Cultural cooperation Australia-Netherlands 2021-2024

Over the years, cultural connections between the Netherlands and Australia have been reinforced. The network has been expanded with more galleries, libraries, archives, museums, universities and local government organisations in the Netherlands and Australia being connected. A beautiful example of this growing network is the long-term partnership between the National Archives of Australia and those of the Netherlands. Together they have set up a programme to collect documents and information about the Dutch settlers that arrived in Australia between 1947 and 1971.

Financially supported projects are in the field of heritage but also serious gaming, design, architecture and fashion. With the input of Dutch experts, these projects have established Dutch-Australian dialogues within the above-mentioned fields. The underlying themes in these projects are affordable and clean energy, industry, innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and climate action and circularity.

In the upcoming period, the main focus will remain on shared cultural heritage. The aim is to inventory and foster Dutch-Australian shared heritage and to make this as accessible as possible to the public of both countries. Cultural professionals engaged in projects that contribute to this goal, especially if they connect to the above-mentioned themes, are encouraged to reach out to DutchCulture and/or the Dutch embassy in Canberra for advice concerning matchmaking and funding, and possibly also for financial support.

Besides these efforts and activities, colonial history and the repatriation of colonial objects is an increasingly important debate in which the Netherlands is taking a pro-active role. The Dutch embassy seeks to investigate and identify partners in Australia that are actively engaged in the postcolonial debate.

Would you like to receive more information regarding opportunities for cultural exchange with Australia? Feel free to contact our Focal Countries Desk with your questions. 

• Go (back) to the main country page for Australia
• Webpage of the Embassy of The Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia
• Follow the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia on social media