Artistic & Design Research for Immersive Experiences – 5 selected consortiums start IX activities programme

7 January 2026

In this second round, the advisory committee of the Artistic & Design Research for Immersive Experiences (ADRIE) Grant Scheme – part of the Creative Industries Immersive Impact Coalition (CIIIC) – assessed the implementation plans of the five consortiums selected in the first round (1A). Only these consortiums could submit an application for the second round. All five consortiums received a positive assessment in this second round. They each receive up to € 1.3 million in subsidy to implement their two-year activities programme in 2026 and 2027.

general impression

The committee is extremely positive about the quality of the five applications in this round. In a relatively short time, solid implementation plans – both in terms of content and commercially – have been established and the committee expects the consortiums represented to make major contributions to development and innovation within the Dutch IX field. The committee sees variety reflected in the consortiums with regard to scale and the composition of disciplines. The focus areas of the artistic and design research range from specific artistically relevant themes to more systemic work-field-related themes. All five consortiums are joining forces in the areas of knowledge and working methods and are organised to receive substantial contributions from makers, producers, institutions and researchers. The intended international collaborations are also of a high standard, according to the advisory committee. The committee is very confident that the consortiums will capitalise on opportunities to put artistic and design research from both existing and new partnerships at the heart of the research, development and implementation of immersive experiences.

In the application rounds that follow, the committee hopes to see greater ambition in the area of experimentation. The committee also hopes to see more innovation with regard to reaching new audience groups. In addition, the committee would like to see consortiums focus even more on new infrastructure, in addition to using the strength of existing structures and networks. In the coming years, it expects to see an even broader representation of the Dutch IX professional field.

Futures of Listening
Futures of Listening has developed an R&D programme based on the principle of ‘listening to a multi-voiced world’. The consortium researches and develops new modes of immersive creation, listening and experiencing through spatial sound that deepen our understanding of the world and contribute to addressing societal challenges, such as inclusivity and environmental challenges. At the same time, it seeks to sustainably anchor spatial sound as an artistic and technological field within the broader IX sector, to enhance the quality of spatial sound experiences, to stimulate new forms of listening and knowledge transfer, and to strengthen the international position and accessibility.

Read the full summary and view the composition of the consortium here.

Thuis
Thuis aims to foster deeper sensations of connection by reimagining immersive experiences as an embodied and accessible practice in (semi-)public spaces, using dance and movement as core methods. Thuis aims to strengthen the Dutch IX field by providing body-centric design principles that challenge the sector's reliance on disembodying hardware and by delivering shareable knowledge on creating accessible, inclusive IX as a form of 'civic infrastructure' that fosters social cohesion and collective belonging.

Read the full summary and view the composition of the consortium here.

HEFT: Heritage for the future—expanding the IX ecosystem for embodied cultural experiences
HEFT aims to strengthen and expand the IX field by bridging systemic challenges - scalability limitations, inaccessible public spaces, low discoverability - through artistic research. The consortium addresses the development of artistic methodologies that embrace the embodied qualities of IX, inform preservation, foster meaningful collective engagement, and enable scalable preservation and versioning for long-term access (heritage). The project operationalises five core objectives ('reimagine’, ‘unite’, ‘sustain, ‘empower’, and ‘safeguard’). The consortium’s main contribution is generating fundamental, sector-wide, and transferable knowledge and tools.

Read the full summary and view the composition of the consortium here.

numbers

The total budget available in round 1B was € 6,500,000. All five proposals submitted received a positive assessment and will receive subsidy. A total of € 6,498,207 was awarded this round.

follow-up

The five selected consortiums will now start implementing their two-year activities programmes. In 2026, new consortiums can again submit an application to the grant scheme. The grant period for round 2A opens on 30 March 2026 at 15:00, and the deadline is 8 April 2026 at 16:00. All the necessary information for making an application in this round will be published on the website as soon as possible.

In preparation for application round 2A, we are once again organising a matchmaking event in collaboration with CIIIC, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM in Utrecht. You can read more information about the event here.

In the coming period, we will keep you informed about the activities programmes and new rounds via our website, social media and newsletters. Specific questions about the ADRIE Grant Scheme can also be emailed to ADRIE@stimuleringsfonds.nl.

about CIIIC

The Artistic & Design Research for Immersive Experiences Grant Scheme is part of the Creative Industries Immersive Impact Coalition (CIIIC), the National Growth Fund programme of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in the area of Immersive Experiences (IX). With an investment of € 200 million, CIIIC helps makers, institutions, researchers, companies and governments to make the most of their opportunities in IX. Safeguarding public values in IX is seen as essential in all activities. CIIIC’s implementing partners are Regieorgaan SIA (NWO), RVO, TNO and the Creative Industries Fund NL.

More information on the other opportunities available within the programme can be found on the CIIIC website.

Header image: Thuis