Organizer Information
The call is organised by the Prince Claus Fund — an independent cultural foundation. Historically, the Fund supports socially and politically engaged artists and cultural practitioners working in regions where cultural expression is under pressure. Through its awards and programmes, the Fund aims to foster creativity, free expression, and cultural change in diverse global contexts.
Title & Description
2026 Seed Award — Call for Applications
The Seed Award offers an opportunity for emerging artists and cultural practitioners to receive support for their work. It is dedicated to those who contribute new ideas, perspectives, and energy to cultural expression, especially in contexts where culture is under pressure or where social and political issues are urgent. The award aims to give recipients space and support to deepen their artistic practice, experiment, and build momentum — helping to spark a generation of cultural changemakers.
Each selected artist will receive a grant of €5,000, which they can invest flexibly in their practice — whether for materials, time to create, connecting with communities, or other development needs.
Categories
The Seed Award accepts a very broad definition of “arts and culture.” It supports various disciplines, including (but not limited to) visual arts, performance, multimedia, writing, film/video, community-based cultural practices, interdisciplinary and experimental arts. The Fund encourages applications from innovative, cross-disciplinary and socially engaged cultural practices.
Eligibility
- Individual artists or cultural practitioners (not collectives or organisations).
- Early-career professionals: in the first 1 to 5 years of their professional career (excluding years of study).
- Little to no prior institutional support or recognition.
- Their artistic/cultural practice should address socially or politically relevant issues in their local context — for example, free expression, structural equity, civil society, environmental sustainability, or other urgent societal challenges.
- Applicants must be from, living, and working in one of the eligible countries (regions covered: Africa; Asia; Latin America; the Caribbean; the Middle East; and Eastern Europe).
- Previous Seed Award recipients are not eligible to apply again.
Program Benefits & Awards
- A trust-based grant of €5,000 to each selected artist, to be used flexibly toward the growth and development of their artistic/cultural practice.
- The grant can cover activities such as participation in residencies, festivals or workshops; purchasing materials; compensating collaborators; enabling time and space to develop projects; or other needs relevant to the artist’s practice.
- In addition to financial support, recipients gain global recognition via inclusion among the Fund’s community of awardees, which can lead to networking, visibility, and potential future collaborations or exposure opportunities.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Personal details and information about their artistic/cultural practice.
- A pitch (video or audio, max 3 minutes) answering: “What drives you as an artist/author/cultural practitioner?” — conveying motivation, context, and vision.
- A reference letter from someone (individual or organisation) familiar with your work, signed and with contact details.
- Updated curriculum vitae (CV).
- Supporting materials showcasing your work: e.g., images, videos, texts, portfolio, reviews, interviews, etc., as appropriate to your practice.
Note: Because of the broad disciplinary scope, the applicant selects up to three disciplines and up to three themes that their practice engages.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application deadline: 8 January 2026
- Notification Date: by mid-July 2026
Location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Additional Details
- The grant is trust-based, meaning recipients have full autonomy to decide how to use the €5,000 to best support their artistic practice — whether for materials, time, collaborations, residencies, community work, etc.
- The Fund explicitly does not support practices that are mainly academic research or traditional development-project-oriented. They seek cultural practices rooted in art and cultural expression.
- Applications should be focused: the Fund recommends that applicants clearly define up to 3 disciplines and up to 3 thematic concerns.
- Given the expected high volume of applications and limited awards (100 recipients), selection places emphasise diversity: in geography, discipline, type of engagement, originality, context relevance, and inclusivity.