PART II Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture
Chapter 9. Toward a Culture-Communicating Society
Section 1. Culture Promotion Measures
3. Budgetary Provisions for Culture Promotion
The fiscal 1994 budget of the Agency for Cultural Affairs amounted to 59,584 million yen, an increase of 10.6% over the previous fiscal year. This was equivalent to 1.07% of the general account budget of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and 0.08% of the government's total general account budget. It was the first time in 21 years that the Agency's budget exceeded 1% of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture's general account budget (
Table II.9.1,
Figure II.9.1). Japan's cultural affairs budget is still low, however, when compared with those of many other countries. It is necessary to make increased efforts to expand the culture budget to reflect the growing public interest in the arts and culture and the increasing importance of making an international cultural contribution. Of course, it is also necessary to take other factors into account, such as the prevailing financial situation and the need to maintain a balance with other areas.
The proliferation of local cultural projects and the expansion of culture-related organizations have been paralleled by a steady increase in the culture-related budgets of local governments. This trend is indicative of growing enthusiasm for the promotion of local culture. In future it will be necessary to provide increased budgetary resources for "software" aspects, especially support for artistic groups, subsidies for creative activities, and expenditure on human-resource development.
