JCP talks with artists on more state funding

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP talks with artists on more state funding

The Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers Group on May 26 held talks with representatives of art and cultural organizations on the need for more state funding for the arts and culture. The talks took place at the JCP head office due to the call of the JCP parliamentary group to respond to the government policy of decreasing state funding for cultural activities.

JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi said that the cultural budget should be increased without fail.

Miyamoto Takeshi, JCP member of the House of Representatives, demanded the withdrawal of the government policy of funding cuts and explained that military budget cuts and discontinuing tax breaks to large corporations would free up a large store of funds to benefit the general public.

Present at the meeting were 61 people from 37 organizations, including artists in theater, film, TV, music, and classical arts such as Noh.

-Akahata, May 27, 2010