Webinar: Schengen visa for artists

Are you an organiser of a cultural event in the Netherlands or the Caribbean part of the Kingdom that hosts international artists? Do you face challenges navigating the Schengen visa process for your invited guests? Join this webinar, organised by DutchCulture's Mobility Info Point, in cooperation with the International Cultural Policy Unit (ICE) and the Consular Service Organisation (CSO) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to gain essential insights into how you can support artists with their visa applications.

Join the webinar via the live-streamed link below. Please note: this webinar will not be recorded or available later.

This webinar is designed for organisers of cultural events—such as festivals, exhibitions, and conferences—across all artistic disciplines, including music, film, performing arts, visual arts, design, and cultural heritage. The session focuses on events that feature international programming and involve hosting artists from outside the Schengen Area.

While the visa application is the responsibility of the invited artist, event organisers play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth process. From providing the right invitation documents to understanding common pitfalls, this webinar will equip you with practical knowledge to better support your international guests.

Key topics:

•    How can you, as an organiser, best support artists in their Schengen visa application?
•    What are the do’s and dont's to increase the chances of a successful application?
•    Where can you turn for help if you encounter difficulties?
•    A brief look at the use of the Schengen visa and the Caribbean visa in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.

The webinar includes a Q&A session where you can ask specific questions. Please note: the webinar will not be recorded.

• Welcome by Kirsten van den Hul, Director DutchCulture
• Official opening by Dewi van de Weerd, Ambassador for International Cultural Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Introduction of the Mobility Info Point by Judith van der Kooij, Mobility advisor at DutchCulture
• Presentation by Joost de Boer, Senior Policy Officer at the Consular Service Organisation

DutchCulture's Mobility Info Point (MIP) supports individual artists and cultural organisations in navigating administrative challenges when working across borders. Key areas of assistance include visas and work permits, social security, taxation and mobility funding.  

The International Cultural Policy Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports Dutch artists and cultural organizations in working with partners around the world. Through its global network, the ICE strengthens cultural exchange, using culture as a bridge for international dialogue and diplomacy—because through art, we speak a universal language.

The Consular Service Organisation (CSO) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the central back office where applications for visas, travel documents and identity documents are registered and assessed and where decisions on these applications are made.