OBJECT Permanent Funding Scheme

All new studios to be created in The Hague that are an addition to the studio base of The Hague, both quantitatively and qualitatively, are eligible for the OBJECT Permanent Funding Scheme.

The Funding Scheme is a one-off contribution towards the construction or purchase costs of a permanent studio, (guest) studio home or studio building. The spaces must be made available for at least 10 years to artists who are registered in the Stroom artists' database. The rent should not exceed €35/€45 per square metre per year.

The following are eligible:

• Artists registered in the Stroom database of artists. The profile must be up to date (Mijn Stroom).

• An organisation/collaboration with artists who are registered in the Stroom database of artists. The profiles must be up to date (Mijn Stroom).

• The owner of a building will make the studios/studio home available to artists who are registered in the Stroom artist database.

• Stroom makes a maximum contribution of €10,000 per studio, studio building or (guest) studio home.

• It is mandatory to use Stroom’s budget model. Click here to open the budget model.

• The amounts should be entered excluding VAT. If you cannot deduct VAT, you should contact Stroom before submitting your application.

• A grant is only awarded if there is a demonstrable financial shortfall.

Submit your application via the Stroom application portal, which consists of the following steps:

Applicant details: You can find the conditions under ‘Who is eligible for this Funding Scheme?’
Participants: You can find the conditions under ‘Who is eligible for this Funding Scheme?’
Plan: The plan will need to include the address and cadastral designation of the studio, building or home, a brief description of the planned activities with an indicative schedule and a start and end date.
 
You also indicate what the plan is for. The Funding Scheme contributes to the following possibilities:

• Contribution to studio construction costs

• Purchase of a studio home or studio building

• Contribution to construction costs of guest studio/home

Not eligible

• applications for an existing studio

• requests for maintenance and renovation costs

• applications for construction projects that are in progress or have already been realised
   

You can find conditions under ‘When can you submit an application?’

Financial overview: You can find the conditions under ‘What budget can you apply for?'
Appendix: The building plans and floor plans are requested in the appendix.
Statement of Agreement: In this step, you agree to all the conditions of this Funding Scheme.

Consultation & Site Visit

Before submitting the application, it is advisable to have a consultation with the Financial Arrangements Secretariat (by telephone or at the office). If the consultation is positive, an appointment will be scheduled immediately for a site visit. This site visit takes place to ensure that the space is suitable as a studio, studio home or studio building.

•  Applications can be submitted throughout the year.

• There is a fixed annual budget. Once the annual budget limit has been reached, no more applications can be submitted. The website of Stroom Den Haag indicates whether there is a moratorium on applications

• OBJECT Temporary Funding Scheme, at least one month before the applicant moves into the temporary premises.

• OBJECT Permanent Funding Scheme, at least three months before the start of construction or as soon as possible when purchasing the studio.

Consultation & Site Visit
Before submitting the application, it is advisable to have a consultation with the Financial Arrangements Secretariat (by telephone or at the office). If the consultation is positive, an appointment will be scheduled immediately for a site visit. This site visit takes place to ensure that the space is suitable as a studio, studio home or studio building.
 

Assessment
Stroom formally checks the application and the report of the site visit for compliance with all the conditions of the Funding Scheme. If we require any additional information, we will contact you.
 

If the application is formally in order, it will be handled by the Stroom management. The application will then be assessed based on the following assessment criteria:

• is the studio (home) both a quantitative and qualitative expansion of the studio base in The Hague;

• is the studio available to visual artists registered with Stroom for at least 10 years;

• the studio's rent does not exceed €35/€45 per square metre per year;

• A condition for the OBJECT Permanent grant is that the studio/studios remain available to artists from The Hague registered with Stroom, except of course for a guest studio/home.

Granting or rejection
After the assessment, the applicant receives a grant or rejection letter. If funding is granted, then the financial contribution is specified in the grant letter. During the term of the grant, the applicant may not be on the studio waiting list or have themselves registered for this. 

Stroom aims to stimulate the visual arts climate in The Hague. To this end, we also want a safe (working) environment for artists, professionals and interested parties. In the case of (serious suspicion of) unacceptable behaviour in which individuals feel their safety is threatened, Stroom reserves the right to take measures such as not processing an application or rejecting registration in the artists' database.

No rights may be derived from Stroom’s financial arrangements.

Changes to the plan, both financial and substantive, require the prior approval of Stroom via ‘messages’ in the portal.

• If substantial changes occur at any time in the plan in the implementation, the budget and the financial plan, the applicant must report this in advance. Whether the allocated contribution can be used for this will be determined based on the proposed changes.

• If the plan cannot be realised before the end date, the applicant has the option of submitting a request for an extension, including motivation and a proposal for a new end date.

You must submit the final report in the Stroom portal under ‘payment requests’ no later than three months after realisation of your plan. The final report consists of a financial report and financial supporting documents.

The grant is valid for two years after the date of the grant letter. The allocated amount will be reserved for this period. If Stroom has been notified of and approved an interim change to the plan's end date, the final report can be submitted up to two years after the date of the grant letter.

Financial report

• Completed overview of the actual income and expenses. It is mandatory to use the budget approved by Stroom for this purpose and to supplement the actual income and expenses in the column next to the budgeted figures. This will create a clear financial overview and insight.

• The applicant must explain major deviations.

• The applicant must keep all financial documents as described below under ‘Financial Audit Sample’ available for at least 2 years for inspection by Stroom.
  

Financial supporting documents
For the financial audit, you also submit all financial supporting documents (invoices, receipts, bank statements) that relate to the actual expenses. You have submitted the actual expenses with the financial report. You have used and supplemented the approved budget for this.

Conditions

• The document submitted must clearly and legibly link the financial documents and cost items. Number the cost items (e.g. 1. material costs, 2. transport costs, etc.) and give the supporting documents the same number.

• Only clear and legible evidence will be accepted.

• In the case of own transport, the maximum non-VAT-taxed kilometre price applicable at that time will be used.

• If you use a rental car, you must submit the rental invoice and petrol receipts.

• Public transport reimbursement is based on 2nd class travel.

• The applicant shall ensure that their accountant or trust office cooperates with the (audit) activities carried out by or on behalf of Stroom.

Under the OBJECT Funding Scheme, the final financial compensation is determined and paid out after the applicant to whom it was granted has met the conditions of the final accountability.

After the final report assessment, the applicant to whom it was granted will receive a letter of confirmation of the final financial compensation.

Repayment

• If it turns out that the grant was awarded incorrectly, Stroom will revoke the grant and reclaim any payments made.

• If it appears that final approval has not been received for the dates stated in the grant letter and no interim changes have been communicated and approved, any payment will be reclaimed.

• If it appears that the plan has not been realised within the start and end date and no interim change has been communicated and approved, the entire advance will be reclaimed.

• If it appears that too much money has been granted, Stroom will reduce the grant and reclaim the excess amount paid out.

• If other financial contributions/subsidies/forms of financing have been listed in the submitted budget to finance the proposal, Stroom expects the applicant to be able to obtain this financing.