Frequently Asked Questions

General questions

Q: Does the term non-Japanese mean grants for non-Japanese institutions or grants for subject areas in East Asia other than Japan?

A: The term non-Japanese refers to non-Japanese institutions and scholars of East Asian art residing outside Japan.

Q: Should I expect an acknowledgement from the Center when my application is received?

A: We try to acknowledge receipt within one week. If you do not hear from us and require confirmation, please contact the administrator by email to confirm receipt.

Q: How can I receive notices of when new grants are available?

A: Please register for our mailing list here: register.

Q: Are my files secure when submitting my application electronically?

A: We take your privacy and security seriously, but there is always some risk with electronic file transfer. We use Dropbox for receipt of files and remove files from the Dropbox cloud servers as soon as possible after they are received. For more on Dropbox security, please see: https://help.dropbox.com/accounts-billing/security/safe-to-use

Institutional Grants

Q: My institution previously received a grant from the Metropolitan Center. Can I apply for institutional support again?

A: Yes. As of fall 2015, the Institutional Grants Program has been reinstated.

Individual Grants

Q: I have a book that has been accepted by a publisher and I would like to apply for a grant to cover the costs of photographs/transparencies and reproduction rights. Is this something that might be covered by a Metropolitan grant? If so, should I submit this as an Individual grant, or through the press as an Institutional Project?

A: Funding is available to support publication costs. Either the individual author or the press may submit the application. See Recent Individual Grants for examples.

Q: Do applicants for individual grants need to supply letters of reference?

A: No, they are only required for doctoral candidates.

Q: Although I am a Japanese citizen, I have received all my academic/professional training and experiences in the United States and have U.S. permanent resident status. Do I still qualify for a grant for non-Japanese scholars?

A: Yes, the non-Japanese grant program is open to all scholars residing outside of Japan.

Doctoral Grants

Q: I received a Metropolitan Center grant last year, which I believe is renewable for one more year. Can you tell me the process for the renewal?

A: Renewal is not automatic. In order to be eligible for a second year of funding, a complete new doctoral application, including a description of the progress made during the first year of research, must be submitted by December 31 of the first year in which the grant is awarded through the same process as new grant applications. Duplicate copies of undergraduate and master's degree transcripts are not needed, but a current doctoral program transcript and a new letter from your academic advisor should be requested for renewal applications.

Q: My university doesn't provide electronic transcripts. What can I do?

A: We can accept pdf transcripts by email direct from the university registrar. Please contact us to arrange alternate submission methods.