NHK News Triennale Reopening Exhibition / Subsidy Cancellation Experts

Triennale exhibition resumption, subsidy withdrawal, specialists on October 4, 18:45

The Aichi Triennale, an international art festival held in Aichi Prefecture, has been partly suspended due to protests on the display of statues of girls symbolizing comfort women. While Aichi Prefecture intends to resume this exhibition soon, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has decided not to grant the approximately 78 million yen subsidy that was originally adopted because the advance application procedure was insufficient. It was. I asked a constitutional scholar who is familiar with freedom of expression and Professor Yoko Daido at Keio University Law School to see how this situation looks.

Mr. Yoko Yoko said that Aichi Prefecture decided to resume the exhibition that was once canceled, saying, “It was necessary because it was canceled for safety and risk management reasons, not for the content of the expression. If measures can be taken and it is possible to respond, it will be natural to resume. "

On the other hand, Governor Omura of Aichi Prefecture decided to cancel the exhibition three days after the opening of the International Art Festival. “Do n’t forget that the lack of advance preparations and countermeasures led to this situation. ”And criticized that the governor ’s decision led to restrictions on freedom of expression.

In addition, the fact that the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has decided not to grant subsidies for reasons such as incomplete application to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, stated that “the entire event“ Aichi Triennale is continuing. However, the reason that the entire amount is not issued due to the continuity of the business is excessive compared to this confusion, and the rationality of the disposal is suspected. Rationality will be the issue. "

On top of that, “If there is a need for consultation, there is a great possibility that the local government will shrink in the direction of“ Let's stop controversial exhibitions ”. “If there is a loss of opportunity to touch such expressions, the benefits for society as a whole may be impaired. Decisions by the Agency for Cultural Affairs are problematic.”

Subsidy is canceled and teachers at Tokyo University of Art protest

A faculty member of the Tokyo University of the Arts issued a statement protesting that the decision was against the philosophy of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, after the Agency for Cultural Affairs stopped granting subsidies to the Aichi International Art Festival. .

This statement was made in response to the decision by the Agency for Cultural Affairs to cancel the grant of the subsidies originally adopted for the Aichi International Arts Festival. And sent to Ryohei Miyata, Commissioner for Cultural Affairs.

The statement criticizes, “It is an act of intimidation that should be blamed, and this decision as if to punish the organizer is very contrary to the philosophy of the Agency for Cultural Affairs”.

On top of that, “I respect the diverse values ​​in the arts culture and urgently oppose as a faculty member of the Tokyo University of the Arts, which seeks free expression, and seeks retraction.” Mr. Miyata of the Agency for Cultural Affairs is the former president of Tokyo University of the Arts, but the Agency for Cultural Affairs says, “At this stage, there is no plan for the director to comment.”