Open Call Fresh Perspectives

With the Open Call Fresh Perspectives, the Fund is supporting designers, makers and architects in developing fresh perspectives on social, political and economic issues, whilst also stimulating cross-sector collaborations with other organisations to come to new and surprising products, services, knowledge, approaches or applications. This open call contributes to promoting one of the Fund’s objectives, namely the use of the power of design in social challenges.

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

A new collaboration with at least one partner working in another field or domain outside the creative industry is required, such as knowledge institutions, archives, labs, platforms, local or small-scale initiatives, and/or other types of social organisations, or with a partner from the public sector. At least one of the collaboration partners has to have proven experience in and knowledge of the social theme that is central to the proposal.

The proposal must be submitted by the designer, as the designer will be the main applicant and coordinator of the project and will be the one who receives the grant.

The open call focuses on cross-sectoral collaborations, in which parties work together to approach a social issue in a new way. The project may deliver different end products, such as an activity, an intervention, an event, a publication, a service, a product or a process.

phase 1

10 x €10,000 | duration: max. 5 months | startup phase 1 December 2026 - 30 April 2027
The applicant and the partner are to use this period to prepare and kick off the project and to further explore the intended theme, end product and collaboration. This phase can be used to investigate what the possibilities for a project are, to work on a prototype or proof of concept and work out the objective and setup of the project. At the end of the first phase, you and your partner(s) will have drawn up a project plan, a budget and a collaboration agreement for the application procedure for the second phase.

phase 2

10 x €50,000 | duration: max. 12 months | implementation 1 September 2027 - 31 August 2028
If the project is selected in phase 1 and fully completed, a new application can be submitted for phase 2 that focusses on the implementation of the project. Besides a written application, you also need to give a presentation of the project to the advisory committee as part of the application procedure for this phase. The project may deliver various end products, such as an activity, an intervention, an event, a publication, a service, a product or a process. In addition to this end product, a suitable form of knowledge sharing about the project’s results must take place, such as a presentation, a symposium or a 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 2026. 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. Use the Budget and Funding Plan Template.

Applications are assessed based on the Open Call Fresh Perspectives 2026 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 2026.

decision

The board takes the committee's advice into account in the decision to grant or not grant the grant. The decision on the proposals selected for the first phase will be announced to applicants via the application platform by 10 November 2026 at the latest, together with a general selection report.

accountability

For this open call, when awarded, the grant for phase 1 is paid and determined in one go.

For phase 2, the Fund will pay an advance payment of 80% of the amount awarded. Two weeks before the conclusion of your project, you will be asked by email to submit your accountability form via the application platform.

Open Call Fresh Perspectives 2026
Open Call Grant Scheme
Budget and Funding Plan Template