The English-language edition of Japan’s Kyoda News reports that the 2019 Aichi Triennale, plagued by controversy after its decision to close a section of the show that included an artwork about “comfort women” in wartime Japan, now faces potential financial woes. An expected grant to the Triennale from the Japanese government’s Agency for Cultural Affairs has been cancelled due to “procedural errors” on the part of the Triennale. Check out an excerpt from the article below, or read the full text here.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs said it will not pay a 78 million yen ($724,000) grant for the Aichi Triennale 2019 held in central Japan as it was not informed in advance that the exhibition, part of the festival, could trigger an outcry that would jeopardize the event’s smooth operation.
The exhibit “After ‘Freedom of Expression?’” was closed three days after the Aug. 1 opening over security concerns due to multiple threats to the festival, which will run through Oct. 14.
“The issue is not about the exhibit content but about the procedure,” a source close to the agency said.
According to the Aichi prefectural government, the total operating cost of the festival is about 1.2 billion yen ($11 million), with the prefecture set to shoulder around 600 million yen and the city of Nagoya about 200 million yen.
The rest was supposed to be funded by the 78 million yen state subsidy, corporate sponsorships and entrance fees.
Image via Kyoda News.