Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme

This grant scheme is open to cultural institutions and organizations that contribute to the quality, development and professionalization of the creative industry in the Kingdom.

threshold

Only cultural institutions that meet the threshold standard can apply to this grant scheme. To meet this, the institution must have received a grant under the ministerial Basic Infrastructure Grant Scheme for Culture 2021-2024, or has received positive advice from an advisory committee within one of the following schemes of the Fund:
- Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industry 2021-2024;
- 1- and 2-year Activities Programme Grant Scheme (concerning the 2021-2022 period);
- 1- and 2-year Activities Programme Grant Scheme 2023-2024.

Chamber of Commerce registration and application codes

In addition, to receive funding through this grant scheme, cultural institutions have to be located within the Kingdom and registered in the Commercial Register of the country or public body in question. The institutions also have to apply the following codes:
- Fair Practice Code;
- Governance Code Cultuur 2019;
- Code Diversiteit en Inclusie.

Grants can be applied for in two categories:
- Category I: intended for nationally outstanding cultural institutions with a programme of international significance and a grant requirement of € 275,000 to € 550,000 per calendar year;
- Category II: intended for cultural institutions of national significance with a grant requirement of € 125,000 to € 275,000 per calendar year.

Applications for categories I and II will be assessed by the same independent advisory committee. Institutions may submit an application within one of these categories, but they can also submit one in both categories. Grants cannot be awarded in both categories. The procedure is explained in the grant scheme and the assessment framework.

In order to prepare the application, it is important to inform yourself properly on the basis of the following documents:

Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme

The assessment of applications takes place on the basis of the Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industry 2025-2028. This describes the conditions, criteria and objectives.

Assessment Framework Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme

In the Assessment Framework Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industry 2025-2028 (in Dutch only), you will find information on the task, composition and working method of the advisory committee, the submission and intake process and an explanation of the criteria.

Guide to the Model Budget for a Four-year Institution Grant

In the Guide to the Model Budget for the Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industry 2025-2028 (in Dutch only) you will find guidelines for drawing up a complete long-term budget. It is compulsory to use the Format to the Model Budget for a Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industry 2025-2028 (in Dutch only).

Please note: Applications should be drafted in Dutch.

Applications are assessed by the scheme’s advisory committee. This is done on the basis of the Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industry 2025-2028.

assessment criteria

- artistic value;
- social significance;
- accessibility;
- institution’s business health;
- application’s consistency in objective and set-up.

The criteria are explained in the grant scheme and assessment framework.

The procedure of the Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industrie 2025-2028 runs simultaneously with BIS 2025-2028 as much as possible in time and form. This makes it less laborious to apply to both schemes.

acceptance

When you have submitted your application, the Fund Desk will check if your application complies with the formal requirements of the Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industrie 2025-2028.

assessment

An independent advisory committee will assess your application on the basis of the Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industry 2025-2028. The committee advises the Fund’s Board.

prioritization

If the total of applications eligible for funding exceeds the budget of the grant round available, prioritization will take place. This is done according to the procedure described in the grant scheme and explained in the assessment framework.

decision

The Board takes account of the committee’s advice in its decision on rejection or provision of the grant. You will be notified about the result in a decision.

accountability

If you receive a grant from the Fund, then you will have to comply with the obligations. Two weeks before the conclusion of your project, you will be asked by email to submit your accountability form in the application environment.

1. How does the Fund deal with an institution that receives a positive recommendation from both the Creative Industries Fund NL and another national cultural fund within this arrangement for the same core activities for the period 2025-2028?

In the Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industry 2025-2028, the Fund rules out the possibility of an institution receiving a multi-year subsidy for the period 2025-2028 from both the Creative Industries Fund NL and another national cultural fund for the same core activities. However, it is possible to apply to two state culture funds for the same core activities. If this is assessed positively by both funds, the following procedure applies:
- The institution receives the grant from the fund where the highest grant amount has been awarded. The institution receives no budget for the grant application from the other fund.
- If the amount granted is equal, it is determined on the basis of the application history which fund provides the grant. The total value of grants awarded to the applicant institution in the period 2021 to 2023 is then determined for each fund. The grant for the period 2025-2028 will be provided by the fund with the most grants made to that institution in the period 2021 to 2023.

2. Can cultural institutions that are supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL for four years also apply to the Fund for a 1- or 2-year activities programme?

Cultural institutions that are supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL for four years cannot apply to the 1- and 2-year Activities Programme Grant Scheme.

3. Can the Fund explain how the required co-funding percentage of 35% is assessed?

With a view to resilience, it is important that the business management of cultural institutions is based on a healthier funding mix. A co-financing percentage of 35% over the budget is required. This percentage must be proven for the first financial year, 2025, with additional documents such as grants and/or commissions from other funders. For the remaining years, 2026, 2027 and 2028, it must be explained how this percentage will be achieved.

4. The application of the Fair Practice Code will affect the size of my cultural institution’s activity plan. Will I not be judged on this by the assessment committee?

The application of the Fair Practice Code is important for a healthy and resilient sector. As a result, cultural institutions will be able to run a smaller programme of activities. But the decline in volume need not be at the expense of quality. It is precisely on this quality that applications are judged; the advisory committee has clear instructions in this respect. So make a realistic activity plan, underpinned by the Fair Practice Code.

Watch the presentation of the information meeting held on 8 December 2023 (in Dutch only).

Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme for the Creative Industry 2025-2028
Assessment Framework Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme (in Dutch only)
Guide to the Model Budget for a Four-year Institution Grant Scheme (in Dutch only)
Format to the Model Budget for a Four-year Institution Grant Scheme (in Dutch only)

Please note: Applications should be drafted in Dutch.