Info point Dutch cultural cooperation with Ukraine

24th February 2022 marks a new, dark chapter in European history. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale military attack against Ukraine destroying the Ukrainian cultural identity, and looting and destruction of cultural objects have been an essential part of the Kremlin regime’s strategy. The museum and heritage sector of Ukraine suffered huge losses. Russian forces have damaged or destroyed hundreds of cultural sites and tens of thousands of artifacts have been damaged or stolen from museums and private collections.* The Ukrainian cultural sector - museums, archives, galleries, libraries, and other institutions - responded to the threat promptly, by remarkable self-organization. They joined forces to protect the cultural heritage and started to think immediately about how to rebuild the sector.

Ukraine gained a focal country status in the international policy 2021-2024 of the Netherlands in December 2022. The new policy aims to foster collaboration with the Ukrainian cultural and heritage professionals and organizations. By facilitating cooperation and offering support, the Netherlands wishes to contribute to the protection of the rich heritage and diverse cultural sector of Ukraine and contribute to the post-war reconstruction. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine plays a significant role in facilitating the relations between the two countries.

*Information of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Information

Support for Ukrainian artists in the Netherlands | Letterenfonds

Last year, the Dutch government has announced that it will allocate extra funds to support artists who were forced to flee their country after the Russian attack on Ukraine since the 24th of February 2022 and are living in the Netherlands. This follow-up of the Support Programme for Ukrainian Artists in 2022 resulted in the Support Programma for Ukrainian Artists 2024. These programmes are financed by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, allocating € 465.000 for Ukrainian artists in 2024. The Dutch Foundation for Literature is coordinating this on behalf of the six national cultural foundations.

I need to help someone in Ukraine to travel to the Netherlands. What do I need to know?

Before leaving
It is important to bring valid travel documents (valid biometric Ukrainian passport, Ukrainian residence permit (if you are a non-EU citizen living in Ukraine) and birth certificate and/or marriage certificate) if possible. These will be helpful when travelling, but also when temporarily settling in one of the EU countries. However, the lack of these documents should not be an obstacle to entering the EU. You can find additional information about travelling to the Netherlands here: Arrival, registration and stay of refugees from Ukraine | Reception of refugees from Ukraine | Government.nl

EU Temporary Protection Directive
Refugees from Ukraine can receive temporary protection in the Netherlands under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. The Temporary scheme for Ukraine entitles you to reception, health care, and education for minor children in the Netherlands. As well as the possibility to work. Find out on this site whether you are covered by this scheme and whether you are entitled to temporary protection.

Work
Everyone who comes under the Temporary scheme Ukraine can work in the Netherlands without a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or twv). This means that an employer does not have to request a work permit for you. And that you can easily look for a job, if you want to. The work permit exemption applies to all work in employment. You will need an employment contract with an employer. You must also meet certain requirements, which you can check here. Please note that employers must notify the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) (in Dutch) that they are employing someone.

Useful links:

RefugeeHelp - Website om Oekraïense vluchtelingen in Nederland te helpen.
Ukraine: War in Ukraine | Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
Temporary Protection Directive Ukraine | Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
The Hague - Answers to questions frequently asked by Ukrainian refugees (denhaag.nl)
 

Where can I find further funding opportunities for collaboration with Ukrainian partners?

Worldwide there are numerous funding programs supporting the Ukrainian cultural and heritage field, and collaboration with Ukrainian partners. We listed a few initiatives by the Dutch and the Ukrainian cultural field:

 

On The Move
On the Move provides information on cultural mobility that is clear, up-to-date, and always free to use.

Ukrainian Emergency Art Fund 

UEAF is a local, Ukrainian network which supports Ukrainian artists. The goal of the Fund is ensure the continuity and development of the Ukrainian cultural sector during the war. The UEAF was established by Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), in partnership with Zaborona, The Naked Room and Mystetskyi Arsenal.

House of Europe

House of Europe is an EU-funded programme fostering professional and creative exchange between Ukrainians and their colleagues in EU countries and the UK. The programme focuses on different professional fields: culture and creative industries, education and youth work, social entrepreneurship, and media.announces open calls for collaborative cultural projects. House of Europe collects and lists open calls for collaborative cultural projects.

Support for Ukrainian artists in the Netherlands
For 2024 the Dutch government allocated € 465.000 to support artists who were forced to flee their country after the Russian attack on Ukraine since the 24th of February 2022 and are living in the Netherlands. The program is financed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Dutch Foundation for Literature is coordinating this on behalf of the six national cultural foundations.

Cultural Emergency Response
Cultural Emergency Response (CER) coordinates and supports locally-led protection of heritage under threat. Beyond emergency response, CER’s wider purpose is to make global heritage protection more inclusive, sustainable and locally-led, notably by training heritage experts, sharing expertise and experience, and advocating the recognition of cultural heritage rescue as a crucial aspect of humanitarian relief, recovery, development and peacebuilding.

University of New Europe - UNE mentor program
The UNE mentor program is a program launched by a collective of scholars and activists who plea for a new European university -- the University of New Europe -- with a fixed set of places for Ukrainian and Belarusian and Russian scholars at risk. We are connecting students/scholars/cultural workers at risk from Ukraine, as well as students/scholars/cultural workers at risk from Belarus and Russia, to high-profile experts elsewhere, among others in the Netherlands. To participate as mentor or mentee, send and email to universityofneweurope@protonmail.com with the following details: name; disciplinary expertise (in 3-4 keywords); participating as mentor/mentee; if mentee: seeking short-term of long-term advice. As a mentor you can make a difference by offering mental support and relevant information to your mentee, based on their needs.

NEMO, Museums support Ukraine
NEMO collects and monitors support activities and initiatives organised by museums for Ukrainian colleagues and citizens. This page lists support actions relating to Storage and Housing, Donations, Education and Exhibitions as well as statements issued by European museum organisations. You can use this site for inspiration and information. Museums are furthermore encouraged to join the initiative.

Creative Europe
The European Commission published special calls to support Ukrainian artists. The call supports artists outside their country, cultural organisations in Ukraine, and preparation for the post-war recovery of the Ukrainian cultural and creative sector in the medium term.

More information on the Ukrainian site: https://creativeeurope.in.ua/en/

Explore how Creative Europe initiatives are helping Ukraine’s cultural and creative sectors’ recovery and resilience:
Supporting Ukraine’s arts and culture - Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)
 

 
Where can I find funding within the Netherlands?

In the Netherlands the means for international cultural cooperation are delegated to the national funds. The fund that works for your art form or discipline, has one or several subsidy schemes for internationalisation. To make sure the program fits your project, contact the advisors of the fund before starting the process of application. These are funds:

Creative Industries Fund NL for Design, Creative Industries, Architecture, Digital Culture
> International Vouchers
> Presentations Abroad

Mondriaan Fund 
for Visual Arts
> Subsidy for International Art Presentation to present work by living Dutch(-based) artists. For Dutch(-based) artists or internationally recognized art organizations outside the Netherlands.
> Subsidy for International Art Fair/Art Book Fair to present work by living Dutch(-based) artists. For Dutch and non-Dutch galleries, publishers and non-Dutch art fairs.

Performing Arts Fund 
Performing Arts (theater, dance, music, opera)
> Grants for foreign organisations to invite Dutch(-based) artists
> Internationalisation grants for Dutch(-based) artists

Dutch Film Fund for Audiovisual media, film, documentary
The Film Fund has several subsidy schemes to support co-productions and distribution (film & documentary).

Dutch Foundation for Literature
The Dutch Foundation for Literature has several subsidies for internationalisation:
> Translation grants for foreign publishers
> Travel grants

Cultural Participation Fund for communal arts, cooperation, projects with non-professionals
> The international collaboration grant is available for all disciplines and designated for finding partners abroad.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency is not a national fund but also offers on behalf of various ministries and the European Union subsidies for companies in the creative industries.

Check for other funding options, such as regional and private funding the Cultural Mobility Funding Guide for the Netherlands 2021/2022.