Along with its policy of encouraging cultural activities among its citizens,the prefectural government has established the Fukushima Cultural Promotion Fund to support cultural organizations and individuals. The prefecture also sponsors the annual Prefectural Fine Art Exhibition and the Prefectural Art Festival,designed to offer suitable opportunities for as many people as possible to show their works in public.

For the past several years,the number of foreign residents living in Fukushima and Fukushima people traveling overseas have been sharply on the increase. Accordingly,many citizens in Fukushima seek to add to develop friendship exchanges with foreign people. Fukushima is year-round venue for such friendship exchange activities through lecture gatherings,music festivals,sports events and cooking classes.

Especially noteworthy is an annual festival of Latin American music known as "Cosquin en Japon." Held in Kawamata Town,it is not only well-known throughout the prefecture,but has also attracted the attention of folklore music enthusiasts nationwide.

To promote and support such international exchange activities even further,the prefectural government,with the co-operation of municipalities and private organizations,established the Fukushima International Association in 1988.On the municipal level too,grass-roots international exchanges are growing in popularity,through activities such as establishing international sister-city arrangements with foreign cities and dispatching citizens overseas. These cross-cultural exchanges have,in turn,given rise to movements for studying and preserving traditional local culture.

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