Arts Council Tokyo Announces Call for Participants: Overseas Dispatch Program for Art Management Talent 2026, 3rd Round

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Arts Council Tokyo, are implementing the 'Overseas Dispatch Program for Art Management Talent,' which sends young professionals who will play a role in connecting artists and society to international festivals and events for short-term assignments.

The dispatch destinations for FY2026, 3rd round, are Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

We welcome applications from young art management professionals aiming for international engagement.

Call for Participants: FY2026, 3rd Round

Dispatch Destination 1: 1st Tainan Art Biennale

Tainan Municipal Museum, Site 2 (Main Venue of the 1st Tainan Art Biennale)

We will dispatch participants to the Tainan Art Biennale. Taiwan, recognized as one of Asia’s leading regions in architecture where rapid urban development coexists with the preservation and revitalization of historic buildings, features a concentration of distinctive public architecture, cultural facilities, and renovation projects across its cities. This allows participants to experience urban policy, cultural promotion, and regional revitalization through architecture in a short period.

[Purpose]

Centered on visiting the inaugural Tainan Art Biennale, which includes participation by Japanese architects, participants will observe architecture across multiple cities including Tainan, Taichung, and Taipei, where tradition and technology converge. In addition to urban observation, participation in the art biennale will enable direct exposure to cutting-edge global artistic expressions, encounters with diverse values, and the building of international networks.

[Advisor]

Professor Taro Igarashi (Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University)

[Sample Activities During Stay]

Participation in international forums and networking events held during the biennale, visits to architectural sites across Taiwan, studio visits to architectural firms, and interviews with relevant professionals

[Dispatch Period]

October 30 – November 6, 2026 (tentative) (maximum 7 nights on-site)

[Number of Participants]

Approximately 3 people

[Eligibility]

Young professionals working in the field of architecture (architects, designers, architectural critics, researchers, etc.)

Dispatch Destination 2: London West End

We will dispatch participants to London’s West End, renowned globally as one of the world’s premier theater districts alongside New York’s Broadway. With over 40 theaters concentrated in this area, a diverse range of performances—from long-running classics to the latest hits—are staged, attracting theater professionals and audiences from around the world. This is a valuable opportunity to experience the forefront of the UK’s performing arts and entertainment industry.

[Purpose]

Participants will be dispatched to London’s West End, one of the world’s top theater districts alongside Broadway. This program offers a chance to experience the appeal of 'entertainment business' from multiple perspectives, including people’s lifestyles, culture, and cutting-edge musicals, exposing participants to the innovative ideas and scale of the industry that are not commonly seen in Japan.

[Advisor]

Makoto Matsuda (Producer)

[Sample Activities During Stay]

Musical theater attendance, studio visits to theater companies, backstage tours, and meetings with active producers and artists in the UK

[Dispatch Period]

November 1 – November 8, 2026 (tentative) (maximum 7 nights on-site)

[Number of Participants]

Approximately 3 people

[Eligibility]

Young professionals involved in performing arts (theater, dance, music, etc.), including producers, directors, curators, and technical staff

Dispatch Destination 3: Berliner Festspiele 4th Performing Arts Season and 36th Euro-scene Leipzig

We will dispatch participants to the Berliner Festspiele’s Performing Arts Season and Euro-scene Leipzig. Berlin, the capital known for its experimental art scene in Europe, and Leipzig, a city preserving a rich cultural heritage in music and academia, offer a valuable opportunity to experience the coexistence of contemporary creativity and traditional arts, and to feel the innovative spirit and historical depth of German culture in two contrasting cities.

[Purpose]

We will dispatch participants to the 4th Performing Arts Season of the Berliner Festspiele, celebrating its 75th anniversary, and the 36th Euro-scene Leipzig. By attending performances at both festivals—internationally acclaimed dance, theater, and performance works—as well as other concurrent events, participants will engage with frontline creative trends, interact with local professionals, and aim to broaden their international perspectives and build networks.

[Advisor]

Yusuke Hashimoto (Artistic Director, Performing Arts Season, Berliner Festspiele)

[Sample Activities During Stay]

Attending festival performances and talk programs, meetings with festival organizers, and site visits to cultural institutions and studios in both cities

[Dispatch Period]

November 7 – November 14, 2026 (tentative) (maximum 7 nights on-site)

[Number of Participants]

Approximately 3 people

[Eligibility]

Young professionals involved in performing arts (theater, dance, music, etc.), including producers, directors, curators, and technical staff

Application Period

July 3, 2026 (Fri) 14:00 – August 5, 2026 (Wed) 14:00

How to Apply

Please apply via the dedicated website: https://www.act-kaigaihaken.jp

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants must meet the following conditions across all fields:

- Interest in international activities, exchanges, or collaborative projects with overseas sectors, with little or no prior overseas work experience

- At least three years of practical experience in the relevant field

- A clear intention to apply the outcomes of this program to future international expansion or collaborations

- Resident in the Greater Tokyo Area and primarily active in Tokyo

- Possession of a valid passport with sufficient remaining validity at the time of the second selection (interview)

- Sufficient Japanese language proficiency to complete application forms, interviews, reporting tasks, and daily communication without difficulty

Support Provided

- Round-trip airfare between Japan and the destination (economy class)

- Local accommodation expenses

- Daily allowance (15,000 JPY per day of on-site stay)

- Overseas travel insurance

- Additional support including scheduling and program coordination at the destination, introductions to local contacts, and advisory support

Dedicated Website

For full details and applications, please visit:

*Note: Dispatch details are subject to change.

Overseas Dispatch Program for Art Management Talent

Under 'Tokyo Cultural Strategy 2030,' the Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to position Tokyo as a global hub of creativity, captivating the world by maximizing the city’s accumulated artistic and cultural resources. To achieve this, the program dispatches young art management professionals—future connectors between artists and society—to international art festivals for short-term assignments, providing opportunities to build networks with overseas arts professionals as their first step toward international engagement. Additionally, direct exposure to pioneering overseas works and creative environments fosters a creative momentum from an international perspective. In the future, this initiative aims to deepen collaboration between Tokyo and dispatch destinations, strengthening networks between Tokyo and international sectors.