Artistic & Design Research for Immersive Experiences Grant Scheme 2026 published

Below we outline the most important changes. During an online consultation session on Monday 9 March, grant specialists will provide information about the scheme, the specific changes, and will answer questions.

The most important changes

• Article 6, paragraph 2a: The maximum number of applications that will be processed in round 2A is now fifty. This concerns the first fifty submitted applications that meet the requirements. In the previous edition, the maximum was sixty. Good to know: in round 1A (2025), this maximum was not reached.
• Article 8, paragraph 2: The maximum amount of €100,000 that may be allocated from the grant in round 2B to partners now applies in the new scheme to all partners (both international and other) combined, over the entire two-year activities programme.
• Article 9, paragraph 2B: Previously, organisations in the cultural and media domain involved as lead applicants or co-applicants were required to have experience in the following functions:
  - facilitating the development and/or presentation of IX productions;
  - reaching the public and/or participants to experience IX productions;
  - facilitating substantive debate and context around IX; and
  - contributing to artistic and design research (as a client or from a research function embedded in the organisation).
  This article has been amended in the new version: these parties must have experience in at least two of the above functions in round 2A and the ambition to fulfil all of these functions within the two-year activities programme in round 2B.
• Article 9, paragraph 2C: The new version of the scheme adds that a college or university may act as a co-applicant on behalf of researcher(s) in round 2A.
• Article 9, paragraph 5: From 2026, it is no longer possible for participants to act as lead applicant in more than one application within the same round (2A). In addition, following a grant award in round 2B, it is no longer permitted to act as lead applicant again within this scheme in the following calendar year.
• Article 10, paragraph 2J: Where previously annual accounts for two calendar years had to be submitted, this has been reduced to one year. In addition, the type of statement has been expanded for round 2A: in addition to an audit statement, a compilation statement by an accountant is now also permitted. If the audit statement or compilation statement for 2025 is not available on the date of submission of the application, a document showing the financial position of the lead applicant for 2025, and a document showing that an order has been placed for an audit statement or compilation statement from an accountant for 2025, will suffice.