Acquisitions (2021-2024) - Mondriaan Fund

Overview

The Individual Acquisitions Grant supports Dutch museums and other cultural heritage institutions in acquiring special items or partial collections in any field, ranging from contemporary art and crafts to ancient manuscripts and natural history collections. The acquired object must enrich the collection of the Netherlands Institute of Cultural Heritage and be displayed to the public permanently or semi-permanently.

Eligibility

• Publicly accessible Dutch institutions in charge of museum collections of national or international significance
• Institutions registered in the museum register
• Estimated value of the object must exceed €50,000

Grant Details

The size of the Individual Acquisitions Grant is determined per application. The maximum grant awarded by the Mondriaan Fund is 40% of the estimated value of the acquisition. Grants exceeding €500,000 are rarely awarded.

Application Process

Applications can be submitted through the Mondriaan Fund's online application system throughout the year. Applicants must allow for a total processing period of a maximum of three months from the moment the application is complete. Applications must be submitted well before the desired starting date. Grants cannot be awarded with retroactive effect.

Required Materials

Applications must include provenance research, in which the period around World War II must play an important part, if applicable. Applicants must provide insight into the processes involved in establishing the purchasing price and demonstrate the market value and acquisition justification.

Conditions

• Grants cannot be used for acquisitions institutions can reasonably fund from regular budgets
• Museums receiving a Collection Programme Grant must explain why they cannot fund the acquisition from that budget
• No constructional provisions, preservation of listed buildings, archaeological excavation, or passive conservation funding
• Cannot be used to document the institution's collection
• Institution must be willing to loan the object to other Dutch institutions and follow the reciprocity principle (no fees charged to Dutch museums for loans)
• Applicant must make a significant financial contribution to the acquisition
• Preservation must be safeguarded through proper constructional provisions, climate control, and security measures
• Acquisition must remain part of Dutch National Cultural Heritage Collection; ownership cannot be transferred without Mondriaan Fund authorization
• Cannot apply for objects worth more than €1 million on the former Cultural Heritage Preservation Act list (contact Ministry of Education, Culture and Science directly)
• Applications more likely successful if applicant has raised funds through crowdfunding campaigns

Temporary Closure Notice

From Thursday 31 July at 4:00 pm (Dutch time zone) / 10:00 am (Caribbean time zone) until Monday 4 August at 12:00 pm (Dutch time zone) / 6:00 am (Caribbean time zone), the application form will be temporarily closed.