The Agency of Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho) was established in 1968 through a merger between the former Cultural Bureau of the Ministry of Education and the Cultural Properties Protection Commission. Since January 2001, the ACA has been restructured in conjunction with the reorganisation of Japan’s central government. The ACA promotes culture and international cultural exchange as well as administering matters concerning religious juridical persons. It has developed various cultural programmes to advance creative artistic activities, including 'Arts Plan 21', which offers comprehensive support for artistic groups expected to directly raise the zenith of Japan’s contemporary performing arts. ACA supports international exchange in contemporary performing arts, including participation by artistic groups in international festivals. It has funded joint projects between Japanese and foreign artists or artistic groups since 2000. It also supports infrastructural development for arts and culture by groups involved in contemporary performing arts training or research, and makes grants to the Japan Arts Council in support of outstanding performances that will raise the standard of Japan’s contemporary performing arts. To promote the media arts, the Agency organises the Japan Media Arts Festival and the Japan Media Arts Plaza (MAP). The Japan Media Arts Festival was set up with a view to promote new media arts such as computer graphics using multimedia, while the Japan Media Arts Plaza was established to support creative media arts activities through information by running a website. ACA also has a special scheme to promote outstanding arts films by independent filmmakers and to promote the preservation and development of the cinematic arts by repairing valuable old films. To cultivate artist development, the Agency runs: (i) the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists which affords young Japanese artists opportunities to receive practical training abroad in specailised fields; (ii) the Japanese Government Fellowship Program for Artists which affords young Japanese artists opportunities to study at domestic training facilities in their fields; and (iii) Arts Interships which afford young artists the chance to study overseas. The ACA Arts Festival is organised by the Agency each Autumn to give opportunities for artists to present their works in public and for the public to appreciate selected art works from abroad and from Japan. The Agency co-ordinates national awards to artists, such as the Person of Cultural Merit Award, the Japan Art Academy Prize and the Arts Encouragement Prize. It is also responsible for promoting creative artistic and cultural activities in the regions; it encourages the development of artist in residence schemes around the country, offers advice to local governments on town planning focusing on culture, and promotes and encourages local cultural activities. The ACA supports revitalisation of public cultural facilities and audience development programmes in the field of arts and culture. Other activities by ACA cover Japanese language policy, Religious Juridical Persons and Administrations of Religious Affairs and Preservation and Utilisation of Cultural Properties. It also is responsible for protection and promotion of Ainu and Okinawan culture.