Rolling deadline

The Hivos Culture Fund, set up in 1995, supports independent artistic initiatives in developing countries that are accessible for a wide audience and have national and international appeal. The Hivos Culture Fund works in such areas as production, exchange, marketing, distribution, and capability increase.

In order to be eligible for funding the applicant organisation needs to operate in Hivos countries or regions, and its objectives need to be in line with general Hivos policy and sectoral priorities. It should be a secular (i.e. not religion-related) organisation and a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Country locations funded in 2009 include: Belize, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Peru, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tanzania, Timor Lorosae, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The objective of the Hivos Culture Fund is to support independent artists, initiatives, and organisations that reflect critically upon social developments, contribute to the development and further professionalism of the cultural sector, ensure a wide dissemination of cultural products, and realise an equal exchange between artists, both nationally and internationally. Click here and scroll down for criteria related to the Culture Fund.

Click here for more information and to access the online application form on "Hivos Virtual Office". The application page explains whether organisations are eligible for Hivos funding by providing a self-assessment test. If an organisation is eligible, the Virtual Office offers the possibility to submit a proposal online and/or to download the required application forms.

Hivos website on June 11 2009.