Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Japanese Government Policies in Education, Science, Sports and Culture 2000 > Part 1 Chapter 4 Section 1 2

The Arts Council, which was established by a Royal Charter in 1946, plays a central role in the promotion of such fields as performing arts and fine arts. As a central distributing body for government assistance for the arts, it provides aid to arts and culture organizations such as orchestras and theater troupes (See Table 1-4-2 ), and also offers advice and cooperation to governmental and local institutions and for the development of arts organizations and increase of opportunities for arts appreciation. Furthermore, with the aforementioned allocation of revenues from the National Lottery, the Arts Council reviews submitted proposals and conducts assistance activities with regard to arts and culture. National Lottery revenues comprise a significant amount, largely on the same scale as grants that have been offered by the Arts Council.

Table 1-4-2 State of Allocation of Aid by the Arts Council (FY1999)

The Crafts Council is involved in the planning and implementation of promotional activities for crafts. The Crafts Council obtained corporate status in 1982, and actively works to promote crafts and increase people's understanding about crafts.

National museums and art galleries such as the British Museum receive their funding directly from the national government, whereas non-national museums and art galleries receive grants from the Council of Museum and Art Galleries.

The British Film Institute is concerned with the promotion of films. The institute was established in 1933, and aids in the improvement of the artistic quality of films, while also managing film storage facilities, operating the National Film Theater (which it established), producing and distributing films, building local movie theaters, and collecting and providing film information, in order to promote film appreciation to the people. In addition, the National Film and Television School was established in 1971, and with the aid of the Office of Arts and Libraries and the film and television industry, trains human resources in film- and television-related fields.