'The Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK) invests in art that enriches life in the city.'
We believe artists, creativity and experimentation are inextricably linked to Amsterdam. The AFK supports projects and programmes that increase interest in art and culture, appeal to a wide audience and maintain the multiformity of the array of art available in the city.
Amsterdam is culturally diverse, and its diversity should be reflected in our projects. We believe that art must represent the public as well as the cultural institutions. We also support adventurous art, because it is only through innovation and experimentation that art can continue to grow.
With these financial contributions, the AFK aims at stimulating the appreciation for art in Amsterdam, and at creating broader support for arts and culture in terms of both audiences and politics. This is why the projects not only need to offer artistic and practical quality, but also need to pursue an optimal degree of audience reach, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.
The AFK is funded by the City of Amsterdam.
Applications
The AFK has two schemes to support projects and programmes: 1) regeling Professionele Kunst for creating and presenting art, and 2) regeling Cultuurparticipatie for involving Amsterdammers in art and culture.
▶ Professionele kunst / Professional Arts scheme
The Professional Arts scheme focuses on creating and presenting cultural projects and programmes in the field of the performing arts, visual arts, design, architecture, film, photography, new media, literature, and music, as well as all the possible hybrids between these disciplines. This scheme also incorporates the former “matching fund”, now known as the commissioning and development budget for the development of artists. Download the complete details of the Professional Arts scheme.
▶ Cultuurparticipatie / Cultural Participation scheme
The Cultural Participation scheme is intended for projects and programmes that take place outside of school, and that promote participation and involvement in arts and culture in the city. Examples include projects and programmes that deal with amateur arts, that broaden support for culture, or that focus on developing talent. Download the complete details of the Cultural Participation scheme.
Do you have plans for an art project? Then go through our checklist to see if you can submit an application to the AFK.
Do you want to submit your application right away? Using our digital application form*, you can easily submit an application for a grant within one of these two schemes, whenever you want. If you want your application to be processed more quickly, then make an appointment during office hours.
In addition to grants, there are other ways to finance your project, for example through the crowdfunding platform “voordekunst”, through a loan from the “Amsterdamse Cultuurlening” Amsterdam Cultural Loan, or through contributions from other funds.
Submitting an application to the AFK is very straightforward, but requires a certain amount of time and effort. The digital form* consists of several questions about the project, its goals, and its finances. We would also like to see a clear project plan, budget, the CVs of the involved artists, and a communication plan. Do you have any other questions, or do you want some tips? Then take a look at our FAQ, or send an e-mail to
Good luck with your application!
Do note that it may take up to thirteen weeks before you get a response. *Please note that the application form is in Dutch only. We advise you to ask help of someone in your own network in case this is a problem for you.
Completing your application in five steps:
How to do an application in five simple steps
▶ Step 1: Criteria
First, you answer a series of questions to find out whether you qualify for a financial contribution from the AFK, such as whether you are already receiving a grant, how much you will contribute yourself, and as part of which scheme you are asking for a contribution.
▶ Step 2: About the project
Here you answer some questions about the project: how big is it, where and when will it take place, and how many people do you think it will reach? In “project goals,” we ask about your aims and expectations. The more specific your answers are, the better.
▶ Step 3: About you
Then we ask a number of questions about you and your organisation. What kind of organisation do you have, who is on the board, and who are the directors?
▶ Step 4: Finances
An important part of the application is how you translate the artistic plan into a well-grounded budget. We would like to see a complete financial overview, which shows how the project will be funded, and where your own contribution (at least 25% of the total budget) will come from. Your answers will automatically lead to a financial analysis in the digital application form. In one of the final steps in filling out the form, you can upload your budget.
▶ Step 5: Attachments
Finally, the application must contain a clear project plan of no more than 2,000 words, in which your target audiences, means of communication, activities, and finances are explained and substantiated, specifically in regard to the use of the press, social media, and partners in Amsterdam. You can upload this project plan as one of the final steps in the digital application form. When applying for a contribution of more than €25,000, or if your budgeted project costs are more than €50,000, then you also need to upload an audience and communications plan.
Go to the digital form
Promote your project
AFK logo
Have you received a grant from the AFK? Then use our logo on all of your project’s communication materials, such as printed matter, your website, newsletters, and on any occasions when your project is presented, like during the premiere.
Use of the logo:
- Reduction in size only allowed if done in proportion;
- Colour logo only to be used in the official logo colours of the AFK;
- Preferably in red, black and white.
Logos for printing:
EPS
JPG
Mentioning the AFK
When mentioning the AFK, please use the following sentence:
Dutch:
Dit project [of naam project] is (mede) mogelijk gemaakt door het AFK.
English:
This project [or project name] is supported by the AFK.
Visual materials
On our website and via social media, we list all of the projects that we support. If you would also like us to promote your project, then please send your visual materials (with credits, if needed) to Clemmy Tjin-Bromet at ctjin@afk.nl, mentioning your project or programme. Please include any premiere dates, as well as a summary of the project.
More information
For more information or for interview requests, please contact:
Clemmy Tjin-Bromet, Communications Manager
T: 020 5200 520
M: 06 41380811
E: ctjin@afk.nl
Not in office on Wednesdays