The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Egypt invites Egyptian and Dutch cultural organizations to submit project proposals that strengthen cooperation between Egypt and the Netherlands.

This open call supports arts and culture projects that contribute to social and cultural development, (in)tangible heritage preservation, creative industries, sustainability, intercultural dialogue and knowledge-exchange. A Dutch component or Dutch-Egyptian collaboration is necessary for selection of the project. Interdisciplinary projects are highly encouraged. 

Call open: Monday, 19 January – Saturday, 7 February (23:59 PM). 

Objectives 

Submitted projects should be in the fields of cultural heritage, design, visual arts, performing arts, music & film and contribute to the following objectives: 

• Supporting and empowering the Egyptian and Dutch cultural scenes;
• Strengthening cultural exchange and intercultural dialogue;
• Promoting sustainable preservation of (in)tangible cultural heritage;
• Strengthening bilateral relations between Egypt and the Netherlands and the positive visibility of the Netherlands and the Dutch cultural sector in Egypt. 

To be eligible for a contribution to funding, the proposed activities must contribute to at least one of these objectives. 
 

What are we looking for? 

The programme supports:

• Artistic co-productions 
• Workshops, training programmes, and knowledge-exchange activities. 
• Study trips and research-based cultural exchanges 
• Creative industries initiatives
• Public events, festivals & exhibitions 

Costs that may be supported: educational activities and capacity building, talks, lectures, public discussions, salaries and fees for project teams and artists, equipment directly related to the project. 

Costs that are not eligible for support are commercial activities and projects consisting solely of travel costs. 
 

Who can apply? 

• The call is open to organizations based in Egypt or the Netherlands, including artist collectives, cultural institutions, NGOs, social organizations with a strong cultural component.

How will we assess? 

• Criteria for selecting projects and partners include the project quality and (expected) long-term impact, alignment with policy goals, budget, organizational capacity to execute the programme and legal framework. 
• When assessing, projects are evaluated on their interdisciplinary approach , such as art-based interventions that contribute to sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and gender equality with priority given to initiatives that strongly advance these areas. Special consideration is given to projects that actively engage youth, as well as minority and displaced communities.  
• Priority is given to projects that involve the general public or reach individuals who have limited access to culture. 

What are the criteria? 

• The duration of the proposed project must be between 12 and 24 months, and should not end later than July, 2028. Starting date is of less importance. 
• Applicants may request a contribution for their project from the Embassy between 
  €50,000 and €100,000. The requested amount is determined by the applicant within this range. The total project budget may exceed this amount. For this Call of Proposals, a total of €100.000 is available for 2026 and €100.000 for 2027, with funds disbursed in the respective years.
• Applicants are expected to submit realistic and well-justified budgets. It should assume fair pay and logically follow from the intended objective or activities of the project. 
• The application must demonstrate in the project proposal that all the project partners involved have sufficient experience and expertise in the relevant field to carry out the proposed project. 
• The applications will be processed within eight weeks after the deadline. The assessment phase may be extended by two weeks in exceptional cases. 
• Not all applications will be approved. In the event of a positive decision, it may be that only a portion of the requested amount is awarded. If your proposal is denied, you will receive an email about this. 
• Proposals should be submitted in English and can be submitted at any time up until Saturday, February 7, 2026 (11:59 PM). Proposals submitted after this date will be automatically disqualified. We will only take into account complete applications that consist of three documents (see templates):

1. Application form 
2. A substantive Project Proposal Narrative, maximum of 3000 words; background of organization, background of project, description of project, objectives, intended results & impact, Dutch-Egyptian cooperation & intended activities. 
3. Comprehensive project budget specified per activity. This budget clearly specifies for which items funding is requested (how much funding is required for each component/aspect of the project) and how this funding will be spent. It also needs to demonstrate how other costs will be covered. 

• You can send your application to KAI-CALL@minbuza.nl with the subject line “Open Call Egypt 2026 – [project title].” You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt. 

For questions regarding this call, please contact: KAI-CALL@minbuza.nl.