Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1993 > CHAPTER 1 �1 5 (3)

Although people are indeed displaying a keen interest in culture, because as was stated above, opportunities to appreciate art and culture as well as chances to participate in cultural activities vary greatly from field to field, it can be said that people's aspirations are not necessarily being met.

The "Culture Consciousness Survey" shows that people "cannot easily find time" to participate in cultural activities (Chart I-1-7). The survey also indicates that while many people view art at exhibits, galleries and so on, chances to appreciate art in this manner are more common in the larger cities as opposed to the localities. where opportunities tend to be more limited (Chart I-1-8).

Chart l-1-7 Reasons of Not Participating Activities (Adults) in Cultural

Chart l-1-8 Experience of Opportunities for Art Appreciation Classified by Scales of Cities (Adults)

Another factor for consideration is that the environment surrounding those who are directly involved in creative artistic activities is sometimes quite unsatisfactory. According to the "Artistic Activity Consciousness Survey", many artists expressed dissatisfaction with their present circumstances and more than half responding that their artistic environments were "unsatisfactory" or "less than satisfactory" (Chart I-1-9). Many artists are in need of financial support; nearlv half would be in favor of subsidies or funding to support their activities and about one third would be in favor of a system to facilitate donations to artistic activities.

Chart l-1-9 Satisfaction with the Environments Surrounding Artistic Activities

The results of the above-mentioned surveys imply that further efforts are required to improve the cultural environment by stimulating an appetite for cultural activities and by providing to all opportunities to appreciate art and to be actively involved in spontaneous cultural activities. In order to improve the environment surrounding both individuals and organizations engaged in artistic activities, measures should be taken that positively assist and encourage creative artistic activities, such as an increase in public subsidies and the introduction of private funds.