Frequently Asked Questions

The AFK has no fixed submission dates for applications for the Professional Arts Scheme or the Cultural Participation Scheme. You may submit an application whenever you want. In some cases we do however work with a deadline, however, so please be sure to check the website carefully first. Applications for the Waarderingssubsidies (Basic Subsidies for Amateur Organizations) for the year 2016 must have been submitted by 17:00 on 2 November 2015.

Thirteen weeks. For this reason there must be a minimum of 13 weeks between the submission of an application and the start, premiere or opening of a project, programme or development plan. Exceptions to this rule can be found in each scheme’s regulations. If the applicant needs to send more information, that can mean a delay in receiving an answer. That's why it's important to send in your application as early and completely as possible, in order not to have problems with the planning. All the costs that an applicant makes before the given start or commencement date (such as preparation for the project) are at the expense of the applicant.

No, that is not possible.

During a Drop-in Consultation, you have thirty minutes to explain your project in person. You will get a quick decision from the AFK as to whether they will contribute to the project or not. Drop-in Consultations take place on the last Tuesday of every month. Please note: there must be at least one month between the Drop-in Consultation and the desired start or commencement date of the project.

Mijn Eerste Aanvraag is elke laatste dinsdag van de maand. Let op: tussen het gesprek en de gewenste aanvangsdatum van het project moet minimaal één maand zitten. Kijk voor meer informatie over Mijn Eerste Aanvraag onder 'Aanvragen' > 'Eenmalige Subsidies' > 'Mijn Eerste Aanvraag'.

Yes, you can get in touch with one of our cultural scouts. Send an email to one of our cultural scouts to make an appointment. Their names are listed under 'Organisatie'.

The AFK only considers applications if the applicant's own contribution is a minimum 25% of the total budget. The ‘own income’ can include income from private sources such as income from ticket sales, sponsorship and hospitality revenues, your own contribution and/or a financial contribution from private funds. Financial contributions from public sources, including government funds, the City of Amsterdam, or its various districts, do not qualify. The fund only contributes to projects with a budget deficit. We advise applicants to apply for money from other funds, so that their total budget will be covered.

No. You must submit two separate applications. Get in touch with your city district for further information concerning funding-scheme regulations and submission dates.

No, however, always specify the location in the application, and try to get a declaration of intent saying that the project may indeed take place there.

You can submit an application for the Professional Arts Scheme and the Cultural Participation Scheme at any time, unless a specific deadline is otherwise stated on our website. Applications for the Waarderingssubsidies (Basic Subsidies for Amateur Organizations) for the year 2016 must have been submitted by 17:00 on 2 November 2015.

Yes, on the digital application form, you must select one of the two schemes. When in doubt, you can always talk this over with one of our employees.

The minimum financial contribution is €2,500. One exception to this is the Waarderingssubsidies (Basic Subsidies for Amateur Organizations). An overview of the maximum amounts of subsidy that can be applied for (per discipline or sub-discipline) can be found under 'Regulations '.

If you are requesting a contribution as a private individual (or a natural person in the legal sense), then the maximum contribution amounts to € 15,000. This restriction does not apply to legal entities. We try to establish in every case what is reasonable within the total coverage plan. There are some exceptions within the Professional Arts Scheme which apply to both legal entities and private individuals: • Organizers of Arts in Public Spaces: the requested financial contribution cannot be higher than the amount of the applicant's own financial contribution. • For the personal development of Amsterdam artists, a Development Budget can be requested for a maximum of € 15,000. • Within the Waarderingssubsidies (Basic Subsidies for Amateur Organizations), the AFK establishes the amount of the contribution for each applicant annually, differentiated according to the scope of the institution (number of members or participants) and umbrella organisations (number of connected institutions) and the various sub-disciplines. An overview of the maximum amount of subsidy that can be applied for (per discipline or sub-discipline) in 2016 can be found under ‘Regulations'.

Not-for-profit legal entities, such associations or civil-law foundations, can submit an application to us. Organizers of Art in Public Spaces may also submit an application, even if their legal entity has a profit orientation.

Yes, there are restrictions on the size of the financial contribution you apply for as a private individual (or a natural person in the legal sense). See earlier question concerning maximum contributions. For the Waarderingssubsidies (Basic Subsidies for Amateur Organizations), you can only submit a request if you are a foundation or association.

Yes, but Cultural Institutions which receive structural funding of more than €100.000 per year from the City of Amsterdam via the Kunstenplan (Arts and Culture Memorandum) may not submit an application to the AFK. This restriction also applies to institutions which are supported on a national level (by means of the BIS-scheme): such institutions may not submit an application. When your cultural institution, project or programme is already directly or indirectly (partly) funded by the City of Amsterdam, or receives a multi-year subsidy on behalf or directly from the national government, the AFK exercises restraint in offering support.

Yes, the budget must cover the entire project. The contribution requested from the AFK must be in proportion to the part of the project that will take place in Amsterdam.

No, we do not contribute to projects within the framework of a course of study or education.

Yes, you may submit an application for a Development Plan within the Professional Arts Scheme. This application must be aimed at a boost in quality for the artist. The application must also provide insight into how the planned development will contribute to an improved position of the artist in Amsterdam.

Yes, but if your application has been approved the establishment of the foundation or association must be finalized before you can receive an advance.

In addition to the digital application form, we need to receive a comprehensive budget and a project plan. When applying for a contribution higher than € 25,000, or if the costs of the estimated project budget are higher than € 100,000, you must also upload a separate audience and communication plan. The Format Project Plan is intended to provide some examples of how this can be done. Please note: the entire application must be submitted by means of the digital application form. You can also upload all documentation by means of the digital application form.

Your application will first be evaluated to see if all the conditions and criteria described in the scheme's regulations have been met. You can use the checklist to find out immediately if your project meets the formal criteria. When in doubt, please contact one of our employees.

As soon as your application (the application form, the project plan and the budget) has been received, the secretary reviews it to see if it fulfils the formal criteria as described in the regulations for the scheme. If your application satisfies all the requirements, our staff and financial professionals make a substantive and financial analysis. The application can then be presented, along with the analyses, to advisors, who will be asked to provide an independent opinion. Based on the analyses and the possible opinions, the staff employee makes a proposal to the management to either award a financial contribution or not, as well as the amount of the contribution. The board of the AFK makes the final decision, followed by a letter to the applicant stating the decision to either award a financial contribution or not. When granting an amount of €100,000 or more, the Supervisory Board must first give their authorisation.

You can also submit an application as a beginner. A Drop-in Consultation might be something for you. You could also get in touch with one of our cultural scouts, to discuss your plans.

When deciding if someone is a professional or not, we don't just look at their education, but also at their level of experience. We also want to see if there is evidence of a professional practice of the arts, with which an applicant can provide for their own cost of living.

We gladly visit (potential) projects. Send an email to secretariaat@afk.nl. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept all invitations.

Yes, we will look at these things when evaluating the application. Earlier results are considered to be a reference when making the substantive and artistic evaluation. What have you done in the past, and what were the results? Include reviews, if possible. If you don't have any previous results to show us, impressions, outlines, sketches etc. will be sufficient.

No, but the project must be important for the city of Amsterdam and increase the public's interest and appreciation of the arts.

Yes, at the evaluation we will examine which target group the project hopes to reach, and how much effort will be made to reach that target group.

Yes. For projects within the Professional Arts Scheme and the Cultural Participation Scheme, the AFK may decide to award an advance of up to 80% of the approved funding. You can ask for an advance by means of 'Mijn AFK'. For the Waarderingssubsidies (Basic Subsidies for Amateur Organizations), other conditions apply. You can find the conditions in the implementation agreement which you received with the letter of approval.

Yes. You must mention that the project's results have been made possible thanks to a financial contribution from the AFK in all publicity and promotional materials. You must also use the AFK logo. You can find the conditions in the implementation agreement which you received with the letter of approval.

The AFK is entitled to a minimum of two invitations for the public presentation of the project. You can find the conditions in the implementation agreement which you received with the letter of approval.

Within three months of the completion of the project, programme or development plan you must submit a detailed project report by means of the digital application form. This report consists of both a substantive report and a financial report. For the Waarderingssubsidies (Basic Subsidies for Amateur Organizations), other conditions apply. You can find the conditions for rendering a full account in the implementation agreement which you received with the letter of approval.

Yes, please submit to us any changes that may have an influence on the evaluation of the project as soon as possible.

That is different for each project. We evaluate the project as a whole and also take into account the amount of effort that has gone into achieving the result.

People who do not agree with a negative decision can submit an objection. You must submit your objection within six weeks of the date of the decision, addressed to the board of the AFK. If you only want a more detailed explanation of the decision, get in touch with the employee who dealt with the application. His or her name is on the letter of disposition.