Grant & Funding consultation for artists, curators and cultural projects — in Dutch & English
I offer grant writing, application feedback and funding consultation for artists, curators and cultural practitioners applying for funding in the Netherlands and beyond.
I work in both English and Dutch. Applications can be written, reviewed and edited in either language, and I can also help translate and adapt an application between Dutch and English.
Track Record
As a practicing visual artist, performer and cultural professional with over 15 years of experience, I have extensive first-hand experience navigating cultural funding: from developing an initial idea into a strong project proposal to writing applications, preparing budgets, building portfolios and bringing all the different parts of an application together into a convincing whole.
Previous clients and projects include Imke Ruigrok, RE_NATURE Festival, Annika Kappner, Bambi Benkö, Sarah Fokke, Giek_1, Gabriel Fontana, MELKWEG Amsterdam, Death & Rebirth Festival, and others.
My experience covers applications to Mondriaan Fonds, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst (AFK), Amarte, Gemeente Amsterdam, Dutch Embassies, Cultuurfonds, SENA, Stichting Stokroos and CBK Rotterdam, among other cultural funds and funding programmes.
My approach is both artistic and strategic. I look at whether the core of your project comes across clearly and compellingly, while also considering the specific criteria, language and priorities of the fund you are applying to.
How I can help?
You can approach me at different stages of an application. Often, one focused session is all you need.
A 2–3 hour focused reading & feedback session can already make a substantial difference. During this session, I thoroughly review your existing application or project plan and give concrete feedback on its structure, clarity, strong and weak points, artistic argument, and how well it responds to the criteria of the fund.
This works best in a Google Doc or Word document, where I can edit directly and leave detailed comments and suggestions. If useful, I can also follow up with messages, a call, or audio notes after completing the written feedback.
Ideally, you already have some of the relevant documents prepared: your project plan, bio, CV, visual portfolio, budget, and/or any other materials required by the grant — whatever you feel comfortable sharing.
Overall, I can help with rewriting and editing sections, structuring the proposal, developing the artistic argument, and making sure conceptual visions are supported by practical language and concrete, grounded steps. In this way, I help translate complex artistic ideas into clear and convincing application language.
Most importantly, I offer an outside eye: I read your application critically, much like a committee member encountering your project for the first time.
After this focused session, you can use my feedback to finish the application yourself, or I can continue working with you for additional hours, depending on your needs. Often, it works best if you first integrate the feedback and update your documents before booking an additional check-up or final round.
- an application that is nearly finished and needs a final critical eye;
- a rough or incomplete first draft;
- a project plan that needs restructuring;
- an application that has previously been rejected and needs reconsideration;
- or an initial idea that still needs to be developed into a fundable proposal.
Working from an existing draft is usually the most time-efficient and affordable option, but starting from scratch is absolutely possible.
Rate
€65 per hour, ex VAT.
For a first thorough application check and feedback session, 2–3 hours (€130–€195) is often enough to generate important improvements and advice, to help give you a clear direction for finishing the application yourself.
For more extensive editing, rewriting or application development, we can decide together how much support is useful.
Getting started
If you already have a specific grant in mind, send me a message with:
- the fund and specific scheme you are applying to;
- the deadline;
- the application guidelines or a link to them;
- whether you have already read the criteria;
- and whether you already have a draft, project plan or other application materials.
You can also get in touch if you don't yet know where to apply. I can help you identify relevant grants and advise you on possible funding routes for developing your ideas into reality.
XOXO
Venus