%“somewhat necessary.”

Somewhatnecessary
36.9%

Verynecessary
59.5%

4.

Many companies and groups are continuing mécénat activities despite the spread ofCOVID-19 or are discussing mécénat activities with the COVID-19 situation in mind.
Effects on future mécénat activities

Don't know
22.6%

Affected temporarily, but want to resume
existing mécénat activities after theCOVID-19 situation has been resolved.
41.7%

Taking into account that COVID-19
has significantly affected art andculture, we are discussing more
effective mécénat activities.
31.0%

Taking into account that
COVID-19 has significantly
impacted our industry, we
have no choice but toconsider reducing mécénatactivities.
4.8%

 Regarding the spread of COVID -19
and the declaration of emergency,
41.7% responded that they had been“affected temporarily, but want toresume existing mécénat activities
after the COVID -19 situation hasbeen resolved,” and 31.0% “taking
into account that COVID-19 has
significantly affected art and culture, weare discussing more effective mécénatactivities.” The majority of respondents
indicated a positive attitude toward mécénatactivities.

5.

2020 年 6 月 3 日
Many companies that responded believe the social role and significance of
2020‐No. 04

culture and art will increase after COVID-19.
An increased social role and significance for culture
and art after COVID-19

 When asked whether the social role andsignificance of culture and art would be higher

Don't know
16.7%

Unclear
1.2%

after COVID-19, 41.7% responded “definitelyDefinitely think so
34.5%

Don't reallythink so
6.0%

think so,” and 34.5% “somewhat think so,” for
76.2% positive views (“definitely think so” +“somewhat think so.”).

Somewhatthink so…

Appendix

GBFund: A fund for disaster recovery and support
through art and culture
This fund supports artistic and cultural activities of people and areas impacted by various disasters. We
have now designated Covid-19 as an eligible disaster and are asking for donations to support art and culture
impacted by its spread. Whether from corporations or individuals, we hope to receive as many donations aspossible.

https://culfun.mecenat.or.jp/grant/gbfund/h.html

Donations to Association for Corporate Support of the Arts are eligible for preferential tax treatment suchas charitable contribution deductions (please see the NTA website for details).
https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/koho/kurashi/pdf/11.pdf

This fund will support activities impacted by COVID-19, such as:⚫

Artistic and cultural activities forced to stop⚫

Groups or individuals hurt by the cancellation of artistic and cultural activities⚫

Artistic and cultural activities conducted with the goal of restoring or revitalizing impacted artistic andcultural fields⚫

Artistic and cultural activities conducted with the goal of restoring or revitalizing society where artistic
and cultural activities are stagnating⚫

Activities developing personnel resources in careers related to art and culture that have been negativelyaffected by the interruption to activities*

An activity’s eligibility for support will be determined by a selection committee including experts andAssociation for Corporate Support of the Arts directors, etc.
*Activities to be supported will be chosen based primarily on the following criteria.
① Expected to work for the public good and further develop society② Individuals demonstrating the potential to maintain and develop future artistic and culturalactivities③ Recognized as urgently in need of supp