Annual Report 2021: talent development, internationalization, professionalization
Today the Creative Industries Fund NL publishes its public annual report 2021 in digital form. We look back on a year in which Covid-19 once again set the tone. In 2021, in response to the impact of the Covid-19 measures on the creative sector, we prioritized talent development, internationalization and professionalization. The Fund awarded a total of € 23.6 million in grants to makers, designers and cultural institutions.
Executive director Syb Groeneveld: ‘Unfortunately, Covid-19 also turned out to cast a grey shadow over the cultural sector in 2021, which meant that a great deal could not take place. But the Fund was also able to facilitate many new developments, thanks to the government’s extensive support packages. Especially noteworthy were the results achieved with the Spatial Design Vouchers, which supported 130 projects throughout the country, and the 70 matches between young designers and experienced agencies in Building Talent. The additional funds gave us the opportunity to support cultural institutions and strengthen the position of makers in these difficult times. Apart from that, you would almost forget that 2021 was also the first year of the 2021-2024 policy period in which we introduced a number of important innovations. For instance, the now widely used Experiment Grant Scheme and a new assessment criterion that focuses on diversity and inclusion in the Design, Architecture and Digital Culture grant schemes. In 2022, we will continue the above lines and work towards a strong creative industry that plays a meaningful role in the major societal transitions.’
The additional funds gave us the opportunity to support cultural institutions and strengthen the position of makers in these difficult times. - Syb Groeneveld
makers’ stories
We show the power of design in five stories about makers. Stories about the relationship between people and technology, diversity and inclusion, cultural heritage and the changing landscape. Each and every story puts topical social issues on the agenda. We hear from the following makers: Interval, LFMC, Werkend Landschap, Polymorf and Tailors & Wearers.
support
In addition to the video portraits, the annual report includes animated infographics that provide insight into the distribution and results achieved with the budget available for 2021, which was supplemented by € 9.5 million from the Covid-19 support packages. With 2127 applications processed and 1037 grants awarded, last year’s percentage of applications receiving grants came to 49%. In 2021, the Fund awarded a total of € 23.6 million in grants to makers, designers and cultural institutions.
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