� 2 Endeavors for the Promotion of Culture - Past and Future
2. Establishment of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Enhancement of Cultural Policy
(2) The Japan Arts Council
The Japan Arts Council, which is classified as a special corporation, operates the National Theatre, the National Noh Theatre and the National Bunraku Theatre where traditional performing arts are presented, and supports cultural activities utilizing the Japan Arts Fund. A brief history of the Council is as follows. In 1966,a special corporation was set up to establish and operate the National Theatre, whose goal is to preserve and transmit cultural heritage in the form of traditional performing arts. The corporation subsequently grew to create the Engei Hall. the Bunraku Theatre, the Noh Theatre, and others. Later, in 1989, it also became the establishing body of the New National Theatre (tentative name), a theatre for modern performing arts which is presently 'under construction. In 1990, the corporation was reorganized as the Japan Arts Council. At the same time within this council the Japan Arts Fund was created, which sisted of 50 billion yen provided by the central government with an additional expected amount of up to 10 billion yen from private contributions. This fund has been engaged in the support of a wide range of artistic and cultural activities. The Japan Arts Council has thus taken its place as a central organ that carries out projects for the promotion of art and culture.
