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The Celebration of Japan Festival will not be held this year, according to the Dublin Arts Council.

The festival is held annually in March and would have celebrated its 11th year in existence this year.

The DAC, however, decided to nix the event because of budget constraints. Vendors, artists and performers who usually participate in the festival were notified last month.

"I don't know if it will return next year," said Jessica Fagan, a spokeswoman for the DAC.

Last year, Fagan said about 5,000 people attended the festival at Dublin Scioto High School.

The event cost the DAC about $40,000 in 2004.

In lieu of the festival, the DAC will sponsor a free concert in April, featuring an internationally known taiko drummer, Eitetsu Hayashi, and his performing group, Fuun-no-Kai.

The DAC has been paying for a share of a yearlong residency program whereby Hayashi has given performances and educational sessions in Dublin and Columbus for almost a year.

"We just feel like it's a really important program," Fagan said. "DAC has dedicated itself deeply to this important project, both in terms of staff and financial resources."

The Japan festival might not be the only change the DAC makes to its list of programs this year.

"We're at a place where we are evaluating all of our programs to see how they benefit the community," Fagan said.

While the DAC recently hired a new executive director, David Guion, Fagan said the timing of the festival announcement and the program evaluation are coincidental.

"We had already initiated that process," she said.

Those interested in attending the free concert should call the DAC at 889-7444.

It will be on April 30 at Dublin Coffman High School. Because seating is limited, the DAC is requiring seat reservations.