Open Call Slavery Memorial Year

For over 300 years, adults and children from parts of Africa were abducted and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean under degrading conditions -in most cases also by Dutch slave traders -to the former Dutch colonies: Suriname and the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten. The original inhabitants of the various Dutch colonies were not spared either. In Asia, enslaved people were traded to areas under the administration of the United East India Company (VOC). People were born into slavery for generations. They were forced into slave labour throughout their lives, in the service of Dutch plantation owners.

On 1 July 1863, slavery was abolished by law in the former colonies of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Suriname and the Caribbean islands. Despite this, a large proportion of those enslaved population had to continue working on the plantations under state supervision for another 10 years afterwards to curb the “damage of this measure” to the plantation owners. It was for this reason that for many in the former kingdom, slavery did not actually come to end until 1 July 1873. July 1, 2023 will mark 150 years since that event.

From 1858 until long after 1873, contract labour also subjected people from Asia to hard labour in Suriname under Dutch colonial rule.

During the Memorial Year, the Kingdom of the Netherlands will pause to reflect on this painful history and the consequences for the many people who were in one way or another involved in it, as well as the repercussions that still affect present-day society.

Read the news release and Q&A Government of the Netherlands (Rijksoverheid) – Slavery Memorial Year here.

• The written application will be reviewed against the formal conditions. In case of approval, the application is submitted to the advisory committee, which will evaluate it according to the established criteria.

• If the applicant has indicated in the application form that they would like to present the plan orally to the advisory committee, an invitation to the online interview will be sent after acknowledgement of receipt of the complete application.
• The applicant will be invited to present and clarify their plan. This is possible both in English and Dutch. The online interview will last a maximum of 20 minutes. The advisory committee may ask substantive questions about the plan.
• Afterwards, the applicant will receive a short report. The applicant will be given the opportunity to respond to the report within 3 working days of receipt. The report will then be included in the application.
• The application will be reviewed against the formal conditions. In case of approval, the application is submitted to the advisory committee, which will evaluate it according to the established criteria.

• (Visual) documentation of the past 3 years.
• CV.
• Explanation of the work and one’s professional practice.
• The plan, including substantive justification thereof (fully written or partly written/partial oral explanation). The plan consists of a description of the project, audience reach and presentation plans and, if applicable, an explanation of collaboration(s).

The committee applies an inclusive concept of quality, which takes into account the particular context in which each application was submitted or implemented. Furthermore, the assessment process focuses on the plan in particular.

The quality of the work and degree of recognition

• The quality of the work: this includes, for example, its main tenets and how they are expressed in the work.
• The degree of recognition: based on exhibitions, publications, performances, commissions, sales, grants and possible awards.

Quality of the plan

• Does the plan contribute to increasing and broadening the level of knowledge and awareness of the history of slavery and its repercussions that continue to affect the present?
• Does the plan highlight a perspective of engaged communities?
• Is the plan significant within a regional and/or (inter)national context? For example, consider support, embedding, collaborations with communities or other relevant (cultural) parties and civil society organisations, other creators, and curators with whom one collaborates, the venue, etc.

Audience reach

• Does the presentation plan provide confidence that the intended audiences will be reached?

Explanation of work and professional practice (max. 3 pages)
Describe your content and artistic principles and how they are expressed in the work and professional practice. In case of any collaboration, describe your part in it.

CV (max. 3 pages)
Upload key details of your professional practice, focusing on the last 1 to 4 years. For example, include exhibitions (indicate: solo or collaboration), events, performances, commissions, awards, publications, any sales, with indication of years. Also mention any ancillary activities, such as teaching, advisory and committee positions.

Plan (max. 4 pages)
Please mention the start date, location(s), substantive and possibly organisational responsible persons for the project and (if applicable) collaboration partners and communities involved. Describe the substantive motivation and the activities to be organised. If other creators are involved in the project, explain the choice of these creators. Describe how the project contributes to increasing knowledge and awareness of the history of slavery and its repercussions that continue to affect the present.

Presentation plan (max. 4 pages)
Describe how the project will be presented, including a communication plan explaining how the intended audience will be reached and engaged with the project. Describe how the project will be presented, including a communication plan explaining how the intended audience will be reached and engaged with the project.

(Visual) documentation material
Your application will also be assessed based on (visual) documentation material. Make a selection of up to 10 of the most relevant current articles, images, excerpts from publications and a bibliography, and/or audio and/or video clips, of realised projects from the past 1 to 3 years. You must upload the documentation material separately after submitting this application form (together a maximum of 300 MB). After submitting this application form, you will immediately receive a confirmation email with a link to where you can upload the documentation material. NB your (visual) documentation must be submitted no later than 5 working days after the deadline. Click here for the technical specifications.

Documentation list
Please also send along a documentation list (in pdf) corresponding to the visual documentation material. Include a description or caption per included articles, images, excerpts from publications and a bibliography, and/or audio and/or video clips. For example: 01, title, 2020, runtime 2 min.

Your application will be considered after uploading the documentation material and the documentation list.

If collaborating with an organisation on an equal (in terms of content) basis:

Organisation’s statement of consent
The statements of consent from the organisations listed above for submitting the application. Merge all statements into 1 pdf file.

Please note: If working on an equal (in terms of content) basis with other individuals, such as in a duo or collective, each individual must complete an application form separately (and include the requested attachments) in order to receive a time investment contribution.

If you are opting for a flexible contribution, we will also require:

Specified budget with coverage plan
The budget can be entered in the application form for each cost item. This includes only costs that you can apply for from the Mondriaan Fund. Click here for an explanation of the items that can be included in the budget. If third parties are involved in financing the plan, we ask you to upload the total budget and coverage plan in euros and not just the part for which you yourself apply for a contribution from the Mondriaan Fund. If the application involves another party, the financial contribution of this party must be in an acceptable proportion to the contribution you yourself apply for from the Mondriaan Fund. The amount of this party’s contribution in relation to the amount requested should be explained accordingly.

Confirmation letters of third-party contributions
Merge all letters into a pdf file

Quotations
Quotations of the crucial items in the budget. For all items above €1,000, you should include a quotation. Merge all quotations into 1 pdf file.

If applicable:

• Extract Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) or Persoonsinformatievoorziening Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba (PIVA)
  Don’t have Dutch nationality? Please send along a recent extract (no older than 3 months) from the population register.
• Bank details
  In order to transfer the amount if the application is granted, we require your bank account details.
  Have you applied to the Mondriaan Fund before? Then you won’t have to do anything.
• Has your account number changed or is the number new to the Mondriaan Fund? Then please upload a recent bank statement with the application, clearly stating your name, bank account number or IBAN.

Explanation of work and professional practice (max. 3 pages)
Describe your content and artistic principles and how they are expressed in the work and professional practice. In case of any collaboration, describe your part in it.

CV (max. 3 pages)
Upload key details of your professional practice, focusing on the last 1 to 4 years. For example, include exhibitions (indicate: solo or collaboration), events, performances, commissions, awards, publications, any sales, with indication of years. Also mention any ancillary activities, such as teaching, advisory and committee positions.

Brief summary of the plan in the application form
Provide a brief description of the project you are applying for.

(Visual) documentation material
Your application will also be assessed based on (visual) documentation material. Create a pdf containing up to 10 of the most relevant current articles, images, excerpts from publications and a bibliography, and/or audio and/or video clips, of realised projects from the past 1 to 3 years. You must upload the documentation material separately after submitting this application form (together a maximum of 300 MB). After submitting this application form, you will immediately receive a confirmation email with a link to where you can upload the documentation material. NB your (visual) documentation must be submitted no later than 5 working days after the deadline. Click here for the technical specifications.

Documentation list
Please also send along a documentation list (in pdf) corresponding to the visual documentation material. Include a description or caption per included articles, images, excerpts from publications and a bibliography, and/or audio and/or video clips. For example: 01, title, 2020, runtime 2 min.

Your application will be considered after uploading the documentation material and the documentation list.

If collaborating with an organisation on an equal (in terms of content) basis:

Organisation’s statement of consent
The statements of consent from the organisations listed above for submitting the application. Merge all statements into 1 pdf file.

Please note: If working on an equal (in terms of content) basis with other individuals, such as in a duo or collective, each individual must complete an application form separately (and include the requested attachments) in order to receive a time investment contribution.

If you are opting for a flexible contribution, we will also require:

Specified budget with coverage plan
The budget can be entered in the application form for each cost item. This includes only costs that you can apply for from the Mondriaan Fund. Click here for an explanation of the items that can be included in the budget. If third parties are involved in financing the plan, we ask you to upload the total budget and coverage plan and not just the part for which you yourself apply for a contribution from the Mondriaan Fund. If the application involves another party, the financial contribution of this party must be in an acceptable proportion to the contribution you yourself apply for from the Mondriaan Fund. The amount of this party’s contribution in relation to the amount requested should be explained accordingly.

Confirmation letters of third-party contributions
Merge all letters into a pdf file.

Quotations
Quotations of the crucial items in the budget. For all items above €1,000, you should include a quotation. Merge all quotations into 1 pdf file.

If applicable:

Extract Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) or Persoonsinformatievoorziening Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba (PIVA)
Don’t have Dutch nationality? Please send along a recent extract (no older than 3 months) from the population register.

Bank details
In order to transfer the amount if the application is granted, we require your bank account details.
Have you applied to the Mondriaan Fund before? Then you won’t have to do anything.

Has your account number changed or is the number new to the Mondriaan Fund? Then please upload a recent bank statement with the application, clearly stating your name, bank account number or IBAN.

• The written application will be reviewed against the formal conditions. In case of approval, the application is submitted to the advisory committee, which will evaluate it according to the established criteria.

• If the applicant has indicated in the application form that they would like to present the plan orally to the advisory committee, an invitation to the online interview will be sent after acknowledgement of receipt of the complete application.
• The applicant will be invited to present and clarify their plan. This is possible both in English and Dutch. The interview will last a maximum of 20 minutes. The advisory committee may ask substantive questions about the plan.
• Afterwards, the applicant will receive a general report. The applicant will be given the opportunity to respond to the report within 3 working days of receipt. The report will then be included in the application.
• The application will be reviewed against the formal conditions. In case of approval, the application is submitted to the advisory committee, which will evaluate it according to the established criteria.

• A factual description of the organisation including an overview of activities in the past 3 years. If applicable, explain past activities related to this subject.
• The plan, including substantive justification thereof (fully written or partly written/partial oral explanation). The plan consists of a description of the project, audience reach, presentation plans, and if applicable, an explanation of collaboration(s).
• A specifield budget and financial plan.

The committee applies an inclusive concept of quality, which takes into account the particular context in which each application was submitted or implemented. Furthermore, the assessment process focuses on the plan in particular.

Quality of organisation

• Does the quality and reputation of the applicant matter?
• Does the organisation have a clear vision and mission?
• Do past activities give confidence that the plan will have the intended effect?

Quality of the plan

• Does the plan contribute to increasing and broadening the level of knowledge and awareness of the history of slavery and its repercussions that continue to affect the present?
• Does the project have a sustainable impact with regard to increasing knowledge and awareness on this subject? For example, by including the subject in regular/structural programming.
• Does the plan highlight a perspective of engaged communities? Does the plan sufficiently demonstrate that these communities have leadership roles when it comes to the development of the project?

Audience reach

• Does the presentation plan provide confidence that the intended audiences will be reached?

The artistic and cultural context of the plan

• Is the plan significant within a regional and/or (inter)national context? For example, consider support, embedding, collaborations with communities or other relevant (cultural) parties and civil society organisations, creators, and curators who participate, the venue, etc.

Recent and current (maximum 1 year old) extract from the Chamber of Commerce register

Factual data of the organisation (max. 2 pages)
With a brief description of the organisation’s activities over the past 2 years, including objectives, target groups, collaborations and audience reach.

Recognition of codes
We expect cultural institutions to have taken note of the Fair Practice Code, the Governance Code Culture and the Diversity & Inclusion Code and to subscribe to them and apply them to the best of their ability.

Plan (max. 15 pages)
Please mention the start date, location(s), substantive and possibly organisational responsible persons for the project and (if applicable) collaboration partners and communities involved. Describe the substantive motivation and the activities to be organised. If creators are involved in the project, explain the choice of these creators. Describe how the project contributes to increasing knowledge and awareness of the history of slavery and its repercussions that continue to affect the present.

Presentation plan (max. 10 pages)
Describe how the project will be presented, including a communication plan explaining how the intended audience will be reached and engaged with the project. Also indicate the expected number of participants or visitors, describe the target groups, the choice of these target groups and how the activities relate to these groups.

Specified budget with coverage plan
Please look here for the explanation about organisations’ budget. If applicable, including a reasonable fee for the autonomous visual artist(s) paid by the applicant in addition to production costs and expenses (transport costs, accommodation costs, et cetera), all in accordance with the guidelines for fees. In the event of ambiguities about a budget item, the Mondriaan Fund may request supporting documents (quotations).

Confirmation letters of third-party contributions
Merge all letters into a pdf.

If the application involves a contemporary creator with new work:

CV (max. 2 pages per creator)
For each creator, a concise cv with key data on professional practice, especially from the last 2 to 4 years, such as exhibitions (indicate solo or group), manifestations, performances, commissions, awards, publications, including years. Also mention any ancillary activities, such as teaching positions, advisory positions. Merge multiple cv’s into 1 pdf, with a clear indication of which cv belongs to which creator.

Explanation (max. 1 page per creator)
About the creator’s work and professional practice. Describe the content and artistic principles and how they are expressed in the work and professional practice. Mention any collaborations. Merge multiple explanations into 1 pdf, with a clear indication of which explanation belongs to which creator.

(Visual) documentation material
The application will also be assessed on the basis of (visual) documentation material, including work from the past 1 to 3 years of the creator(s) who will create new work. For each creator, create a pdf containing up to 10 of the most relevant current articles, images, excerpts from publications and a bibliography, and/or audio and/or video clips, of realised projects from the past 1 to 3 years. You must upload the documentation material separately after submitting this application form (together a maximum of 300 MB). After submitting this application form, you will immediately receive a confirmation email with a link to where you can upload the documentation material. NB your (visual) documentation must be submitted no later than 5 working days after the deadline. Click here for the technical specifications.

Documentation list
Please also send along a documentation list (in PDF) corresponding to the visual documentation material. Include a description or caption per included articles, images, excerpts from publications and a bibliography, and/or audio and/or video clips. For example: 01, title, 2020, runtime 2 min.

The application will be considered after uploading the documentation material and the documentation list.

If applicable:

Bank details
In order to transfer the amount if the application is granted, we require the bank account number of the applicant. Has the account number changed or is the number new to the Mondriaan Fund? Then please upload a recent bank statement with the application, clearly stating the name, bank account number or IBAN.

Consent statements from invited or participating parties
With permission for submitting the application. Merge multiple statements into 1 pdf.

Recent and current (maximum 1 year old) extract from the Chamber of Commerce register

Factual data of the organisation (max. 2 pages)
With a brief description of the organisation’s activities over the past 2 years, including objectives, target groups, collaborations and audience reach.

Recognition of codes
We expect cultural institutions to have taken note of the Fair Practice Code, the Governance Code Culture and the Diversity & Inclusion Code and to subscribe to them and apply them to the best of their ability.

Brief summary of the plan in the application form
Provide a brief description of the project you are applying for.

Specified budget with coverage plan
Please look here for the explanation about organisations’ budget. If applicable, including a reasonable fee for the autonomous visual artist(s) paid by the applicant in addition to production costs and expenses (transport costs, accommodation costs, et cetera), all in accordance with the guidelines for fees. In the event of ambiguities about a budget item, the Mondriaan Fund may request supporting documents (quotations).

Confirmation letters of third-party contributions
Merge all letters into a pdf.

If the application involves a contemporary creator with new work:

CV (max. 2 pages per creator)
For each creator, a concise cv with key data on professional practice, especially from the last 2 to 4 years, such as exhibitions (indicate solo or group), manifestations, performances, commissions, awards, publications, including years. Also mention any ancillary activities, such as teaching positions, advisory positions. Merge multiple cv’s into 1 pdf, with clear indication of which cv belongs to which creator.

Explanation (max. 1 page per creator)
About the creator’s work and professional practice. Describe the content and artistic principles and how they are expressed in the work and professional practice. Mention any collaborations. Merge multiple explanations into 1 pdf, with a clear indication of which explanation belongs to which creator.

(Visual) documentation material
The application will also be assessed on the basis of (visual) documentation material, including work from the past 1 to 3 years of the creator(s) who will create new work. For each creator, create a pdf containing up to 10 of the most relevant current articles, images, excerpts from publications and a bibliography, and/or audio and/or video clips, of realised projects from the past 1 to 3 years. You must upload the documentation material separately after submitting this application form (together a maximum of 300 MB). After submitting this application form, you will immediately receive a confirmation email with a link to where you can upload the documentation material. NB your (visual) documentation must be submitted no later than 5 working days after the deadline. Click here for the technical specifications.

Documentation list
Please also send along a documentation list (in pdf) corresponding to the visual documentation material. Include a description or caption per included articles, images, excerpts from publications and a bibliography, and/or audio and/or video clips. For example: 01, title, 2020, runtime 2 min.
The application will be considered after uploading the documentation material and the documentation list.

If applicable:

Bank details
In order to transfer the amount if the application is granted, we require the bank account number of the applicant. Has the account number changed or is the number new to the Mondriaan Fund? Then please upload a recent bank statement with the application, clearly stating the name, bank account number or IBAN.

Consent statements from invited or participating parties
With permission for submitting the application. Merge multiple statements into 1 pdf.