Our subsidies

An operating subsidy can be applied for for the following disciplines: 

• plastic and (multi-screen) audio-visual arts
• performing arts
• music
• architecture and design
• cultural publications
• new media and hybrid forms

All combinations of disciplines, all sub-genres and sub-disciplines are possible. Only artistic expressions falling within the competences of the funds, namely film and literature, shall not be eligible for subsidisation through the Arts Flemish Parliament Act. 

Project subsidies may be applied for for all functions, i.e. 'development', 'production', 'presentation', 'participation' or 'reflection', or for every combination of these functions. In other words, project subsidies cover a broad range of functions. For foreign artists and organisations applying for an project subsidy under the Arts Flemish Parliament Act the project shall always be linked to a presentation.  

A dossier must satisfy five criteria, namely:

• quality of the concept in terms of content and practical implementation
• quality of business management:
  • compliance of artistic planning with business planning
  • a feasible and realistic budget
  • focus on a correct allowance for artists
• positioning and collaboration
• national and/or international significance
• if applicable, further specification of the criteria by the Government of Flanders. 

For project subsidies, the criterion 'quality of the concept in terms of content and practical implementation' shall be specified per function. The aim of this function-specific implementation is to guarantee, among other things, a tailor-made evaluation.

The Government of Flanders can lay down further criteria. These criteria are explained in the strategic vision paper of the Minister for Culture.  

As to the 'development' function, the criterion 'quality of concept in terms of content and practical implementation' shall be specified as follows: 

• quality of the artistic research and experiment
• contribution to the development of the artist's pathway

On the basis of this criterion, an assessment is made of the quality of an artistic research and experiment and of the contribution of the project to the development of the artist's or the organisation's pathway. Research and experiment lead to new content or a deepening of content and breathes life into the artist's or organisation's pathway.

As to the function 'production', the criterion 'quality of concept in terms of content and practical implementation' shall be specified as follows:

• quality of the creation and production process
• quality of the artistic result
• vision on distribution and public outreach activities.

The function 'production' shall be assessed on the basis of the quality of the creation and production process, the quality of the artistic result and the vision on distribution and public outreach. The produced artistic result must be opened up to an audience. That is why it is essential to examine the presentation possibilities and to develop a vision on distribution and public outreach. You need not take up a presentation function yourself. 

As to the function 'presentation' the criterion 'quality of concept in terms of content and practical implementation' shall be specified as follows:

• quality of the presented artistic result
• quality of the presentation context
• vision on and content of public outreach activities.

Not only the quality of the programme or the presented artistic result (what), but also the quality of the context of the presentation shall be assessed. For instance, is there an appropriate presentation space, a specific way of presenting, an appropriate format, framework, scenography, etc.?

The vision on the relationship with the audience is also assessed. In order to bring the programme into contact with an audience, focus shall be on attracting visitors and on public outreach activities.  Attracting visitors refers to the target group policy, the communication plan of the project. Public outreach activities refer for instance to the support of the programme through lectures, guided tours, introductions, etc. 

As to the function 'participation' the criterion 'quality of concept in terms of content and practical implementation' shall be specified as follows:

• quality of the participatory concepts and methods
• quality of the process guidance
• involvement of participants.

An important precondition for a qualitative participative concept is the coaching by one or more professional artists. This coaching can possibly be provided in cooperation with educational, cultural or social workers. Central focus shall be on active participation of the target group or the participants. They shall (possibly) be involved in the elaboration or realisation and evaluation of projects or activities. The quality of this participation process can be checked, for instance, against the innovative character or the added value for the field.

As to the function 'reflection' the criterion 'quality of concept in terms of content and practical implementation' shall be specified as follows:

• quality of the reflection on the art(istic) (practice) and/or the arts field, insofar as there is an involvement with the arts field  in the Dutch language area and/or in the bilingual area of Brussels-Capital;
• quality of the way in which the reflection is made accessible.

The reflection must always have content regarding arts, culture and/or arts criticism as its object. Reflection shall contribute to the knowledge on (the developments of) art or the arts field and can feed and reinforce the discussion about the subject. The results shall always be made accessible to an interested audience in a qualitative manner. This can be realised in many ways, such as through (online) publications, workshops, lectures, debates etc.

Applications for a project subsidy in KIOSK can be submitted either in Dutch or in English. As artists applying for a project have to be based in Flanders/Brussels their requests have to be submitted in Dutch according to the language law. Only foreign organisations can submit applications in English.

For more information, please send an email to the Arts Division with the subject line indicating the ID of your file and the name or organisation you represent.