In June 2014, the Japan Foundation, for the first time, will carry out “Student Creators Exchange (Invitation) Program” for university and graduate school students studying art or art-related subjects in the U.S. A total of 78 selected student creators, from six of the U.S. institutions, will visit Japan.

With the aim of learning the charms of Japanese culture and of incorporating these lessons into their future creation, participants, the aspiring creators, will conduct exchange activities with Japan’s art school students of the same generation, and will meet Japanese young professional creators and businesspersons to experience the forefront of the creative industries. Being divided into small groups, the participants will also visit either of Kyoto, Gifu, or Ishikawa to deepen their understanding of traditional cultures in Japan’s regions, such as textiles and crafts. On the last day of the Program, all of the participants will gather and discuss about Japan’s ‘strength’ and ‘value’.