Veelgestelde vragen Stimuleringsregeling Eigentijdse Dans (SED)

The SED is intended to support freelance dance professionals in practicing their profession, such as independent choreographers and dancers with a demonstrable connection to the city.

This means that your professional practice is based within the municipality of Amsterdam, or that you reside within the municipality of Amsterdam. The rental spaces must also be located within the municipality of Amsterdam. Currently, Weesp is also part of the municipality of Amsterdam.

With the SED, the AFK supports dance freelancers in the exercise of their professional practice by providing a contribution towards the rental costs for rehearsal and set-up space in Amsterdam.

No, there is not. 

The Dutch nationality is not required. However, your residence permit must be valid for the period for which you are applying for the scheme.

No, if you are already receiving a contribution from the AFK for these activities, you cannot apply for the SED contribution.

No, you cannot submit an application from a dance company. Only freelance dancers and/or choreographers can apply for the incentive scheme.

No, it is not possible to use the SED contribution for dance workshops or other dance training activities.

When you share a space with other freelance dance professionals, each collaborator with a positive professional competence assessment can submit an application for the Incentive Scheme for Contemporary Dance. The collaborators can be reimbursed for rental costs up to a maximum of €3,000 in total. Be sure to clearly specify in the applications what agreements you have made regarding the sharing of rental costs. If the rental costs are already part of an approved project application with the AFK, you cannot apply for them again through the SED. This also applies to a residency project.

You need a professional practice as a freelance dancer or choreographer to be eligible for the SED. This is determined through a professional competence assessment, which has been issued by the AFK since 2021. When applying for the SED, you will be asked to upload confirmation of a valid professional competence assessment. This must still be valid on the date of the application. If you do not have a (valid) professional competence assessment, you can take the assessment simultaneously with your SED application. For this, you will need to answer a number of additional questions in the application form.

This is established with a professional competence assessment. The professional competence assessment is carried out by the AFK and is valid for four years after it is issued. You fill in the questions for the professional competence assessment together with your application.

If you do not have a (valid) professional competence assessment, you can do a one at the same time as you apply for the SED. To do so, answer a number of additional questions in the application form (see ‘What questions should I answer for the professional competence assessment in the application form?’) If you already have a valid professional competence assessment from a previous application, you can add the reference number of this application for the SED. This test must still be valid on the date of application (a professional validity test is valid for four years).

In the online application form, you are asked to describe your professional practice. Which art education(s) have you followed? If you are self-taught, we would like to know how you have developed your professional skills. What dance productions have you realized in the recent period? And what trainings and workshops have you attended?

Additionally, you will upload a recent CV. There are also questions about the income you have generated within your professional dance practice.

It is not required to have an art diploma. However, we would like to determine whether you have a professional practice. This is done through a professional competence assessment, see the previous question.

No, this is optional. In addition to the mandatory CV for the professional competence assessment (see above), you can optionally upload documents that prove you have a freelance professional practice. This could be, for example, a Chamber of Commerce registration, but also a copy of the VAR-WUO or proof of the artist regulation/fee statement.

Yes, this is allowed.

A positive professional competence assessment is valid for four years. If you still have a valid professional competence assessment at the time of application, you do not need to fill in the questions for the professional competence assessment again on the application form. You do enter the reference number of the application in which the professional competence assessment was approved. If you do need a (new) professional competence assessment, you can submit it simultaneously with your application for the SED, via the same application form.

The confirmation of the positive assessment of the professional competence is included in the first award letter of the SED that you received from the AFK.

Then your application for the SED in 2025 will unfortunately not be granted. You will always be informed of the reasons why the AFK assessed your professional competence negatively.

If you wish, you can use 2025 to improve your professional practice. Then, in 2026, you may submit a new professional competence assessment and application for the SED.

Yes. It may be that you still have a positively assessed professional competence assessment, as it is valid for four years. If you do not have one, you will need to answer a number of additional questions in the application form. This allows the AFK to carry out the professional competence assessment. The professional competence assessment and the subsidy application will be assessed simultaneously by the AFK.

No. If you do not yet have a valid professional competence assessment, it is good to know that this is not disadvantageous when submitting your application. Both your application for the SED and the professional competence assessment will be processed simultaneously by the AFK.

You can submit an application from Monday, February 3, 2025, 10:00 AM until Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 4:00 PM. There is a limited budget for this scheme. If more applications are received than we can grant, we will determine the order in which the applications are processed by drawing lots. This way, everyone has the same chance of receiving a contribution, regardless of when the application is submitted.

A minimum of €2,000 and a maximum of €3,000.

NOTE: You can never apply for more than the rental costs. If you can reclaim BTWbecause you are BTW-liable, you should enter the rental amount without BTW. Otherwise, enter it including BTW.

If granted, you will receive the full amount in your account within a few weeks.

The AFK will be using a different platform next year. Therefore, everyone must create a new account, even if you have previously submitted an application for SED or the project scheme. What do you need to do?

• You must create an account at mijn.afk.nl.
• You must set up your Applicant Page.
• See the manual for more information.

You can create a new account at any time. It is advisable to do this in advance, so you are ready before you start your SED application.

Once you have a new account, you can submit an application from Monday, February 3, 2025, 10:00 AM until Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 4:00 PM. See the manual for more information.

A complete application consists of:

• A fully completed application form, including the required attachments.
• A (draft) rental agreement or rental arrangement for the location(s) the application pertains to.
• If you have one: a positively assessed professional competence assessment (not older than four years).

The documents you need to submit an application are:

• A KvK number or proof of registration in the municipality of Amsterdam.
• Proof of a valid professional competence assessment.
• A CV if you do not yet have a valid professional competence assessment.
• Uploads of the written user agreements with the landlord/owner.

Yes, you can. You can submit your application in Dutch or in English.

Yes, you can. Just make sure you are logged out on the first computer before logging in on the other computer.

Yes. If you already have an account with the AFK, but for example, for a company/organization, you cannot use it to apply for the SED. To submit an application, you must create an account for yourself or for your sole proprietorship. Note: everyone must create a new account for the SED in 2025, as we are using a new platform. See also 'How do I create an account?'

After logging in, you open the SED application form. If you indicate that you also need a professional competence assessment (which is required for the application), those questions will automatically appear in the form. You have until Wednesday, February 5, 4:00 PM to complete the questions (including the professional competence assessment, if necessary), upload documentation, and submit your application. Once your application is successfully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If more applications are received than we can grant, we will determine the order in which applications are processed by drawing lots. This ensures everyone has the same chance of receiving a contribution, regardless of when the application is submitted.

The rental agreement must include the following information:

• Address of the space(s);
• Name of the landlord;
• Rental period(s) (which space, dates, and times of day);
• Price agreements.

The rental agreement can also be an arrangement via email. It is not possible to apply for the SED without a rental agreement.

Yes, it is possible to submit one application for different (studio and rehearsal) spaces. The scheme reimburses the rental costs for these spaces, with a maximum amount of €3,000.

No, it is not possible to use the SED for storage space. It is specifically intended to contribute to the rental of studio and rehearsal spaces for freelance dancers in Amsterdam.

The application year for the SED runs from March 1, 2025, to March 1, 2026. This means that you can only use the subsidy money for costs incurred during that period.

No, you can submit an application once per year. A maximum of one application per (application) year is granted per freelance dancer. The application year runs from March 1, 2025, to March 1, 2026. This means you can only use the subsidy funds for costs incurred during that period.

A total of €145,322 is available per subsidy year for this scheme. Once this amount has been allocated, no more applications can be granted. If more applications are received than we can approve, we will determine the order in which applications are processed through a lottery. This ensures everyone has the same chance of receiving a contribution, regardless of when the application is submitted.

Yes, that is possible. However, you cannot apply for the same dance activities to avoid double funding.

No, that is not possible.

You can expect the outcome of your application within four weeks of the close of the application period. The application period closes on Wednesday 5 February, at 4pm. You will receive the decision no later than 4 March 2025.

Yes, that is possible. The option to appeal is mentioned in the decision letter, which will be sent to you by email.

You must be able to show, upon request from the AFK, that you have carried out the activities for which you received the subsidy. Please note: it is mandatory for everyone to immediately inform the AFK if there are any changed circumstances that may affect the amount of the subsidy you have received.

You must immediately inform the AFK if there are any changed circumstances that could affect the amount of the subsidy you have received. For example, this could include a change in location, execution period, or rental costs. You can do this by emailing the SED contact person, Saskia de Leeuw (sdleeuw@afk.nl).

If you are unable to spend the full subsidy amount due to unforeseen circumstances, contact the SED contact person, Saskia de Leeuw (sdleeuw@afk.nl). It may be possible to spend the unused portion in the following year.

No, that is not possible. If you have spent more on rent than the received subsidy amount, the AFK cannot supplement that amount.

That's not a problem, as long as the rented spaces are located within the municipality of Amsterdam. Send an email to the SED contact person, Saskia de Leeuw (sdleeuw@afk.nl), mentioning the changed space and any changes in costs.