PRO Art Projects Funding Scheme

The PRO Art Projects Funding Scheme is intended to support art projects and publications that contribute to The Hague's artistic climate.

• Art projects that take place in The Hague

• Art projects outside the city that benefit art and artists in The Hague

• Publications

All art projects that aim to realise a specific activity in public or publicly accessible spaces are eligible for a project grant. The project does not need to be large in scope, nor does it need to have a large audience. There is always an interaction between what is on display, the viewer and the space.

With regards to publications, there are a communication form with a clear artistic and substantive concept, an autonomous artistic experiment, or those that focus on in-depth knowledge, reflective texts or reflection on the subject. It could be an artist's book, monograph, catalogue, magazine, or another form of printing.

• Applicants from The Hague: artists, curators, critics, publicists, partnerships, organisations.

• Applicants from outside The Hague whose plans contribute to the (visual) arts climate in The Hague.

Artists living in The Hague can apply for this funding scheme provided they are registered in the Stroom artists' database and have updated their profile (Mijn Stroom). Other applicants must submit a CV to be considered for this funding scheme.

Participants and/or parties involved in the application must also submit a CV or be registered in Stroom's database of artists and have their profile updated.

NOTE! The application of the (main) initiator prevails in a project in which multiple parties participate (such as group exhibitions, demonstrations, etc.). Other participants in the project can only apply after the main initiator has indicated to Stroom that he/she will not be submitting a PRO or SPOT application.

Not eligible:
Applications within the context of (art) educational programmes, proposals from or with (art academy) students, courses and workshops with an educational character. Applicants cannot claim the PRO and SPOT funding schemes while following an (art) educational programme (Bachelor's, Master's, postdoc, PhD). Applications for post-academic work periods/residencies (such as at the Rijksakademie, De Ateliers, the Jan van Eyck Academie, and the EKWC) fall outside the framework of the funding scheme system.

• Stroom makes a maximum contribution of €10,000.

• Applications for reimbursements of more than €5,000 require cofinancing. The cofinancing covers at least 30% of the financial plan.

• By cofinancing, Stroom means a contribution to the costs of the activity from third parties, such as other funds, sponsors and crowdfunding. Revenues from entrance fees, a financial contribution from the applicant's own resources, the provision of hours of labour and/or materials free of charge (which can be capitalised) do not directly fall under cofinancing.

• Stroom awards a maximum of €20,000 in financial compensation per calendar year per applicant (or guest organisation/guest location).

• 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.

• If the application is part of a larger project, then a complete and itemised budget for the entire project must be submitted.

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

• In the case of grants where a party is not the formal applicant but is an interested party (for example because it is helping to organise or realise the project), the amount granted is considered pro rata when determining the annual maximum contribution from Stroom for this party.

• Stroom expects applicants for exhibitions and other presentations with no intention to sell to apply the guideline for artists' Remuneration (see www.kunstenaarshonorarium.nl). Stroom endorses the guideline and wants to encourage its use. That is why Stroom will consider whether the guideline has been applied when assessing applications. Tip: The Mondriaan Fund offers the ‘Artists’ Remuneration’ funding scheme. The Mondriaan Fund, for example, provides a financial incentive to organisations that pay at least 50 percent of the fees mentioned in the guideline. See the Mondriaan Fund website (www.mondriaanfonds.nl).

De aanvraag dien je via het aanvraagportaal van Stroom in en bestaat uit de volgende stappen: 

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?’
Basic plan data: You can find the conditions under ‘When can you submit an application?’

Plan: The Plan consists of a short summary of max. 80 words and the full plan of max. 2,500 words (conditions regarding the format can be found in the portal). 

The full plan contains the following components:

• description of the plan, including background, framework, objective and artistic-conceptual content;

• motivation for the project (the applicant indicates in what sense the plan stems from;

• an artistic necessity, has to do with a long-cherished personal wish,

• with developments in art or with social situations)

• significance and importance of the project for the applicant and the art climate in The Hague

• description of target group and target group approach

• plan for reporting, evaluating or presenting the project results

• (if applicable) description of the project partners 
  

For requests for publications, the following must also be included:

• insight into the design and editorial approach

insight into the print run, the distribution plan and the expected income from sales.

Financial overview: You can find the conditions under ‘What budget can you apply for?'
Documentation: Contains the following sections:

• Current relevant documentation (min. 10 - max. 20 images, do not add links to other websites). The order and numbering must correspond with the documentation list. One image per page. Do not place explanatory texts with the visual material, but in an accompanying documentation list.

• A list of relevant documentation (max. 30 words per image, do not add links to other websites). A description of the work is required with the list of documents, including: title, year, dimensions, technique, and any other relevant information. Keep explanatory texts accompanying the images brief.

• Any additional video material (max. 9 minutes).

• Dummy or sketch drawings. This only applies to publications. Applications for publications will not be considered without this material.
  

Appendix: Appendices are intended solely for additional information regarding your application and are also consulted as such by the advisory committee. All relevant information should be included in the plan, the documentation, and the budget - not in an appendix.
Statement of Agreement: In this step, you agree to all the conditions of this Funding Scheme.

• Applications can be submitted at different points in time. The relevant closing dates can be found on the Stroom website.

• If the annual or quarterly budget maximum for a funding scheme has been reached, an application stop will be instituted for that component until the next calendar year.

• An applicant may submit a PRO application a maximum of two times per year.

• You cannot apply to PRO and SPOT for the same proposal at the same time.

• The realisation of a PRO application should not start earlier than eight weeks after the deadline of the relevant application round. Exceptions apply to publications. Dummy and/or sketch drawings must be supplied. Publications at an advanced stage of production (press-ready) will not be considered.

• Within Stroom’s funding schemes, you can only receive one grant for the same proposal. This condition also applies in the case of proposals that originate or derive from a previously awarded proposal, and that can be traced back to the same plan and/or basis in terms of artistic content. In practice, this means that one cannot receive separate grants for different phases or components of the same plan. Exceptions to this are plans that, although they originate from a previous (approved) proposal, differ fundamentally from it in terms of artistic content, to such an extent that this includes a new plan with a new artistic and content-based foundation.

Formal assessment
The application is formally reviewed by Stroom after the closing date of the application round. If we require any additional information, we will contact you. If the application is formally in order, it will be considered by the PRO Advisory Committee at its next meeting.   

Advisory Committee Assessment
The PRO Advisory Committee assesses the applications and gives advice to the Stroom management, who then decides whether to accept or reject the application. The committee consists of a pool of 13 members. The pool is composed of artists from in and outside of The Hague, people with an art-appreciative background (critics, writers, theorists) and others who have knowledge of and are active in the field of contemporary (visual) art and related disciplines. The composition of the committee is listed on the Stroom website.

The committee, which has a changing composition of five members, issues recommendations regarding the applications submitted. If the committee would like more clarity on the proposal, it can decide to request additional information. Within the Stroom PRO Funding Schemes, the advisory committee issues advice once on a proposal (or project/research/work plan/programme). The same proposal can therefore only be submitted once.

Assessment criteria
The applications are assessed based on the quality of the content and the extent to which it is a distinctive or exceptional project or publication. Another important consideration is the added value of the project to the quality and diversity of the art climate in The Hague. The potential of a project to set other activities in motion within or outside the arts field can also be decisive in the assessment.
In addition, the following criteria are taken into consideration when assessing the application:

• the proposal distinguishes itself from current work as a step in a new direction, an experiment or a departure from regular professional practice;

• the total budget and the requested contribution are in proportion to the nature of the project;

• there is a well-considered image of the target group and an effective approach to it;

• Stroom subscribes to the guideline on artists' fees and would like to encourage its use (www.kunstenaarshonorarium.nl). That is why Stroom will consider whether the guideline has been applied when assessing project applications.
  

Granting or rejection
After assessment by the PRO Advisory Committee and the board's decision, the applicant receives a grant or rejection letter. If funding is granted, then the financial contribution is specified in the grant letter. This grant is valid for up to two years after the relevant meeting date. 

After receiving this message, the applicant has seven days to indicate whether they would like to receive a written argumentation. In the event of a negative recommendation, the applicant cannot resubmit the proposal (not even in an amended form). However, in the event of a negative recommendation, the applicant may respond to the written arguments within six weeks of the date of the letter and request reconsideration based on new information, perspectives and viewpoints. This request should be of no more than two A4 pages (PDF). The request will be handled in the advisory committee's next meeting. A precondition for a request for reconsideration is that the project has not yet commenced when it is considered by the advisory committee.

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.

• If at any time during the planning period the applicant changes residence (for example, if they move away from The Hague and settle elsewhere), the ‘importance to The Hague’ of the proposal may be jeopardised. When moving to a different place of residence, the applicant must also immediately report this in writing. Based on the new situation and the status of the plan, a decision will then be made as to whether the financial contribution can still be utilised, either in part or in full.

You must submit the final report no later than three months after realisation of your plan in the ‘payment requests’ section of the Stroom portal. The final report consists of a substantive report, a visual report, and a financial report. After submitting your final report, you may be selected at random for a financial audit.

The grant is valid for two years after the meeting date on which the committee advised to grant the application. 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 grant letter. The exact date of the meeting can be found in the grant letter.

Substantive report
The substantive report consists of the original summary of the plan and a number of questions: an explanation of the actual implementation of (and changes to) the plan (max. 400 words) and an evaluation of the results (publicity, audience reach, reactions, findings and/or conclusions; max. 400 words).

Visual report
The visual report consists of a photo impression, publicity material, reviews or a copy of the realised documentation (max. 20 images).

 NOTE: If the application concerns a publication, you must also submit two physical copies of the publication. Documentation submitted becomes the property of Stroom Den Haag. In the case of sketch drawings, dummies, publications and scale models, Stroom offers the possibility of restitution after processing the application. Stroom Den Haag is not liable for any damage or loss of documentation.

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 Audit Sample
If you are selected for the financial audit, you will be asked to submit all financial documents (invoices, receipts, bank statements) relating 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 second 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.
  

Grants for the PRO Funding Scheme are paid out with an advance of 80% of the amount to be granted. The remaining 20% is paid out after the applicant to whom it was granted has met the conditions of the final report.

The Advisory Committee will assess the final report. After the final report assessment, the applicant to whom it was granted receives a letter of confirmation in which the financial compensation is definitively established.

Repayment

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

• If it appears that the final report 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.