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Hungary
Hungary and the Kingdom of the Netherlands
For centuries, Hungary has been a bridge between East and West, shaping a rich cultural heritage that blends historical traditions with contemporary artistic expression. Budapest stands as Hungary’s cultural capital and vibrant artistic hub, while Pécs boasts a rich cultural scene of its own. Debrecen has high aspirations in the arts, and the region around Lake Balaton hosts numerous cultural festivals. While political shifts since 2010 have transformed most state-led cultural institutions fundamentally, Hungary’s alternative and independent cultural scene is vibrant and innovative. The cultural ties between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Hungary have deep historical roots and continue to grow, fostering collaborations in cultural heritage, contemporary arts, and democratic values in a challenging landscape.
Themes and opportunities
Hungary’s cultural landscape presents significant opportunities for collaboration, particularly in visual arts, sustainable design, music, and performance. The Kingdom of the Netherlands enjoys a strong reputation for innovation and progressive culture, making it a valued partner in Hungary’s creative sector. Despite political and economic challenges, independent and critical voices continue to find alternative channels for their work, creating space for meaningful exchange. Cultural initiatives focusing on sustainability, human rights, freedom of expression, and shared European values are essential drivers of collaboration. Festivals, design platforms, and creative industry partnerships also offer promising avenues for cultural cooperation.
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Information & advice
Would you like to receive more information regarding opportunities for cultural exchange with Hungary? Read more about the opportunities and the history of Hungary, check the useful links and FAQs below, and feel free to contact our advisor for Central and Eastern Europe, Tijana Stepanovic, with your questions.
Please note that DutchCulture is not a funding body.
Advisor
Hungary at a glance
featuring 113 artists
12 months (2024)
discipline in 2024
Frequently asked questions
- 1. Where can I find funding within the Netherlands?
Are you looking for (international) funding? Check our general funding page for different funding guides, grants and open calls, or the digital Cultural Mobility Funding Guide for the Netherlands for regional, private and international (mobility) funding.
In the Netherlands the means for international cultural cooperation are delegated to six national sector funds. The fund that works for your art form or discipline, has one or several subsidy schemes for internationalisation. To make sure the program fits your project, contact the advisors of the fund before starting the process of application.
Design, Creative Industries, Architecture, Digital Culture
Creative Industries Fund NL
> International VouchersVisual Arts, Heritage
Mondriaan Fund
> Subsidy for International Art Presentation to present work by living artists based in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.Theater, Dance, Music
Performing Arts Fund
> Grants for foreign organisations to invite artists based in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
> Internationalisation grants for artists based in the Kingdom of the NetherlandsAudiovisual media, Film, Documentary
Dutch Film Fund
>The Film Fund has several subsidy schemes to support co-productions and distribution (film & documentary).Literature
Dutch Foundation for Literature
> Translation grants for foreign publishers
> Travel grantsParticipation, Education, Communal arts, Cooperations, Projects with non-professionals
Cultural Participation Fund
> Fundings
Heritage
International Heritage Cooperation is part of the Netherlands’ international cultural policy. The embassies of the Netherlands in the partner countries have a budget for supporting local cultural heritage projects. DutchCulture manages a Matching Fund. Dutch legal entities (companies and registered freelancers) are able to apply for partial funding for an international heritage cooperation project.
DutchCulture supports international heritage cooperation between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Europe. The Europe + Heritage programme offers advice, a Travel Scheme (vouchers of €350-€1000) and a General Support Scheme (maximum €5.000) for heritage professionals and heritage organisations based in the Kingdom of the Netherlands who wish to visit a European partner, invite a European partner or set up a cooperation with a European partner. Heritage can be both tangible and intangible.
More funds
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency is not a national fund but also offers on behalf of various ministries and the European Union subsidies for companies in the creative industries.
- 2. Where can I find funding within Hungary?
In order to be eligible for financing opportunities, it is necessary to have a Hungary-based partner. Only people or institutions registered in Hungary can apply for funding unless it is noted to be otherwise. Therefore we advise you to ask your Hungarian partner organization to apply for funding in Hungary, at the Dutch Funds or at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Budapest.
The Embassy of the Netherlands in Budapest has an extensive network in the local cultural sector and in-depth knowledge of its cultural institutions, organisations and theatres. The Embassy and DutchCulture can advise on opportunities for cooperation. In addition, the embassy can provide grants to local cultural institutions that present cultural works from the kingdom in Hungary. They also help artists and creative entrepreneurs from the kingdom in increasing their visibility.
For funding opportunities within Hungary, you can check the National Cultural Fund or the Hungarian Academy of Arts (note that this is not the same organisation as the Hungarian University of Fine Arts). Before acting please inform yourself about the context in which these local Funds work.
Doing your research beforehand and finding trustworthy local partners is essential. You can use the DutchCulture Database by simply going to the search option in the upper left corner, and searching for ´Hungary´ or any city you are interested in. This way you will see which Dutch artists are already active in which areas.
- 3. Are there funding opportunities within Europe?
Creative Europe
Creative Europe (2021-2027) is the seven-year support programme by the European Commission for the cultural and audio-visual sector and consists of two subprogrammes: Culture and MEDIA. The Creative Europe Desk of the Netherlands is part of DutchCulture. Be aware that there are many strict conditions to be considered before applying for this programme. The cooperation also has to consist of at least three European countries, cooperation between only Hungary and the Netherlands is therefore not eligible. The Culture Moves Europe mobility programme was launched to provide mobility grants.
Besides these programmes of the European Commission, there are more European funding opportunities and within the two programmes, there are different calls and subprogrammes.
Further funding opportunities
These two funding guides can help you on your way:
Fund-finder, Guide to funding opportunities for arts and culture in Europe, beyond Creative Europe (published by IETM in English in 2019)
EU Subsidiewijzer (published by Creative Europe Desk NL in Dutch)- 4. How can I promote my work in Hungary?
It is a good idea to engage local professionals and publicists, that have an understanding of the Hungarian context in your art discipline, audience, and region.
Make sure to contact the embassy to let them know about your projects. Do not forget to create a My DC account, where you can add your activities to our Cultural Database. This way you will be included in our database and become part of our network.
- 5. What visa do I need?
As for now as an EU citizen, you do not need a visa to work in Hungary. If you have a passport from outside the EU, it is wise to check the rules with your country´s representatives in the Netherlands, or you can ask the DutchCulture Mobility Info Point.
Find out exactly what the rules are that a gallery, stage or theatre upholds, before engaging in cooperation. If you find obstacles in your way, you will have enough time to find solutions. Always make sure that your health insurance will cover you across borders.
- 6. How can I find a residency, venue at which to perform, exhibition space?
Through the DutchCulture Database, you can figure out which artists from the Netherlands have worked at which venues, and start your research there. Go to the search icon on the upper left corner of the website, and search by discipline, country and city.
For residencies, the organisation Transartists, which is also a part of DutchCulture, is a great research tool. In order to successfully build an international career, and in order to find sustainable partners in a country, it is always wise to spend more than a few days somewhere. Residencies, which can last from a couple of weeks up to several months, can help you achieve this.
