1. art|企業はなぜアートを支援するのか

Corporate support for the arts and culture—known as "mecenat"—is spreading across Japan. In July 2026, the Association for Corporate Support of the Arts (Mecenat Japan) certified 206 support initiatives undertaken by 148 companies and corporate foundations. Of these, 31 were newly registered, including projects involving local art museums and galleries, as well as initiatives focused on music education and food education for children.

This trend is driven in part by a shift in the type of talent that companies are seeking. In a position paper released in March 2026, the chairman of Obayashi Corporation highlighted the growing importance of creative individuals—those whose roles cannot be easily replaced by AI or similar technologies—noting that art and business share a common trait: the continuous creation of something new.

Additionally, the "ART & BUSINESS AWARD 2026"—an initiative commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to recognize value creation through the co-creation of art and business—began accepting applications on July 29.

However, there is no established method for measuring exactly how cultural support translates into corporate value. A key challenge moving forward will be to develop distinct metrics for evaluating the various expected outcomes, such as enhancements to brand image, the fostering of employee creativity, and the strengthening of relationships with local communities.