Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART II Chapter 9 Section 3 1

Local governments have a major role to play in the promotion of local cultural activities through the implementation of such measures as the construction of civic halls. The culture-promotion activities of local governments have expanded steadily over the years.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs provides assistance and advice concerning these activities as part of its efforts to encourage creativity and innovation in local artistic and other cultural activities. The Agency is also actively implementing local culture promotion measures in cooperation with local governments, cultural groups, and cultural facilities.

There is growing public enthusiasm for participation in cultural activities. The Agency for Cultural Affairs organizes the National Culture Festival as a means of responding to this enthusiasm and also as a way of fostering artistic and cultural creativity and promoting local culture. The festival, a major national event, is held in a different prefecture each year. The fiscal 1994 festival was held in October in Mie Prefecture.

The aims of the National Culture Festival for Upper Secondary Schools are to raise the standard of creative activity in upper secondary schools and to foster reciprocal exchange by providing opportunities for students to display their artistic and cultural activities. The festival is held in a different prefecture each year. The fiscal 1994 festival took place in August in Ehime Prefecture.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs is implementing the Programs for Formation of New Cultural Centers with the aim of creating cultural centers to disseminate regional culture throughout Japan. Under this program the Agency helps regional artistic and cultural organizations involved in activities of a high standard, including music, drama, and dance, to develop and become firmly established. Three regions have been selected for the program. Using facilities equipped with sophisticated functions, these three regions dispatch personnel to assist in the development of locally based artistic and cultural groups. Creative activities are carried out, and regular events held.

The Programs for the Promotion of Culture in Local Areas targets regional urban centers designated under the Law Concerning the Promotion of Conditioning of Local Basic Cities and the Promotion of Redistribution of Industrial Business Facilities. The program was substantially expanded in fiscal 1994 (from 9 areas to 16).

The achievements of these model programs and the knowledge gained are being made available throughout Japan. These efforts are expected to encourage the development of regionally based cultural activities that are innovative and highly creative.