The Talent Development Grant Programme is open to makers and designers who have at least one year and at most four years' work experience in the area of design, architecture or digital culture in the Netherlands, or who completed a relevant design course in the area of architecture, design or digital culture no more than four years ago.

Click here for a list of Dutch design courses. See also the information about Round 1. Makers who have taken another course may also be eligible for a grant - please contact the Fund Desk. The Fund employees will decide if your course can be added to the list.

Self-taught
Are you self-taught? Round 2 (Scout Nights) is open to applicants who have not completed a design course but who have, in practice, developed themselves into professional makers or designers and who have not completed a design course at one of the Dutch design courses on this list. Designers and makers with a diploma from a foreign design course cannot submit in this round.

Applying as a studio or collective
Within the Talent Development Grant Programme grants are awarded to individual designers or makers. However, studios or collectives can also apply for a bursary. One bursary can be awarded per individual applicant, studio or collective. Therefore, an applicant can only be linked to one application.

Dutch interest
Round 1: To be eligible for a contribution, the designer must be substantially artistically active and embedded in the professional design practice in the Netherlands.
Round 2 (Scout Nights): In this round the activities included in the development plan should also contribute to the professional design practice in the Netherlands.

There are a number of conditions and limitations attached to the Talent Development Grant Programme, so please read the scheme carefully before submitting an application.

Within the Talent Development Grant Programme, the following grants are provided:
Rounds 1 and 2: a grant of € 1,000 for drawing up a development plan
Round 3: a work bursary of € 25,000 for implementing a development plan

The € 25,000 work bursary consists of three parts: one freely disposable part for personal artistic and professional development (€ 15,000), one part for the professionalization of the personal practice (€ 5,000) and one part for presentation purposes (€ 5,000).

Click here for the makers and designers selected in previous years.

Applications are assessed on the basis of the Talent Development Grant Programme regulations (PDF). Make sure that you are aware of the conditions, criteria and objectives stated in them before submitting an application.

The advisory committee will process your application based on the application form and the attachments submitted. A list of the documents we require for Rounds 1, 2 and 3 is set out below:

Round 1:
1. Application form.
2. Motivation letter of no more than 2 pages in PDF (portrait layout, A4 format). Make sure your letter is clearly legible in terms of font, colour, margins and suchlike.
2. Portfolio:
no more than 10 pages in PDF (portrait layout, A4 format, max. 15 MB);
visual documentation: work from the past 2 to 3 years with corresponding details such as title, year, size, technique and any additional information per project of no more than 100 words, e.g. about the context and any collaboration. Clearly indicate your part in collaboration projects;
any moving images must be viewable through a link to an online platform (Vimeo, YouTube or suchlike). Stills plus captions for each film must be included in the PDF file. The maximum duration is 3 minutes. If you want to show several films, they must be presented in a compilation lasting no more than 5 minutes.
3. Curriculum vitae of no more than 2 pages in PDF (portrait layout, A4 format).
4. A PDF copy of your diploma in a relevant course in the area of design, architecture or digital culture.
5. If available: registration with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce or a Chamber of Commerce that falls under the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Please note: if you are selected for Round 2, you have to be registered by Round 2's closing date.

Round 2:
1. Application form.
2. Curriculum vitae of no more than 2 pages in PDF (portrait layout, A4 format).
3. Portfolio:
no more than 10 pages in PDF (portrait layout, A4 format, max. 15 MB);
visual documentation: work from the past 2 to 3 years with corresponding details such as title, year, size, technique and any additional information per project of no more than 100 words, e.g. about the context and any collaboration. Clearly indicate your part in collaboration projects;
Any moving images must be viewable through a link to an online platform (Vimeo, YouTube or suchlike). Stills plus captions for each film must be included in the PDF file. The maximum duration is 3 minutes. If you want to show several films, they must be presented in a compilation lasting no more than 5 minutes.
4. A video pitch of approx. 3 minutes.
5. If available: registration with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce or a Chamber of Commerce that falls under the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Please note: if you are selected for Round 3, you have to be registered by Round 3's closing date.

The advisory committee composes a longlist based on Round 1. In addition, the juries select three Scout Night participants per Scout Night. Participants selected for the longlist and from the Scout Nights are given approximately four weeks to formulate a development plan. A contribution of € 1,000 is made available for writing a development plan. This development plan describes the intended activities that contribute to personal artistic and professional development. The plan relates to the entire 12-month grant period.

It is not possible to submit a draft development plan for feedback to the Fund. The Fund organizes meetings in the second week of May for all selected participants, during which the Fund provides information about the drawing up of the development plan.

Applications can be submitted in English.

Acceptance
When you have submitted your application, the Fund Desk will check if your application complies with the formal requirements of the Grant Scheme (PDF), the Talent Development Grant Programme (PDF).

Assessment
The assessment under the Talent Development Grant Programme consists of two rounds:
Rounds 1 and 2: the advisory committee and the jury of the Scout Nights compose a longlist based on the portfolio, the curriculum vitae and the motivation letter/pitch. The participants selected for the longlist will be asked to draw up a development plan.
Round 3: the final selection will be made based on the development plans submitted.

An advisory committee will assess your application based on the Talent Development Grant Programme. The way this is done as well as the criteria for this are set out in Article 10 of the Talent Development Grant Programme (PDF). The committee advises the Fund's board. Click here to see who is part of the advisory committee for the Talent Development Grant Programme. The scouts for 2021 will be announced by 24 January at the latest on the Fund's website.

Decision
The board takes account of the committee's advice in its decision on the rejection or provision of the grant. The selection for the longlist in Round 1 will be announced approx. six weeks after the closing date. All applicants will receive a report in which the committee outlines the applications it processed. For this stage no individual feedback will be given. Scout Night participants will receive feedback from the jury during the selection night.

In Round 3, the committee awards a maximum of 35 bursaries. This selection will be announced in early August. All applicants who submitted a development plan will receive personal feedback on the assessment. The grant period for the selected participants runs from August/September up to and including October of the following year.

Accountability
If you receive a grant from the Fund you will have to comply with the obligations. Please read the important information about accountability in Articles 13 to 17. Two weeks before the conclusion of your project, you will be asked by email to submit your accountability form in the online application environment.

Do you have a specific question about your project or development plan? The Talent Development Team will organize one or two consultation hours a week in January and February 2021. Sign up here.

For further information please contact:
Marieke Ladru