Performing Arts Japan for Europe PAJ Europe 2020-21

Under the Performing Arts Japan Programme for Europe (PAJ Europe), the Japan Foundation is now accepting proposals for projects, which take place between 1st April 2020 and 30th June 2021, for Touring and Collaboration grants.

Performing Arts Japan Programme for Europe (PAJ Europe) was started by the Japan Foundation in 2006 to revitalise and facilitate the exchange between leading artists in Europe and Japan. The main feature of this scheme is that this grant will be made available to those organisers based in Europe who are planning to organise Japan-related performing arts projects in European regions. The applications will be screened by an annually appointed panel of advisors who are specialists in the area of performing arts in Europe. Successful applicants will receive grants towards part of the cost of implementing their project.

To date, PAJ Europe has funded 155 projects (including 81 touring and 74 collaboration projects) of Japanese performing arts in both traditional and contemporary art forms. In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, 12 projects (6 Touring and 6 Collaboration projects) were selected under the programme, for a total amount of €145,670.

The PAJ Europe programme comprises of the following two categories:

TOURING GRANT: assists the presentation process of Japan-related performing arts projects in which the Japanese artist is included in the tour at multiple cities in Europe, with emphasis on locations outside major capital cities where there is no regular exposure to Japanese performing arts. Please note: The PAJ definition of ‘Touring’ means a project that is presented as one continuous tour without large gaps of time between performances.

COLLABORATION GRANT: assists the development stage of a project in which Japanese and European artists work collaboratively in order to create a new work through research, residencies, artists’ discussions etc., that has the potential of being developed into a touring project in the future, enhancing the understanding of Japanese culture when presented to European audiences.

Applications can be accepted from performing arts-related organisations, such as festivals, theatres, or arts promotion companies which are based in the list of eligible PAJ European countries: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Vatican City.

Grant Coverage (Part of the following expenses):

a) Expenses for invited Japanese artists/professionals: