Artist Start - Mondriaan Fund

Overview

Artist Start grants are offered by the Mondriaan Fund to stimulate the artistic development and cultural entrepreneurship of promising visual artists at the start of their careers, supporting the creation of work that can make a valuable contribution to contemporary visual art.

For whom

Visual artists who have been working professionally for at least 1 and no more than 4 years. Artists who have been working for 4 years or more can apply for an Artist Basic grant instead.

For what

You can use this grant to develop your art practice, including making work, research, experimentation, the purchase of materials and equipment, working on a commission, or participating in exhibitions or events at home or abroad.

Award

€24,900 for 12 months.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted at any time of the year using the online application system. You will require an account before submitting an application. A 3-month period is required for processing applications. No grants are awarded retrospectively.

Eligibility requirements

• Artistically active in the visual arts in the Netherlands and/or the Caribbean part of the Kingdom
• Professional practice start date determined by either: Bachelor's degree (HBO) with visual arts curriculum graduation date, or date of first presentation of work in professional art circles (if no Bachelor's degree)
• Master's degree enrolment period does not count towards professional practice duration
• Postdoctoral and postgraduate programmes (Rijksakademie, de Ateliers, Jan van Eyck Academie, BAK, EKWC) count as professional practice
• Cannot be enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's, or postdoctoral programmes (except part-time programmes of less than 20 hours a week)
• Total taxable income must not be higher than €55,000 (checked against income tax return from preceding calendar year)
• Only one Artist Start grant awarded per artist
• Artists rejected on grounds of 'quality and development of the oeuvre' cannot reapply for 12 months
• Cannot apply for Artist Start during term of other Mondriaan Fund financial support if contribution could cover same costs

Assessment

The Mondriaan Fund staff verify applications are complete, then submit to a committee that assesses the quality of work, artistic practice, working plan, and efforts to find an audience. Due to limited budget, not all positively assessed applications receive grants; the committee ranks approved applications by priority.