Artist Funding in Netherlands
Arts councils, grants, and funding bodies for artists
Ammodo
Supports art and science projects with international ambition and innovative or unusual character. For visual artists and institutions, Ammodo is most relevant for ambitious, high-profile, often experimental projects that contribute to artistic development and public discourse.
Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK)
The main municipal arts fund for Amsterdam, supporting professional and amateur culture across disciplines, including visual arts. It funds both established and emerging practice through project and recurring subsidies, and is especially important if your work is based in Amsterdam or presented to Amsterdam audiences.
BNG Cultuurfonds
Supports artistic and cultural activities with public value, often in connection with municipal cultural policy. It also stimulates young talent with prizes across several fields, including visual arts, making it relevant for emerging artists and local cultural initiatives.
Cultuurfonds
A major private-public cultural fund with national reach, supporting projects across art, culture, heritage, music, literature, and more. For visual artists, it can support exhibitions, talent development, and project-based initiatives; it also offers prizes and stipends in some cases.
DutchCulture
Not a grantmaker in the usual sense, but a key advice and navigation body for international cultural projects involving the Netherlands. It helps artists and organizations find suitable funding and can be especially useful when you need to combine Dutch and international sources.
Fonds 21
A Dutch private fund that supports high-quality projects with social impact and broad or new audiences. In the visual arts it is usually relevant for public-facing projects, exhibitions, and initiatives with strong outreach, rather than pure practice support.
Mondriaan Fund
The main public fund for visual arts and cultural heritage in the Netherlands. It supports visual artists, curators, critics, theorists, collectives, museums, galleries, art venues, and platforms through project, production, presentation, research, and career-development schemes; support can be substantial depending on the scheme and may also promote Dutch art abroad.
Performing Arts Fund NL
Primarily a performing arts fund, but relevant to interdisciplinary visual artists working with performance, live art, or festivals. It supports professional creators and companies with project and development funding, and is especially useful for artists whose visual practice is performed live rather than shown only in gallery contexts.
VSBfonds
A social and cultural fund that supports initiatives with community value, including arts and culture projects. For visual artists, it is most useful when the project has a public, social, or educational dimension rather than a purely studio-based focus.
Artist Residencies in Netherlands
54 residencies listed
AGA LAB
Amsterdam, Netherlands
AGA LAB offers an Artist in Residence (AiR) program in Amsterdam, designed to foster research and experimentation in the field of printing techniques, color, and image carriers. With facilities that promote non-toxic methods and an urban agricultural garden cultivating ink plants, AGA LAB provides a unique context for artistic development. The residency is available to both national and international artists who can apply directly or be invited based on a specific proposal. Accommodations include two guest rooms within the Broedplaats BOUW artist space where the studio is also located, allowing 24-hour access. Residents also enjoy exchange opportunities with (inter)national colleagues and access to a communal kitchen.
DOOResidency
Zaandam, Netherlands
DOOResidency is a non-profit organization established in 2021 in Amsterdam by the DOOR Foundation. It focuses on fostering artistic experimentation and collaborative practices within contemporary art. By re-purposing vacant and underused buildings, DOOResidency creates unconventional spaces for creative projects. The residency program emphasizes ephemeral, site-specific, and conceptual art, providing a platform for artists to explore and develop new ideas. Located at the historical Hembrugterrein in Zaandam, Netherlands, the residency offers a rich environment for artistic growth through multifaceted interactions, mentoring, and final exhibitions, ensuring a lasting impact on participants’ careers.
Grafisch Atelier Friesland (Graphic Atelier Friesland)
Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Graphic Atelier Friesland (GAF) provides educational workshops and courses in various graphic techniques, available for students of all ages, from primary school to university level. Every month, GAF offers workshops that introduce participants to techniques such as color linocut, etching, and other forms of printmaking. The studio collaborates with several educational institutions, including NHL Stenden, Minerva Academy for Pop Culture, and local schools, offering tailored programs that meet the needs of different age groups and skill levels. For educators, GAF provides custom project development and adaptable lessons in collaboration with schools, with a maximum group size of 15 students to ensure personalized attention. The atelier also participates in local educational initiatives like Art Menu Plus and Art Trip to enhance cultural and artistic education.
1646 Residency
Hague, Netherlands
The 1646 Residency, in collaboration with ReCNTR, offers a unique opportunity for artists and researchers to immerse themselves in a creative and intellectual environment. Located in the heart of The Hague, this residency is designed as a retreat to foster the development of new ideas and sustainable practices, drawing inspiration from the natural and social landscape. Open to both national and international applicants, the residency emphasizes experimentation and research over final outcomes, encouraging residents to engage with the local community and its rich history. With a focus on "thinking through making," it supports knowledge production through artistic and multimodal practices. The residency provides a studio, living space, access to facilities and a supportive community, aiming to nourish work and connections. It's a chance to unplug and dive deep into creative pursuits, with the support of curatorial and administrative assistance, and the opportunity for public presentation. This residency is a testament to the power of art to bridge cultures and explore new ways of being, making it a pivotal experience for those looking to expand their artistic and intellectual horizons.
AIR Besiendershuis
Nijmegen, Netherlands
The AIR Besiendershuis is a residency program hosted in the historic Besiendershuis in Nijmegen, Netherlands, offering stays typically lasting two months for artists, writers, journalists, and interdisciplinary creators to develop projects in collaboration with local host organizations, resulting in public events and programs benefiting the city. It emphasizes dynamic, open cultural initiatives, including partnerships with institutions like Wereldmuseum and Radboud University for themes such as arts meeting science and societal issues like colonial history. Residencies vary in duration, with examples of three months for journalistic projects and shorter summer stays.
AiR Nieuw en Meer
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Artist community Nieuw en Meer in Amsterdam offers the AiR Nieuw en Meer guest studio residency, open to artists in all disciplines for work periods of up to three months. Located in the scenic Oeverlanden park by the Nieuwe Meer lake, the 48m² studio includes a sleeping area, kitchen, shower, toilet, floor heating, and wifi, with monthly rent of €425 (or €550 for couples). Residents engage with the community through occasional events and must give a presentation at the end of their stay.