Fostering Resilience Shaping Tomorrow

Dear Reader,

2023 was undoubtedly a time full of global challenges that saw us all not just question where we stand in the global landscape but how we react and learn from the challenges that arise. 

As we start the new year, I hope that we will all commit to creating a peaceful, safe, and just world. With those aspirations, we started our 2024 at the Prince Claus Fund and I am happy to share some of the key highlights with you.

The pressing issues of our time, such as the restitution of stolen historical artifacts, the reclaiming of people's histories and autonomies, compel us to confront dominant narratives that often disregard the experiences of structurally underrepresented communities. We stand firm in our refusal to accept these one-sided narratives that aim to define us all.

The critical re-examination of histories is a vital step towards building more inclusive and equitable futures. Arts and culture play a pivotal role in challenging dominant narratives by scrutinizing past legacies, establishing connections between contemporary emancipation movements and historical roots, exploring overlooked stories, and empowering traditionally excluded communities.

In response to these reflections, we are shaping our programmes to address these urgent needs through initiatives like Moving Narratives, a Mentorship Programme offered in collaboration with the British Council. The first cycle of this Mentorship was announced at the end of February featuring 12 inspiring artists who are re-examining histories and cultivating emancipatory imaginations.

We will continue developing our Awards and Programmes with great collaborations featuring our partners and funders. Just last month our team successfully concluded the 2024 Seed Awards Open Call, receiving an unprecedented number of more than 2,000 applications, and our International Impact Awards Jury is finalizing the selection for this year's Impact Awards, while we're gearing up for the Awards Week taking place December 2-4 in Amsterdam. 

Our advocacy for urgently addressing the climate crisis takes center stage with The Arts and Climate Justice Forum, organized in collaboration with the Open Society Foundations to be presented in the second half of the year in one of our focus regions. This Forum will bring together networks of changemakers who will delve into the intersection between arts, culture, and climate justice, inviting a diverse community of advocates, leaders, artists, activists, scholars, funders, and policymakers to influence and amplify discourse around the key challenges and opportunities of the climate crisis.

Recognizing the philanthropic commitment to rectifying past wrongs, we emphasize the importance of non-hegemonic knowledge systems and indigenous cultures in offering viable ideas and strategies for tackling modern urgencies. Artists and cultural practitioners leverage their creativity to engage their communities, propose innovative solutions, and imagine alternative futures. 

As an organisation, we draw our sense of purpose and inspiration from such changemakers and we invite you to join us in realising our vision. We are open to opportunities and new partnerships, and we want to thank you for being part of our community.