Upcoming Deadline: Open call by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in India

International exchange between culture makers, creative entrepreneurs and cultural institutions is a source of inspiration and helps to build and maintain relationships and mutual understanding across borders. In 2022 India and the Netherlands celebrate 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in India is keen to cooperate/support the cultural activities that strengthen the people-to-people connection and brings an added value to enhance the existing cultural ties between the two nations. For that reason, the embassy brings a call for proposal to promote Dutch art and culture in India.

Funding of Dutch cultural presentations abroad is done by the culture funds in the Netherlands. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in India has access to limited funds for supporting small-scale projects that contribute to the cultural objective goals of the embassy. Priority will be given to projects in the following sectors and/or fields:

• Design (including fashion and textile design, artisanship, urban planning and landscape design);
• Cinematography;
• Visual arts (painting, sculpture art, photography);
• Performing arts (music, dance);
• Heritage cooperation (including museum cooperation, and intangible cultural heritage).

With limited funds available, clear criteria have been developed to ensure a transparent and efficient application process. Eligibility for support could include (but is not limited to) participation in festivals, public performances, exhibitions, workshops, seminars, masterclasses, artist-in-residencies, or trainings. Organisations applying for funding (‘applicants’) have to comply with all of the following criteria:

1. The project must preferably be aimed at one of the abovementioned priority areas
2. The application must be submitted by, or in close consultation with and on behalf of, a Netherlands-based artist or cultural institution
3. The proposal should entail the active involvement of Indian and Dutch artists, preferably through creative cultural collaboration.
4. Objectives, expected impact, target audience and results should be made clear in the application.
5. Applications can only be submitted in English via e-mail by filling up the Application Form provided below.
6. Applications must include a budget proposal with a clear breakdown of budget allocation per activity. Applications without a budget proposal will not be considered.
7. The start of the activity is in 2022.
8. Purely commercial activities are not eligible for funding.
9. The activity is yet to take place. Funding cannot be granted once the activity has started or after the activity has ended.

If your proposal complies with all of the above-mentioned criteria, please fill in the application form. The embassy will only accept proposals submitted in this format and sent to: nde-projects@minbuza.nl. The deadline for submitting project proposals is 31 May 2022 at 23.00hrs IST. Any requests or proposals received after the deadline will not be considered.

For more information and contact see the full open call on the website of the Embassy