Museums and collection-holding cultural heritage institutions, including archives, with a public and presentation function. Also cultural organisations focusing on the heritage sector that wish to collaborate with one or more collection-holding heritage institutions.
Through the Heritage Innovation grant, the Mondriaan Fund supports innovation in the heritage sector.
For what?
For projects or research tracks that contribute to substantive innovation within the applying institution or the heritage sector. A research track may also include a feasibility study into innovation, new forms of presentation, or new approaches to the preservation of contemporary art.
Projects: this could include, for example, the development of new narratives around collection objects; strengthening the regional sector through collaboration in areas such as audience reach, security or collection mobility; or a redesign in which the collection is presented from a contemporary perspective.
A research track offers the opportunity – without a predetermined outcome – to explore how an idea can be developed, which developments are relevant within the heritage sector, who potential partners might be, and what the needs of the intended audience are. This could include, for example, a pilot involving a mobile oral history studio in a neighbourhood, enabling residents to share their personal stories, or a study exploring different scenarios for reorganisation. A research track may also include a feasibility study into the application of technological developments within the heritage sector, such as artificial intelligence or gamification.
How and when to apply?
Applications for the Heritage Innovation grant can be submitted twice each year through the Mondriaan Fund’s online application system. In 2026, the deadlines are 26 March, before 11:00 (Caribbean time zone) and 17 September, before 10:00 (Caribbean time zone). You must first set up an account on the website before you can apply. Keep in mind that following the deadline date, a 3-month period is required for processing the applications. No grants are awarded retrospectively.
Here you will find more information about submitting an application to the Mondriaan Fund:
This grant is intended for museums and heritage institutions that manage collections, including publicly accessible archives, in the Netherlands and Caribbean part of the Kingdom, which focus on presenting cultural heritage and/or visual art.
An application may also be submitted by a lead applicant, provided that the proposed plan involves collaboration with one or more heritage institutions in the Netherlands or Caribbean part of the Kingdom that manage collections and focus on the presentation of cultural heritage. In this case, the lead applicant must be a non-profit cultural organisation that focuses on the heritage sector in the Netherlands and/or the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. A declaration of consent from the heritage institution(s) that manage the collections must be included with the application.
The cultural institution must be a legal entity or a collective of legal entities, not aimed at generating profits or sales. The activities for which funding is requested must not have a profit or commercial purpose.
Institutions for art education, sector institutes and post academic institutions are excluded from applying.
Activities that are already or will be financed through other Mondriaan Fund support, under the Regeling op het specifiek cultuurbeleid, or through any other provisions financed from public funds do not qualify. Cultural Heritage Innovation grants cannot be requested for fixed costs, restoration work, for building or founding museums or for regular operations. Funding cannot be requested for publications, documentaries, symposia or conferences, unless they are an integral part of the presentation and serve as side programming, that is, a minor element of the presentation for which the primary application is submitted.
If the application involves the disposal of collections, this must be carried out in accordance with the Guideline for the Disposal of Museum Objects (LAMO, Leidraad Afstoting Museale Objecten) and, where possible, in accordance with the valuation framework of the Cultural Heritage Agency.
If a visual artist is involved in the plans, a realistic remuneration for the artist is obligatory and must be included in the budget. In the budget, use one of these two calculators for your fair fee calculations. Cultural institutions subscribe to the Fair Practice Code (Dutch only), the Culture Governance Code (Dutch only) and the Diversity & Inclusion Code (Dutch only).
More information about the conditions, assessment criteria and the information we need to process your application can be found via the button below on the Mondriaan Fund website. This information is available in Dutch and English.
