Executive director Syb Groeneveld: 'The heavy blow from COVID-19 will reverberate for years to come. All the more remarkable is the fact that many applicants saw an opportunity to adjust their course despite the setbacks. Since March last year, colleagues and advisers have together, almost entirely digitally, processed and assessed the more than 2,000 applications with the utmost care. We feel a great responsibility to be able to do more during this crisis for all applicants from the design sector. We remain committed to that aim once again in 2021.'

design in the picture
In five video portraits, we present the design practice of platform The Hmm, fashion designer Karim Adduchi, Merel Pit, design agency Site Practice and designers Iris de Kievith and Annemarie Piscaer. Among other things, they show how design can be socially connective, they work together with the industry to bring about necessary systemic changes in construction, or take a critical and inclusive look at internet culture.

SEE THE DIGITAL ANNUAL REPORT 2020 HERE

support
In addition to the video portraits, the annual report includes animated infographics that provide insight into the distribution and results achieved from the budget available for 2020, which was supplemented by € .4 million from the COVID-19 support packages. With 2015 applications processed and 849 grants awarded, last year's percentage of applications receiving grants came to 42%. Of these, 123 projects received an allocation from the extra COVID-19 funds made available by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. In 2020, the Fund awarded a total of € 23 million in grants to makers, designers and cultural institutions.

general impression
With a new chair – product and spatial designer Miriam van der Lubbe – and a partly new advisory committee, 30 diverse projects have been selected in the first round of 2021. The selection includes several research projects, one of which focuses on the potential of three-dimensional weaving, various publications receiving support, an interactive installation that will collect handwriting on which a new typeface will be based, an animated film that draws attention to the theme of depression, several exhibitions and an object that can be climbed, intended for the public space. Fashion and textile design are well represented this round. The projects highlighted below give an idea of the breadth of the selection.

reflection and debate
One of the general objectives of the Fund, with which the Design Grant Scheme aligns, is supporting reflection and debate. The 'Atelier Feldwerk' project by Jongeriuslab is a striking example of this theme. With a starting grant, Jongeriuslab is exploring the possibilities for greater room for reflection and deepening the practice of designers. Based on the research results, Jongeriuslab will look into the possibilities of a residency model that would provide guidance and networking opportunities. Valiz's project 'The Auto-Ethnographic Turn in Design' also stands out in terms of reflection and debate. Observers Louise Schouwenberg and Michael Kaethler express criticism of design as a problem-solving medium. They argue that designers must take responsibility for what they do, which means they must be able to thoroughly relate to the world, and know their own world in order to relate it to larger-scale issues. In a publication released by Valiz, Schouwenberg and Kaethler provide both a theoretical and a practical basis for a new approach to design practice, one that encompasses a more personal and therefore more original connection with the world, and means that the designer works from their own personal knowledge. The publication includes a wide range of contributions by many designers.

The aim of this open call is to bring together designers and parties with a solid social or knowledge position. The Fund is challenging these parties to utilize this collaboration to achieve innovative, surprising solutions for today's design challenges.

Depending on the task, the results of the collaboration may assume a diversity of forms: a product, intervention or service, for instance. It is possible to work together with international partners. However, the applicant must be based in the Netherlands and there must be a predominantly Dutch interest in the project.

Creative Industries Fund NL is making € 270,000 available for this Open Call. The maximum contribution per project is € 45,000. Please note that this amount is granted in three phases.

phasing
The open call has three phases:

Phase 1: start-up phase – formalization of collaboration(s), funding, planning and research framework (3 to maximum 6 months). A maximum sum of € 10,000 per proposal is available for this phase.
Phase 2: implementation phase – further development and implementation of the project (maximum 2 years). A maximum sum of € 30,000 per proposal is available for this phase.
Phase 3: impact/presentation phase – possibility of additional funding to enhance the impact of the project outside the realm of the creative industries (maximum 6 months). A maximum sum of € 5,000 per proposal is available for this phase.

submission
The application for phase 1 can be submitted until Wednesday 7 April 2021 at the latest.
Read more about the Open Call and procedure here.

advisory committee
The members of the Creative Industries Fund NL's advisory committees are experts from the field. Each committee consists of a chair and a pool of advisers who work as makers, architects, designers, researchers or critics, or in another relevant discipline within the creative industries. They advise on the content-related and qualitative value of the submitted applications in the light of the Fund's grant schemes and objectives. This advice is offered to the Board, which then takes the decisions on whether to award a subsidy. New advisers are recruited each year.

selection
The independent external selection committee consisted of Arzu Ayikgezmez (chair), Ben Schouten and Valentijn Bijvanck. A record number of 174 candidates were presented to the selection committee. When composing the various advisory committees and filling the requested profiles, consideration was given to expertise, diversity, complementarity and specific specialisms within the committee.

diversity advisory committees
The advisory committees are an important link in the aim to achieve a more diverse and inclusive Fund. Not only do the committees evaluate the applications on the basis of the schemes and codes, they also represent the Fund to the outside world. Applicants must have confidence in committees and be able to identify with them to a certain extent. In the endeavour to broaden the scope of the Fund to include more diverse groups of applicants, it is therefore important that diversity is also encouraged in the committees. For this reason, the Fund, in parallel with its own search, entered into a partnership with Ocullus Consultancy. In close consultation with the relevant coordinators, Ocullus looked for candidates outside the direct sphere of the Fund. In addition to providing many insights, this has so far resulted in the nomination of at least four new advisers.

new advisers
As of 1 January 2021, the following advisers have been appointed to the various schemes:
Design: Miriam van der Lubbe (chair), Serana Angelista, Wasco/Henk van der Spoel, Saskia de Bodt, Niek Hilkmann, Anouk van Klaveren, Giorgio Toppin, Rachid Naas, Frank Verkade, Aisha Madu and Chris Mouw
Architecture: Joan Almekinders, Femke Bijlsma, Wouter Pocornie and Mathieu Schouten
Digital culture: Isaura Sanwirjatmo, Ard Bonewald, Katayoun Arian
Talent development: Paul Amoksi and Aiman Hassani

We thank all the outgoing chairs and committee members for their dedication and commitment during the past years. In addition, we would like to thank all the applicants for their interest and effort.

overview
An overview of all advisory committee members, the working method of (advisory) committees and ancillary positions is available here.