Culture Council issues opinion on cultural funding application process

The application process for cultural subsidies from the state could be simpler and clearer. The sector would also benefit from a less non-committal assessment of applicable codes of conduct around fair practice, good governance and diversity and inclusion. This requires something from institutions, but it also ensures a more future-proof and resilient sector. This is stated in an advice from the Council for Culture to state secretary Uslu of Culture and Media. She had asked the council to advise her on the application and assessment process of the Basic Cultural Infrastructure for the period 2025 to 2028 (BIS 25-28).

Clarity in advance

Cultural institutions that want to qualify for BIS funding benefit from clarity in advance. This is provided by a clear entry requirement and clearly formulated general conditions. As an entry requirement, the council recommends a minimum existence period of four years at the beginning of the subsidy period. As general conditions, the council suggests that institutions should be both nationally significant and rooted in their own municipality or region.

Assessment criteria

If it appears that an institution meets the institution requirement and the general conditions, substantive assessment criteria come into play. As a new criterion, the council proposes the concept of 'social significance'. In practice, according to the council, this goes hand in hand with artistic content quality and is partly determined by the specific profile of the institution. Furthermore, the council sees accessibility and corporate health as criteria.

To simplify the assessment process, the council, in coordination with the national cultural funds, suggests asking for less detailed programme and budget information to substantiate the application.

Codes of conduct

As far as the council is concerned, application of the three codes of conduct on fair practice, good governance and diversity and inclusion in the BIS 25-28 will be tested less non-committally. In the current BIS period, endorsing the codes and explaining steps to achieve implementation were sufficient. For the next round, the council recommends taking compliance with the codes as a starting point. In practical terms, this means, for example, that institutions that do not adhere to collective rate agreements when paying staff need not count on a positive assessment of their application.

Sustainability

Also in the area of sustainability, BIS institutions have an important exemplary role, according to the council. It is therefore necessary to gain more insight into where the institutions stand in that area. BIS institutions are asked to commit to having a baseline measurement carried out in the first year of the scheme, 2025, and to draw up an action plan for making their organisation and artistic practice more sustainable in the run-up to 2030. The council also argues that it is necessary for the government to take a facilitating role in this.

Youth performing arts

The council further recommends bringing the budget per institution for youth performing arts more in line with the budget that theatre institutions with adult audiences receive. Production costs are the same, while revenues are lower. This while youth performing arts institutions have an important function. After all, it is often the first time that children for whom it is not a matter of course come into contact with theatre and dance. According to the council, the crucial function of the 13 existing youth performing arts institutions is at risk if the inequality continues. The council previously sounded the alarm about this.

Continued

The assessment process for the next BIS round will take place in early 2024. The draft grant scheme is expected to be submitted to the House of Representatives before next summer. The state secretary will then adopt the scheme. The council will adopt the assessment framework in autumn 2023. From there, the application process for institutions will start. The council will assess the applications independently and advise the State Secretary.