In the previous edition of BK Information it already came up briefly: the opinions of the Council for Culture on the Basic Infrastructure (BIS) for the period 2025-2028. These opinions concern national four-year grants for cultural institutions. Below is an extensive summary regarding the visual arts institutions that applied for the BIS, i.e. presentation institutions and post-academic institutions. The summary is extensive because, in our view, the council's text provides a good picture of contemporary developments in the visual arts field. Quotes from the council's report are usually between quotation marks below
Presentation Settings
The BIS is "intended for presentation institutions with tone-setting innovative offerings of contemporary visual art in an international context. Research and development are important values. An institution may not depend for its artistic continuity on one or a few artistic directors and may not be predominantly focused on the management of a cultural heritage collection. It should realize its activities spread throughout the year and have a suitable presentation space."
The grant ceiling for six presentation institutions combined is 4,784,100 euros.
The council describes presentation institutions in the BIS as essential links in the cultural ecosystem of contemporary visual art where the public can follow leading developments in contemporary visual art and can relate to the artistic and social fascinations of innovative artists today. Artists, in turn, are given the opportunity to present their work and to conduct artistic research in order to continue to develop. Curators are also regularly given the space to develop their own vision of presenting art.
The grant ceiling for six presentation institutions combined is 4,784,100 euros. With a view to regional distribution, there is a maximum of one institution per large municipality (Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam). Because only six places in the BIS are available for presentation institutions, a good geographical spread is difficult to achieve, according to the council.
Most applications were of good quality
Eleven applications were submitted for the period 2025-2028. More applications came from the major cities of Amsterdam and The Hague than there are places available there. The applications were evaluated on the basis of artistic and substantive quality, social significance, accessibility, business health and geographical spread. Initially, applications were judged based on the first three criteria. "If the judgement based on one or more of these criteria is negative, the assessment stops and the judgement on the application is negative. If the judgment is positive, the council then gives an opinion on business health. Finally, the council assesses geographic spread." Most of the applications were of good quality.
"Together, the presentation institutions create a pluralistic offer, with a wide variety of visions, elaborations, disciplines and crossovers with, for example, dance, design, music, performance, technology and literature." The council notes that the institutions focus on artistic research that is intertwined with social themes. "Grand, relevant and heavy themes are addressed, such as decolonization, climate colonialism, housing issues, governance, grassroots (art) economy, class inequality, care, identity and the meaning of communities." The council emphasizes that "presentation institutions should continue to critically weigh the balance between artistic and social significance, between an autonomous narrative and an instrumental narrative."
Increasingly, presentation institutions no longer see themselves as just a showplace for art, but also as a "social domain
Another notable trend the council sees is that art practice itself is also being scrutinized. "The Western perspective on what art is is being opened up, and diversity- and inclusiveness-oriented concepts such as worlding and unworlding, which revolve around the recognition of different worldviews, recur regularly. Art institutions seem increasingly aware that it is not enough to place artists from outside Western Europe within traditional Western frameworks. Part of their work is to develop new frameworks and working methods. This includes a focus on artists and curators working in collectives."
"Increasingly, presentation institutions no longer consider themselves as just a showplace for art, but also as a 'social domain.' Here, encounters and exchanges are facilitated among visitors, but emphatically also between visitors and artists. Art practice opens itself up to the knowledge and perspectives of others, including those of the non-professional artist. By organizing the artistic and social debate and sometimes initiating collaboration, inspiring exchange can occur. With this development fits a public policy that is aimed at many different target groups and public programs that are participatory in nature. However, the council got the impression that the degree of reciprocity of those programs varies considerably. It also felt that many presentation institutions could gain even more from their public policy by more sharply formulating their goals and target groups."
The council has noticed that many applicants face housing problems
"In light of social safety, the council also looked at governance. At presentation institutions, responsibilities and positions of power are not always clearly explained. Another point of attention are the sometimes long-sitting boards of directors. In general, presentation institutions should reflect better on how they want to prevent their dependence on one or a few artistic directors and guarantee their continuity. Working with guest curators seems to be seen as a solution. Two institutions that have taken a clear position are de Appel and Melly. With them, the director can stay on for a maximum of two three-year terms."
The council has noticed that many applicants are facing housing problems. De Appel had to leave its premises in Amsterdam-West after a relatively short time, Het HEM in Zaandam is not sure if it can move into the desired location in Amsterdam, and West will have to leave the former American Embassy in the center of The Hague. The council found the quality of three of the 11 applications not strong enough for a positive verdict: those of BAK, Het HEM and Noorderlicht. "Their plans for the subsidy period 2025- 2028 have insufficient quality on (one or more of) the first three general assessment criteria. (...) The council recommends not granting a subsidy to these three institutions."
In weighing in, the council sought the most pluralistic palette possible
"The remaining eight applicants - de Appel, Framer Framed, Marres, Melly, MU, Nest, Vleeshal and West - received positive reviews from the council. However, the BIS only provides space for six institutions. In considering them, the council aimed for the most pluralistic palette possible."
The council had to make a difficult choice between the Amsterdam institutions De Appel and Framer Framed. Both applications the council called high level. "De Appel and Framer Framed are both artistically and socially significant, but they each place a slightly different emphasis. (...) With de Appel the focus is somewhat more on the autonomous artist and art practice and artistic experimentation in itself. At Framer Framed the social debate on diversity and inclusion, also in relation to the traditionally mainly Western-oriented international art discourse, is more central. Both perspectives are valuable and complementary. In the end, the council chose Framer Framed. On the criteria of social significance and accessibility, this institution performs more convincingly."
A choice also had to be made between the Hague presentation institutions Nest and West, which fell to West. "West works from a historical-philosophical signature. This makes her a clear addition to the spectrum. Although the council also has some serious reservations about her application, including in the area of governance, it is enthusiastic about her ambitions. (...) the artistic program promises more coherence and more cultural polyphony, strengthening both local and international positions and connecting the two."
About the other current BIS presentation institutions: "In terms of artistic content, they choose slightly different angles. With a study of artistic freedom and the role of improvisation, Melly is sailing a promising course and Marres is delving deeper into the sensory, physical experience of art. MU continues to occupy a distinctive position with a hybrid offering at the intersection of art, technology and design. Meat Hall puts the theme of 'hope' at the center, pulling the earlier discourse around caring in a new direction."
Postgraduate institutions
The BIS is intended for postgraduate institutions that provide an internationally leading mentoring program in the field of visual arts. Grants may be awarded to up to five institutions. Subsidization of a postgraduate institution is based on the number of participants. A maximum of 66,760 euros is available annually per (full-time) participant. The grant ceiling is set at 7,009,800 euros.
Five applications were submitted for the 2025-2028 grant period, all from current BIS institutions: De Ateliers, BAK, EKWC, Rijksakademie and Van Eyck.
"What is striking in the plans is that the previously initiated movement to relate more explicitly to the outside world as a place of introspection has continued. Not only do most postgraduate institutions want to be more accessible to the public, they are also more aware of the barriers they create, often unintentionally, for potential participants. With a broader interpretation of the term "artist," the elimination or lowering of registration fees, and an increase in the often minimal monthly stipend, institutions are attempting to become more accessible and inclusive. Within this framework, there is also a greater focus on diversity among advisors and visiting experts."
Most postgraduate institutions not only want to be more accessible to the public, they are more aware of the barriers they create, often unintentionally, for potential participants
"Most applicants reflect extensively on current social and geopolitical challenges and how they directly and indirectly affect the core business and participants. Awareness of current events also generates attention and ambition in the area of innovation, for example on ecological sustainability. The post-academic institutions, in particular Van Eyck, Rijksakademie and EKWC, are increasingly developing into research centers in the field of sustainable (dealing with) materials and techniques. The council considers this a positive development, but notes that the post-academic institution is and must remain primarily a free port for artists."
"Fair practice and fair pay are rightly receiving more attention from all applicants and have a major impact on budgets. (...) Institutions want to serve an increasingly diverse artistic practice or play a more agenda-setting role. At the same time, their ambitions must fit within the business possibilities and not compromise the core mission of a postgraduate institution."
Fair practice and fair pay are rightly receiving more attention from all applicants and have a major impact on budgets
The council described the quality of the applications as "generally high." The EKWC has surprised with a progressive and well-argued plan. "With ceramics as a medium, the institution aims to make the residency program and the organization more future-proof by giving its longstanding research program a major boost and establishing a new program line for makers and patrons within the residencies."
The Rijksakademie "has laid down a solid plan with clearly defined goals" in which it shows an awareness of "its position and responsibilities toward residents and the broader arts field." Central are the individual development of the artists and the artistic nourishment they need.
At De Ateliers, young artists are mentored by arrived colleagues. "Topical and fitting the profile of De Ateliers is the new program component Residential House, where publicly accessible exhibitions can be made by the residents or by fellows they nominate."
The council finds it strong how the theme of "climate urgency" has been developed at Van Eyck in Maastricht. There is a clear overarching framework, but at the same time there seems to be more free space for individual art practices. "Van Eyck also shows a great awareness of the different positions of participants: first, it has - very inclusively - recently started residency spots for artists with children."
"Unfortunately, BAK, the youngest postgraduate institution, has submitted an application in which it describes and explains its core mission so summarily that it is, in fact, impossible to assess. The council recommends that BAK's application not be granted."
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