Open Call Fresh Perspectives

With the Open Call Fresh Perspectives, the Creative Industries Fund NL supports designers and makers in developing new perspectives on social, political and economic issues. The Fund stimulates cross-sector collaborations in which makers, designers and architects can, together with other organisations, arrive at new and surprising products, services, knowledge, approaches or applications.

Designers, architects, makers and observers who have been running their own practice for at least three years within the disciplines of design, digital culture and/or architecture can submit an application. Collectives and duos are also welcome.

A collaboration with at least one partner working in a different field or domain outside the creative industry is mandatory. Think of knowledge institutions, archives, labs, platforms and/or other types of social organisations. Collaborations with the public sector are also possible. At least one of the collaboration partners has demonstrable experience with and knowledge of the social theme that is central to the proposal.

The proposal is submitted by the designer. The designer is the main applicant and project secretary and receives the grant.

The open call focuses on cross-sector collaborations, in which parties work together on a new approach to a social challenge. The project can deliver various end products, such as an activity, intervention, manifestation, publication, service, product or process.

phase 1

10 x €10,000 | duration: max. 5 months | startup phase 1 December 2025 - 30 April 2026
The applicant and partner use this period to prepare and start up the project and for further exploration of the intended theme, end product and collaboration. This phase can be used to investigate the possibilities of a project, work on a prototype or proof of concept and elaborate the objective and design of the project. At the end of the first phase, you and your partner(s) will have prepared a project plan, budget and collaboration agreement for the application procedure of the second phase.

phase 2

10 x €50,000 | duration: max. 12 months | implementation 1 September 2026 - 31 August 2027
If the project is selected in phase 1 and fully completed, then a new application can be submitted for phase 2 focused on the implementation of the project. Besides a written application, a presentation of the project to the advisory committee is also part of the application procedure for phase 2. The project can deliver various end products, such as an activity, intervention, manifestation, publication, service, product or process. At the end of the project, an appropriate form of knowledge sharing takes place, such as a presentation, symposium or publication.

In preparation for the application, it is important to inform yourself properly based on the following documents:

Open Call Fresh Perspectives

The assessment of applications takes place based on the Open Call Fresh Perspectives 2025. This describes the background and objective, criteria and procedure.

Open Call Grant Scheme

The assessment of applications also takes place based on the Open Call Grant Scheme. This describes the general conditions, grounds for rejection, method of publication, submission procedure, assessment, allocation and grant obligations.

Budget and Funding Plan Template

To make a grant application, we ask you to prepare a budget including funding plan. You can use the Budget and Funding Plan Template for this, but this is not mandatory.

Applications are assessed based on the Open Call Fresh Perspectives 2025 and the Open Call Grant Scheme.

When assessing applications within phase 1 and phase 2, consideration will be given to:

In assessing applications within phase 1 and phase 2, attention is paid to:

• The approach to the social challenge
• The artistic-substantive quality of the project
• The extent to which the first phase is effective in design, methodology and expertise involved
• The quality and form of the (intended) collaboration

acceptance

After the closing date of phase 1, the Fund checks whether the application connects to the call, is complete and meets the conditions and entry requirements. The applicant receives a message about processing the application no later than three weeks after the closing date.

assessment

Applications are submitted to an independent advisory committee in both phases. The committee assesses your application based on the Open Call Grant Scheme and the Open Call Fresh Perspectives 2025.

decision

The board takes the committee's advice into account in the decision to grant or not grant the grant. You will be informed of this decision through a formal decision. For the first phase, you will receive a selection report no later than 11 November 2025.

accountability

For this open call, when awarded, the grant for phase 1 is paid and determined in one go. For phase 2, you will receive a request by email two weeks before the end date of your project to submit your accountability through the application environment.

Open Call Fresh Perspectives 2025
Open Call Grant Scheme
Budget and Funding Plan Template