Artist Funding in Belgium
Arts councils, grants, and funding bodies for artists
BOZAR – Centre for Fine Arts Brussels (project collaborations)
BOZAR is a federal cultural institution and major presenter of visual arts, music, and interdisciplinary projects in Brussels. While it is not primarily a grant‑giving body, it regularly co‑produces exhibitions and projects with artists and organisations, offering production budgets, fees, and access to large audiences. Visual artists often access this support through curated calls or invitations rather than open project grants.
Brussels-Capital Region and City of Brussels – Local Arts Support
The Brussels-Capital Region and the City of Brussels provide various support schemes for cultural projects and organisations, including visual arts exhibitions, festivals, and artist‑run initiatives. Grants are typically aimed at projects that take place in Brussels and engage its diverse public, ranging from modest project grants to more substantial operating support for spaces and initiatives. Individual artists often apply in partnership with local venues or associations.
Flanders Arts Institute (Kunstenpunt)
Flanders Arts Institute is the sector support body for the professional arts in Flanders and Brussels, covering performing arts, visual arts, and classical music. While it is not a primary grant-maker like an arts council, it plays a key role in helping visual artists navigate Flemish funding schemes, international opportunities, and networking. They offer research, advice, and tools for artists looking to apply to Flemish government funding or to work internationally.
Flanders Image / Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) – Visual Arts Related Moving Image
The Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) primarily supports film, animation, and media art, some of which overlaps with visual arts practice (e.g. experimental film, video installations, hybrid projects). Individual makers and organisations based in Flanders or Brussels can apply for development, production, and sometimes distribution support, with grants that can range from a few thousand euros for development up to higher amounts for full production depending on the scheme. It’s relevant if your visual arts work crosses into film or audiovisual installation.
Flemish Government – Arts Decree (Department of Culture, Youth and Media)
Under the Arts Decree, the Flemish Government is the main public funder of professional arts in Flanders and Brussels, including visual arts. Visual artists and organisations can apply for project funding, multi‑year operating support, and sometimes developmental or research grants, with budgets ranging from a few thousand euros for smaller projects to substantial multi‑year envelopes for organisations. The focus is on professional practice, public impact, and fair remuneration, often with an international dimension.
King Baudouin Foundation – POMONA Art Fund
The POMONA Art Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, supports artists and creative processes in Belgium across all disciplines, including visual arts. It provides project grants at key stages of an artist’s development and a solidarity fund that can act as a safety net in difficult situations. Grants are intended to create favourable conditions for artistic work rather than to fund large institutional projects, and can range from small to mid‑scale amounts depending on the call.
La Maison des Arts et de la Culture / Local Cultural Centres (Maisons de la Culture, CCs)
Across Wallonia and Brussels, a network of Maisons de la Culture and cultural centres present and co‑produce visual arts projects, offering exhibition space, modest production budgets, and artist fees. These centres are publicly funded and often run open calls or work through curatorial selection to support local and regional artists. Support is usually project-based, tied to exhibitions or participatory projects with the local community.
Mondriaan Fund – Belgium–Netherlands Collaboration Schemes
Although it is a Dutch public fund, the Mondriaan Fund runs schemes that specifically encourage collaboration between Dutch visual artists and Belgian art institutions. Belgian organisations can partner with Netherlands‑based artists and curators for exhibitions, research, and exchange, often with grants up to around €5,000 or more, depending on the programme. For Belgium-based visual artists, these schemes are relevant when working closely with Dutch partners or institutions.
Wallonia-Brussels Federation – Arts Department
The Wallonia-Brussels Federation (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles) is the main public funder for French‑speaking arts in Belgium, including contemporary visual arts. It offers project grants, operating support for organisations, mobility and internationalisation schemes, and sometimes research or residency support for artists who are part of the French‑speaking community. Typical project grants range from a few thousand euros upwards, with a strong emphasis on professional practice and public dissemination.
Wallonie-Bruxelles International (WBI) – Visual Arts Mobility Grants
Wallonie-Bruxelles International manages international cultural policy for the French‑speaking community and offers mobility grants to visual artists for residencies, exhibitions, and projects abroad. These grants typically cover part of travel and residency costs rather than full project budgets, making them useful as co‑funding alongside host support. Applicants usually need a confirmed invitation from a foreign partner and ties to the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
Artist Residencies in Belgium
20 residencies listed
DESIGNREGIO Kortrijk
Kortrijk, Belgium
Designregio Kortrijk annually invites recently graduated designers from various creative disciplines to participate in its Designers in Residence Kortrijk program. Established in 2014, this residency allows selected designers to develop experimental concepts through interactions with citizens, society, entrepreneurs, and education in Kortrijk. Running from September to November, participants create contextual work and engage in inspiring excursions and conversations. The residency includes travel reimbursement, accommodation, a fee, and access to the Budalab Open Makerspace. Designers showcase their research at the Kortrijk Creativity Festival and Design Fest Gent. Eligible candidates must be recent graduates with manual and conceptual skills, ready to collaborate and innovate.
Frans Masereel Centrum
Kasterlee, Belgium
Frans Masereel Centrum is a renowned center for contemporary art in Belgium, offering international residency programs for artists, researchers, and academics. Established in 1972, the center focuses on printmaking, providing a creative environment equipped with professional facilities. The residency programs, which include individual, collective, and art school residencies, do not require prior knowledge of printmaking techniques. Each year, around 50 national and international artists are selected through an open call to develop and create print-related projects. The center is located in a serene, wooded area, offering an inspiring setting for artistic exploration and collaboration. Residents have access to a variety of printmaking techniques, including typography, intaglio, screen printing, and digital printing. The center fosters a community atmosphere, encouraging informal consultations, feedback, and collaboration among peers. Despite a temporary halt in activities from September 2024 to December 2025 for construction, the center will resume its vibrant residency programs in spring 2026.
a.pass (Advanced Performance and Scenography Studies)
Brussels, Belgium
a.pass (Advanced Performance and Scenography Studies) offers a unique 2-month paid residency program for collectives of 3 to 10 people. This program, aimed at fostering collaborative and transdisciplinary artistic research, invites collectives to explore innovative methodologies and frameworks for sustainable artistic practices. Participants will engage in a reflective process on institutional frameworks, artistic research, and sustainability, contributing to the reimagination and reorganization of a.pass. The residency includes a stipend, travel and accommodation support, access to collective workspace, and a production budget. This opportunity is ideal for collectives interested in self-organization, collaboration, and transdisciplinary approaches to artistic research.
Boghossian Foundation Residency
Villa Empain, Belgium
The Boghossian Foundation Residency, nestled in the Villa Empain's serene gardens in Brussels, offers a unique retreat for artists from diverse backgrounds. Established in the refurbished housekeeper’s building, the residency has been a creative sanctuary since its opening in 2010. Dedicated to fostering Eastern and Western cultural dialogue, the Foundation annually welcomes award winners from the Boghossian Foundation Prize in Lebanon and collaborates with Creative Armenia to host three Armenian artists each year. This vibrant residency serves as a laboratory for contemporary ideas, facilitating international interactions among artists, curators, writers, and scientists. Located in the Villa Empain, the residency provides a common living area, individual bedrooms, and a shared studio, available 24/7, for stays of two to three months.
BUDA
Kortrijk, Belgium
Kunstencentrum BUDA, located in Kortrijk, Belgium, is a vibrant arts center dedicated to supporting the creation and development of performing arts projects. Hosting around 70 residencies each year, BUDA offers a variety of residencies including full technical residencies in their theaters at Budascoop, as well as studio work and research residencies in Budatoren. The center provides essential resources such as studio space, accommodation, and weekday lunches, fostering an environment where artists can focus on their creative processes. BUDA is committed to inclusivity, welcoming artists from diverse backgrounds and practices, ranging from emerging to established professionals. Residencies are open to various disciplines within the performing arts, with a strong emphasis on innovation and collaboration. The program also includes support in technical aspects, content development, and networking, allowing artists to deeply engage with their work and the local community. Applications are open annually with several deadlines, and residencies are planned well in advance to accommodate different project needs. BUDA’s residencies are ideal for artists looking to explore new ideas in a supportive and well-equipped environment.
Camping Town
Brussels, Belgium
Camping Town is a hosting place dedicated to performance and creation, featuring five individual tree-houses for sleeping and a shared Co-Studio for artistic work. Founded by Anne-Dolorès Marcélis, it hosts artists and amateurs interested in alternative lifestyles, with a focus on performance, contact-improvisation dance, and multidisciplinary arts.