Cultural cooperation Italy-Netherlands 2025-2028

Italy offers significant opportunities for the Dutch cultural and creative sector in terms of visibility, market opportunities, and collaboration. Cultural activities also contribute to strengthening the relationship between the Netherlands and Italy. By supporting cultural projects focused on issues such as human rights, climate change, and social inclusion, a contribution is made towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In terms of geographical distribution, most Dutch-Italian collaboration takes place in northern and central Italy. Milan, Venice, Florence, Bologna, and Rome are the country’s major cultural centres, but Italy is also home to thousands of smaller communities. It is precisely in these smaller locations where festivals and events can thrive, often carrying more significance than the abundance of activity in the larger metropolitan areas. This makes them particularly worthwhile to engage with.

Cultural collaboration with Italy spans all art disciplines. Currently, the primary focus is on ensuring that collaborations strengthen the relationship between Italy and the Netherlands, add value to the Dutch cultural sector, respond to the needs of Italian cultural organisations, and contribute to addressing societal challenges. The emphasis is mainly on contemporary culture, covering cultural education and welfare, as well as heritage management, including digitization. The goal is to provide a growing number of Dutch creatives and cultural organisations with opportunities in Italy and enable new initiatives to take shape.

Annual programmes
Each year, larger programmes are developed. These (multidisciplinary) programmes, involving multiple Dutch and Italian partners, contribute to greater visibility for the Netherlands in Italy and foster increased mutual understanding between the two countries,. They help build a wider network, and create potential for future collaborations. Valuable experiences have been gained from programmes such as S(punti) di Vista (literature, performing arts, and urban arts – 2021), FuturoPresente (children’s and youth culture – 2023), and the ongoing La scoperta dell’Olanda (literature – 2024-2025). New programmes are being developed for the coming years.

Sustainable collaboration
Rather than focusing on one-off presentations, performances, and exhibitions, the emphasis in the collaboration with Italy is on strengthening (new) partnerships between Italian and Dutch organisations, in order to create a foundation for sustainable cultural relations. Key instruments in this process include tailor made visitors’ programmes to the Netherlands, offered by various Dutch national cultural funds and institutions like the Nieuwe Instituut and DutchCulture. Examples are visitors’ programmes for Italian professionals on culture and the social domain (2024), and on heritage and digitalisation (2025).

Talent development and artistic growth
Artistic (talent) development abroad can provide a valuable boost to one’s career, not only for emerging creatives but also for mid-career artists. This could take the form of artists' residency projects, tutoring, and mentoring. In collaboration with Dutch and Italian partners, there are options for short- or long-term stays in Italy.

Societal themes
There are additional opportunities for projects and activities in Italy that address societal and urgent issues such as human rights, climate change, and social inclusion. For example, by offering innovative and/or sustainable solutions or engaging in dialogue to explore and highlight potential new scenarios.

Would you like to receive more information regarding opportunities for cultural exchange with Italy? Feel free to contact our advisor Josine Backus with your questions.

• Go (back) to the main country page for Italy
• Webpage of the Embassy of The Kingdom of the Netherlands in Rome and the Consulate General in Milan
• Follow the diplomatic missions in Italy on social media
• Travel advice to Italy (in Dutch)

In Italy, the Dutch diplomatic network includes the embassy in Rome and the consulate general in Milan. These are the first points of contact for Italian cultural organisations wishing to develop projects with the Netherlands. The network plays a pioneering role in bringing together (new) parties and providing initial support for projects. The Dutch diplomatic missions offer information and advice to the Dutch cultural sector. Using a mix of instruments, the teams in Rome and Milan interact with numerous Italian cultural organisations to support new developments and the creation of strong networks.