In the second half of FY2015, Arts Council Tokyo started a support program called the Social Grant. This program provides financial support for independent artistic activities by people with disabilities, seniors, children, young people, and foreign residents, as well as for pioneering artistic activities aimed at addressing and improving a variety of social and urban challenges.

Because the Social Grant is a new system and there are few precedents of public subsidies for artistic activities that contribute to social inclusion, it is necessary to verify whether we as the support organization have an accurate grasp of the needs of practitioners, and whether support translates to a valid and effective scheme on the ground.
Furthermore, while art brut and other art activities by people with disabilities have a high profile in the leadup to 2020, visibility for the many excellent practices in the field of performing arts has not been easy to bring about, and there is not enough support in place.
Accordingly, since 2016 we have been bringing together people from among the organizations eligible for the Social Grant, predominantly those in the performing arts field, and holding the Disability and Performing Arts Study Group. The three objectives of the Study Group are as follows.

1. To exchange opinions with practitioners in order to update and improve the system for the Social Grant (and other grant programs)
2. To build a network between organizations to exchange information and share challenges
3. To engage in discussion to formulate project proposals and policy recommendations for 2020

In addition, from amongst the groups eligible for the Creation Grant, a program providing support for the creative activities of artists and enhancement of their working environment, we have brought together performing arts practice organizations that tackle social challenges. The Study Group has attracted a total of 22 groups active in this field, making it a major platform. Here we introduce the participating organizations in the Study Group, and provide an outline and the minutes of each session.

Facilitator
Satsuki Yoshino (Associate Professor, Media Arts, Faculty of Letters, Aichi University)

Supervisor
Shoko Sano (Senior Program Officer (Theater and Social Grant), Planning & Grants Division, Arts Council Tokyo)

Participating organizations: Total of 22 groups
ABLE ART JAPAN　http://www.ableart.org/
Creative Art Executive Committee　http://www.musekk.co.jp/
Sign Art Project.AZN　http://www.sapazn.jp/
NPO Theatre Accessibilty network (TA-net)　http://ta-net.org/
Theatre Planning Network　http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~tpn/index2.html
Senior Theatre Network　http://s-engeki.net
SLOW MOVEMENT Committee　http://www.slowlabel.info/
DDD Project (General Incorporated Association being there/Representative: Miyuki Tanaka)　
Japanese Theatre of the Deaf (Totto-kikin)　http://www.totto.or.jp/
Inclusive Field for Dance　https://www.inclusive-dance.org/
Media Access Support Center (MASC)　http://npo-masc.org/

(Participating as observers were the following)
Junko Kurashina (Yamanote Jijosha Company, Nicochan no Kai)　http://www.nicochan.jp/category/art/
Kazuyo Morita (Actor/dancer, leader of CONVEY, Director of P’spot14)　http://www.convey-art.com/
OFFICE LOU　http://www.lou.co.jp/

(Participating organizations since 2017 are as follows)
Okowa
Kita Noh Theatre (Roppeita XIV Commemorative Foundation)　http://kita-noh.com/
Sokerissa (AOKIKAKU)　http://sokerissa.net/
Dialogue Japan Society　http://www.dialogue-japan.org/
JIENKYO Japan Union of Theatre Companies for Children and Young People　http://www.jienkyo.or.jp/
Japan Philharmonic Orchestra　https://www.japanphil.or.jp/
Gayagaya Club
Sokkyou-karameru-dan　http://improkarame.blogspot.jp/