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FY2025 2nd Startup Grant

Startup Grant supports new artistic creation activities that are challenged by emerging artists and art organizations who want to develop their activities in Tokyo's art scene. The program covers performances, exhibitions, art projects, participation in international festivals, international collaborations, etc. in Tokyo and overseas, and supports startups that help young talents build a foundation for future artistic activities.

Public Offering Briefing (Online)

2025年度 第2回「スタートアップ助成」について、助成申請を検討されている方を対象にオンライン公募説明会を開催します。参加を希望される方は、締切日までに申し込みフォームからお申し込みください。
　※参加に際しては、公募ガイドラインを必ず事前にお読みください。
　※公募説明会への参加は助成の採否には影響しません。
　※申請にあたってのご質問は、お問い合わせフォームや電話【03-6256-8431】でも随時承ります。

Date and Time

Part 1: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 18:00~20:00
Part 2: Thursday, September 11, 2025 14:00~16:00 (Sign language interpretation planned)
* The contents of the explanation are the same each time.

method of implementation

Online meetings via Zoom
*For those who have decided to participate, we will send you an email from Arts Council Tokyo with instructions on how to join the meeting by the day before the event. (Forwarding to non-participants is not allowed.) ）

capacity

60 persons each time (If the number reaches the maximum before the deadline, the application will be closed at that time.)

How to apply

Please fill out the application form and apply.
* If you need a sign language interpreter, please let us know "Sign language interpreter requested" in the form.
Sign Language Interpreter Application Deadline: Thursday, September 4, 2025 18:00

application deadline

1st session: Monday, September 1, 2025, 13:00
2nd Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 13:00
※ Reception will be completed with the participation reception email from Arts Council Tokyo.
*If the capacity is reached before the deadline, the reception will end at that time.

Notes

・Instructions on how to register and participate in the meeting will be sent from setsumeikai*artscouncil-tokyo.jp. Please set your settings so that you can receive emails from this address. (Please replace * with @)
・If you do not receive an email from Arts Council Tokyo by the day before the event, please contact us.
・Participation in the public recruitment briefing session will not affect the acceptance or rejection of the grant.
・The personal information we receive will be strictly managed and used only for communication related to the operation of this open call briefing session.

Application Guidelines

Implementation period of the target project

Projects beginning on or after January 1, 2026 and ending by December 31, 2026

target business

(1)Creative artistic activities in Tokyo
Performances, concerts, exhibitions, screenings, art projects and other creative activities in Tokyo
(2) International creative artistic activities
Overseas performances and exhibitions, international collaborations, international festivals, invited performances and exhibitions, etc.

Applicants who are eligible

Individuals (Emerging artists, producers, planners and producers, etc.) or up-and-coming groups (Arts organizations, executive committees, etc.) who are engaged in artistic activities based in Tokyo and are expected to play a role in the next generation of the Tokyo art scene.
*For individuals: In the field for which the applicant is applying, it has been less than three years since he/she first organized a public activity in Tokyo, or he/she has organized no more than five public activities in Tokyo.
*For organizations: less than three years have passed since the organization was established. It does not matter whether you have a corporate status or not, or whether you are classified.

Venues

Tokyo or overseas
* Including online publication

Artistic fields covered

Music, theater, dance, art and video, traditional performing arts, and mixed arts (art activities whose core field cannot be specified)

application ceiling

Group: 1 million yen
Individual: 300,000 yen
and within the scope of subsidized expenses
* From FY 2025, all amounts equivalent to consumption tax and local consumption tax will not be subsidized. Please be careful.

How to apply

Application documents can be submitted online.
Please use the application form to register the applicant, fill in the fields, and upload the necessary documents.

Application period

From 10:00 on Monday, August 25, 2025 to 18:00 on Thursday, September 25

public offering guidelines

2025年度第2回スタートアップ助成 公募ガイドライン

Q＆A

2025年度 第2回「スタートアップ助成」に関するよくある質問Q＆A

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Consumption Tax in the Budget

収支予算書における消費税について

Notes

* Co-sponsored projects and affiliated projects with facilities managed and operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture are not eligible for subsidies.
* Projects sponsored or co-sponsored by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, or projects that are or are scheduled to be paid subsidies, support funds, subsidies, consignment fees, etc. by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture and Tokyo are not eligible for subsidies.

採択概況［PDF］

◆Number of applications (adopted): 192 (46)

Startup Grant is a grant program that supports new artistic activities that are taking on the challenge of emerging artists and art organizations who want to develop their activities in Tokyo's art scene. In the second round of the 2025 Call for Applications, 192 applications were received, and 46 were accepted. The number of applications decreased from 232 in the previous survey (first round of FY2025).
In this open call, there were many inconsistencies between the applicant's name and the name of the organizer, as well as inadequacies in location confirmation documents and income and expenditure budgets. Please note that it is a mandatory requirement that the name of the applicant, the name of the organizer, and the organization application match the names of the articles of incorporation and bylaws. After completing the application form, please review the information you entered again and check the uploaded file for errors before pressing the submit button. As the deadline approaches, it may be difficult to confirm the contents, so please consider scheduling your application with plenty of time before the deadline.
In addition, there were also applications for projects that were not eligible for subsidies because their main purpose was to sell exhibits and productions. Please check the requirements thoroughly in advance before applying.
Under this grant program, projects with clear project details and an appropriately planned budget and schedule for realization are eligible for subsidies. We hold public recruitment three times a year, so please clarify the specificity and feasibility of the project and apply at the appropriate time.
When preparing your application, please check the application guidelines and Q&A carefully in advance, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by phone, use the "Inquiry Form", or ask questions at the public application briefing session.

< Music field >
In the music field, 44 applications were submitted, of which 8 were accepted. Enterprises working in various fields, such as ambient music, opera and Celtic music, with a focus on contemporary music, have been selected. All of the applications that were accepted were based on the applicant's past achievements and clearly stated the concept of new challenges and their specific contents. Another characteristic was that many projects were creative in their production processes and presentation formats to achieve their objectives. On the other hand, applications that lacked a verbalization of the originality of the applicant's own activities and a detailed explanation of the programs and performances based on this were not adopted. In addition, there were several applications for which the names of applicants could not be confirmed in the "materials showing the contents of past activities," and they were rejected due to insufficient requirements. When submitting an application, please refer to the Guidelines for Public Offering and confirm once again whether the application meets the requirements and whether the content of the application is in line with the "Review Points."

< Theatre >
In the theatre field, 19 out of 85 applications were accepted, which was the highest number of applications since the public call for applications was held 3 times a year in FY 2024. Many applications were submitted by people other than scriptwriters and directors who played a central role in the planning process and sought to reexamine the process of creating plays and the premise of performing works. In addition, among the projects selected this time, there were several applications positioned in the process of developing a long-term creative plan or work, such as work in progress, reading performances, and preview shows. On the other hand, applications that do not sufficiently describe the originality or challenge of the applicant in the "objectives of the project" or "specific initiatives" or that do not clearly describe the budget plan or implementation system for achieving the objectives of the project are rejected. In some cases, applications that were not accepted in the past or applications that were not accepted for other projects were reconsidered and were accepted. Please refer to the Guidelines for Public Offering and review each item on the application form before submitting.

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In the field of dance, 7 out of 14 applications were accepted. The most popular genre of applications was contemporary dance, with a wide range of other applications including dance, flamenco, classical ballet, street dance, aerial and Argentine tango. Among the projects selected this time, there were five projects by applicants that had been selected in the past, and all of them clearly indicated that they would be a step up for the applicants. On the other hand, this subsidy program is intended to support new artistic creative activities undertaken by up-and-coming artists and artistic organizations. Applications that lack specific descriptions or considerations regarding creativity, such as work concepts and creative methods, or applications that have a strong element of human resource development do not fit the purpose of this subsidy program and were not selected.

《Art and Video Field》
In the field of art and video, 28 applications were received, and 6 were adopted. Based on social issues and cultural backgrounds, we have selected challenging group exhibitions, art projects, and solo exhibitions with concrete exhibition plans and high feasibility. The theme was highly evaluated, as it can be seen that the theme is unique, and it can be seen that the participating artists, Venues, and the method of exhibition and presentation are chosen with necessity. On the other hand, about 70% of the projects that were rejected did not meet the requirements. In the group application, there were conspicuous deficiencies, such as the inconsistency between the name of the applicant organization, the name of the organizer, and the name of the organization stated in the articles of incorporation and articles of incorporation, the inability to confirm the credit of the applicant organization name in the "materials showing past activities", and the submission of other organizations and corporations as "accounting materials for the previous year". In addition, there were deficiencies in the individual application, such as the budget document not being written correctly. Please note that businesses that include the sale of works of art, and those whose main business content is competitions and contests are not eligible for subsidies. Even if the business content can be evaluated, if the required documents are incomplete, it will not be adopted. Please prepare with plenty of time and check if there are any deficiencies before submitting.

《Traditional performing arts》
In the field of traditional performing arts, there were 6 applications and 3 were adopted. The projects selected this time were highly unique and challenging, with content examined from a unique perspective on current issues in the field of traditional performing arts and their own activity themes. In addition, for the purpose and purpose of the project, Projects with specific and clear plans and highly evaluated feasibility have been adopted. On the other hand, there were several applications that did not meet the application requirements or did not meet the purpose of this grant program. The "Documents showing past activities" must be able to confirm the activities in the name of the applicant and the applicant organization. The activities of individual members of the organization are not recognized as achievements. Please read the guidelines carefully when applying and contact us in advance if you have any questions.
The number of applications in the field of traditional performing arts in Startup Grant is on a slight downward trend. Based on the issues and goals you feel in your own activities, we hope you will consider a plan that will be a step up to your future activities. We look forward to your ambitious application.

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In the multi-disciplinary field, 15 applications were submitted and 3 were accepted. This year, a project was selected for solo performances in various fields such as music, sports, and comedy; a project for creating experimental choreographic works in which various artists such as dancers, actors, and musicians act as performers; and a project for creating installations in which dancers mainly exhibit. On the other hand, projects for which the necessity of collaboration between artists of various genres and the specific method of project implementation cannot be discerned are not selected.

Inquiries about this matter

公益財団法人東京都歴史文化財団 アーツカウンシル東京
活動支援部 助成課 助成係
TEL:03-6256-8431（平日10:00～18:00）
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