For designers, makers and collectives who want to work on a collaborative project on contested geologies with one or more partners based in African countries.
Tensions within land, water and natural resources continue to be shaped by imperial geologies and modern industrial societies. In many cases, the geographical landscapes of conflict intersect with dynamics of power, displacement, and resistance linked to processes of extraction and expulsion, as well as escalating climate crises.
The open call Shifting Grounds: Design Practices in Contested Geologies invites reflections on the role that architecture, design and digital culture play in (invertedly) shaping spaces of conflict and tension around geologies. This includes, for example, the material consequences of expanding digital infrastructures, or the large-scale deforestation and mineral extraction that fuel technological and industrial development, as well as consumer markets in the Global North. This open call specifically addresses contested geologies on the African continent.
Further information on the theme can be found in the Open Call Shifting Grounds.
This is an open and inclusive call that welcomes a wide range of initiatives and perspectives. It encourages collaborative partnerships between designers, architects and makers based in the Netherlands and in African countries, where knowledge is mutually shared and deepened. The aim of the call is to contribute to current discourses, designing and embracing approaches in spatial, design and digital practices that have the potential to inform and alter how we regard and engage with geologies.
Proposals may be submitted by designers, makers, curators, thinkers, collectives, platforms or other cultural organisations based in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and active in the fields of architecture, digital culture and/or design. Applicants should engage in an international collaboration with designers, cultural organisations and/or other parties in one or more of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and/or Zimbabwe.
Proposals for activities in countries and regions where a red travel warning is in force at the time of submission cannot be processed. View current travel advice here.
Please note: this open call is not open to makers who receive subsidies via our Four-year Institutional Grant Scheme 2025–2028, Talent Development Grant Scheme, Open Call Self-taught Designer, Open Call Emerging Design Practices ABCSSS, or via the cultural Basic Infrastructure (BIS) scheme by the Dutch government.
Proposals may take different forms, from artistic or design-based research to the implementation of interventions, initiatives or programmes. All types of approach are possible as long as a clear link is made both to the theme of the open call and to one or more design field.
The Open Call Shifting Grounds consists of three phases:
- closing date: proposals may be submitted up to and including 22 October 2025, 16:00 CEST;
- number of grants: maximum 8 projects of € 15,000.;
- decision date: 17 December 2025
- duration: maximum 3 months after the starting date.
- closing date: proposals may be submitted up to and including 1 May 2026, 16:00 CEST;
- number of grants: only applicants selected in phase 1 may submit a project proposal in phase 2;
- decision date: 3 June 2026
- duration: maximum 12 months after the starting date
Projects supported in phase 2 will receive detailed phase 3 information no later than three months before phase 2 conclusion.
In order to prepare the application, it is important to acquire the right information based on the following documents:
Applications are assessed on the basis of the Open Call Shifting Grounds, which describes the reason and objective, central questions, criteria and procedure.
Applications are assessed on the basis of the Open Call Grant Scheme which describes the general conditions, grounds for rejection, manner of publication, submission procedure, assessment, the award and any grant obligations.
On Thursday 9 October 2025, the Fund is organising an online consultation hour. Sign up here.
Applications are assessed on the basis of the Open Call Shifting Grounds and the Open Call Grant Scheme. This happens based on the following criteria.
- Project topic, its questions, and the value of its artistic content;
- Positioning and potential for impact;
- Collaboration.
The assessment criteria are explained in the Open Call Shifting Grounds. Here you will also find the assessment criteria for the second phase.
When you have submitted your application, the Fund Desk will check if your application complies with the formal requirements of the Open Call Grant Scheme.
An independent advisory committee will assess your application on the basis of the Open Call Grant Scheme and Open Call Shifting Grounds. The committee advises the Fund’s Board.
The assessment of the open call takes the form of a tender: this means that within the available budget, a number of proposals are chosen above the others. Only positively assessed applications will be supported.
The Board takes account of the committee’s advice in its decision on the rejection or provision of the grant. You will be notified about the result in a decision.
be clear and do not repeat yourself
support your proposal with visuals
draw up a realistic budget
take into your account your fee and those of partners
ask for feedback and fine-tune your proposal
Do you want to apply for a subsidy under this open call?
Start your applicationIf anything is not clear, please send your question by e-mail to Roxanne da Graça and/or Tom Versteeg via internationalisering@stimuleringsfonds.nl or you can also phone 010 436 16 00. If you have a more general question, read the frequently asked questions first.
