Japan Foundation Exhibitions Abroad Support 2027–28: Museum Applications by 30 November
A grant for museums and exhibition organisers outside Japan
The Japan Foundation has opened applications for its Exhibitions Abroad Support Program for exhibitions scheduled to open in the 2027–28 project period. This institutional programme helps overseas museums and arts organisations introduce Japanese art to international audiences, including Japanese artists taking part in international biennials and triennials. It is not an individual art competition and does not provide direct prize money to artists submitting a single digital artwork. Eligible applicants are museums and art institutions located outside Japan that are organising qualifying exhibitions.
Eligible dates and exhibition formats
The project must be an exhibition opening between 1 April 2027 and 31 March 2028. The programme applies to exhibitions introducing Japanese art and culture abroad; proposals for international exhibitions may feature Japanese artists as part of a wider international programme. A virtual catalogue can form part of the funded documentation, but the grant should not be mistaken for an unrestricted online-only art residency or a general digital-production fund. The full guidelines and application form define the admissible exhibition plans and applicant organisations.
What the award pays for, and what it excludes
The published grant scope covers certain packing and shipping costs, catalogue production (including digital catalogues) and travel for dispatched or invited artists, curators and specialists, including eligible transport and accommodation. It does not cover shipping insurance, the production cost of artworks, installation costs or artists' fees. Travel for preliminary research and development is also excluded. These distinctions are essential for media-art and audiovisual exhibition organisers: the grant may help move or present work and document an exhibition, but cannot simply be budgeted as financing the creation of the artwork or an artist's appearance fee.
One application for a multi-venue touring project
If an exhibition tours between venues, the host institution must coordinate the request and submit one consolidated application for the whole project. The Japan Foundation does not accept multiple grant applications for the same exhibition simply because it will visit multiple venues. Organisers should therefore agree responsibility for transport, catalogue production, any shared artist or curator travel, and the dates and budgets of each venue before preparing the proposal. For international group exhibitions, support for catalogue production may be allocated only in proportion to Japanese artists' participation.
Deadline and online portal
The published deadline is 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 30 November 2026. Applications must go through the Japan Foundation's Online Application Portal, using the detailed 2027–28 Exhibitions Abroad Support Program instructions and forms. Applicants in Asia and Europe should explicitly convert the EST deadline to their own time zone, not assume it is midnight in Japan or in the host museum's country. The organisation expects to announce application results in April 2027. The official guidelines, not this summary, govern any supporting material, matching requirements or additional exclusions.
The organisation and its published grant record
The Japan Foundation is a public institution supporting cultural exchange between Japan and the world. Its New York office publishes the overseas exhibition programme and maintains lists of awardees for many years, from 2014–15 through 2025–26, allowing museums to review previous supported work and establish the scheme's institutional history. Exhibition organisers can consult the official site for the grants office contact details. Aion Laboratory independently reports this programme for professional visual and media arts audiences and is not involved in selection or application processing.
Official guidelines and application
This article provides a summary. To avoid misunderstandings, please be sure to check the official page for full details.
Information checked: 19 October 2026.
Other opportunities and publication
Aion Digital Art Award is an independent competition organised by Aion Laboratory and is not associated with the organiser or the selection for this call.