Emergency Support Measures Request

for the Visual Arts

art for all

In Japan, although the emergency declaration against the Covid-19 pandemic has been lifted, it is hard to see an end to the crisis, as exhibitions, art festivals and art fairs are continuing to be cancelled, postponed or reduced in scale.

Many areas of arts and culture have already voiced their opinion on the government support measures and their response to the Covid-19 crisis, and practical action has been taken to put pressure on policy makers. However, until now, little opinion has been expressed from the visual art sector. Recognising this silence, we consider it important to raise our voices as individuals who are involved in the visual arts.

As our first step, we voluntarily came together and held a number of meetings online to draw up a letter of request to submit to the government. We request that the government establishes an emergency support system covering a broad area, and that the voices of those in the visual arts be reflected on the decision making of national arts and culture policy. We anticipate that this will improve the current conditions and revitalise the visual arts.

To achieve this aim now, we strongly feel that it is vital for all of us in the visual arts to come together and raise our voices. Therefore, if you agree with the aim of this letter, please do sign this petition as each and every signature helps us get the message across.

Visual arts are not only about the final works of art made by artists, but they also involve a diverse range of people including those who promote them as well as audiences who see the end results. We call for all people who love the visual arts to take part in this petition.


Request Letter of Emergency Support Measures for the Visual Arts

For the Attention of:

Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan

Mr. Koichi Hagiuda, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Mr. Ryohei Miyata, Commissioner of Cultural Affairs

Mr. Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economic Revitalization

Mr. Hiroshi Kajiyama, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry

Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare


We are submitting this letter, as we are alarmed by the lack of clarity within the second supplementary budget in relation to the emergency support for the visual arts sector. We ask that our opinion be reflected on the support for arts and culture as part of the Government’s counter measures for the Covid-19 pandemic, and request financial assistance for the long term effect of the crisis. We also ask for the improvement of conditions in the visual arts sector for future emergencies.

Visual art is a necessary part of human creativity, and mutually influences other areas of the arts, such as architecture, music, theatre, film and dance as well as literature, generating a diverse range of artistic forms. Creative activities in the visual arts are made possible by various people including artists who create the work, curators, technicians, distributors, sales people, those involved in arts education, people who help engage with communities, students as well as audiences. The multi-layered nature of the visual arts sector forms a part of the ecosystem of the arts as a whole.

Even after the government lifted the state of emergency, many organisers of exhibitions, events and art fairs still maintain a cautious stance, and many activities are cancelled, postponed or reduced in scale. The effect of the crisis can be expected to be long term and widespread damage and stagnation will affect the national and international creative industries. The visual arts sector is supported by economically vulnerable workers on fixed term contracts, including volunteers, freelancers, temporary staff, whose financial bases have always been historically unstable. The additional pressure of the Covid-19 crisis has resulted in a significant reduction of work; the estimated economic damage to the visual arts sector between March and May 2020 is 55.6 billion yen.(*1) The sector is facing a grave loss of human infrastructure.

We believe that each and every area of activity in arts and culture should be valued and revitalised furthermore without damaging its ecosystem. In order to ensure the freedom to create and enjoy art, it is important to understand the uniqueness of the visual arts sector, which has been developing on different levels across different areas of society and we need a democratic cultural policy based on shared knowledge and cooperation.

Therefore, we seek urgent financial support and improvement of conditions, and to include those in the visual arts sector in the discussion of arts and cultural policy development. We strongly request the following points be considered:


1. We request urgent support based on the actual situation

We seek urgent support for the losses incurred by those in the visual arts sector due to the cancellation, postponement and scaling down of exhibitions and events, as well as the growing financial damage of the long-lasting restriction of activities both in Japan and abroad. Today visual art practices are becoming more diverse, and the visual art sector is supported by many individuals and small organisations, who gain income through various types of employment. Even with the Subsidy Program for Sustaining Businesses and other schemes put in place by the government, there will not be enough to cover their losses, moreover, there are those who are not eligible. There are some measures taken by local authorities for some in visual arts, but they are limited to a certain number of regions, many of them across the nation fall through the gaps. In order to avoid the depletion of human infrastructure caused by this situation, we ask the government for urgent support based on the broad and specific needs of those in the visual arts.


Appendix (*1) Attached are the supporting documents to help understand the impact of the coronavirus on workers in the visual arts sector and their needs.


2. We request improvement of the conditions in the visual arts sector in preparation for future emergencies

In preparation for future emergencies including natural disasters and financial crises, we need to create a method of assessing potential damages in detail so that effective and immediate support actions can be taken. In order to establish the foundation to cover long term financial damages, our request to the Agency for Cultural Affairs and other relevant departments of ministries is to implement additional funding in the over all visual arts sector, to revise the third supplementary budget, and moreover, to give specific time and occasion to discuss the following points based on the Basic Act on the Culture and Arts.


Note: The Basic Act on Culture and the Arts as well as its Basic Plan for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts prescribes that the national and local governments should implement comprehensive and systematic measures in culture and the arts to bring a prosperous life for the citizens as well as to materialise a vibrant society. Therefore they are obligated to provide support and improve the environment in accordance with the law and the plan mentioned above.

  1. Conduct a survey into the working environment of those in the visual arts sector, and consider creating a guideline on the condition of fees and contracts.

  2. Continuous support for individuals and small organisations.

  3. Support programmes, which create more projects and employment opportunities in the sector.

  4. Promote and implement measures against the long-term stagnation in international exchange.


3. We call for an inclusive and participative decision-making process of national arts and cultural policy involving those in the visual arts

As visual arts practices continue to evolve over time, they will become more multi-layered. In order to be able to take appropriate measures to support those in the visual arts under emergencies such as the current pandemic, we strongly feel that it is necessary for all those concerned in the visual arts, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, region or nationality, to participate regularly in the development of national arts and culture policy. By reflecting the views of those concerned in the field of visual arts upon the entire process from formation to the decision making of the policy, this letter calls for democratic policy development, in order to guarantee the freedom of creating and enjoying art.


art for all - Committee for Emergency Support Measures Request for the Visual Arts

1st July 2020

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art for all - Committee for Emergency Support Measures Request for the Visual Arts

coronaartmeeting@gmail.com