Grant Programs

Ishibashi Shojiro embarked on various philanthropic activities from early on in his career, helping found (in 1928) Kyushu Medical School (present-day Kurume University) by donating land and buildings at the age of 39. In the years that followed he continued to serve as a benefactor and donor to various organizations both individually and through the Ishibashi Foundation, as well as funding the construction of the Japanese Pavilion for the Venice Biennale after the government failed to implement the plan (1956), the Ishibashi Cultural Center (1956), and a new building for the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (1969). Throughout his life, Shojiro strove to foster and develop culture, supporting and promoting numerous cultural initiatives based on the perspectives of community, nation, and international exchange.
The Ishibashi Foundation is dedicated to upholding the tradition of cultural initiatives established by its founder, and is committed to supporting artistic, cultural, and educational initiatives aimed at the development of a more caring and humane world. It keeps a watchful eye on regions that tend to be overlooked by society, putting effort in recent years in particular into grant programs with an international focus.