For whom?
This grant is intended for museums, archives and other collection management heritage institutions with a public function in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten).
With this open call, the Mondriaan Fund wants to contribute to digitising collections or improving the data quality of digital heritage collections; for institutions for which this was not yet possible or to a lesser extent.
For what?
There is a great need within the heritage sector to make collections more accessible, even though there have been several processes aimed at further digitisation, such as making collections accessible with linked (open) data. Digital innovation is important, but it can only take place if objects are sufficiently available digitally. Many collections still need to be scanned, photographed and described and that is ultimately not so much digital innovation, but mainly manual work to be able to input the many objects digitally.
A contribution can be requested for:
- A plan for digitising collection(s) or improving the quality of digital heritage collection(s) in order to lay a good foundation for using and experiencing digital heritage and telling new stories. The result must be sustainable in kind and contribute to a stronger, usable digital infrastructure.
- A development contribution aimed at drawing up a plan for digitising collection(s) and/or improving the data quality of digital heritage collection(s).
Applicants can use the tools and knowledge available within the Digital Heritage Network. Read more about the background National Digital Heritage Strategy here.
An application for a contribution to Digitising Heritage can be combined with a contribution Voucher Co-creation, Caribbean Heritage Employees, Heritage Innovation, Art Heritage Presentation and Art Commission.
How much?
In the case of a plan, the amount of the contribution is determined per application and is a maximum of 70% of the variable project costs.
The maximum contribution for development contributions is € 15,000.
The available budget for the open call for Digitising Heritage is € 800,000.
The application can be submitted in Dutch or in English.
How and when to apply?
Applications for a contribution for Digitising Heritage can be made through the online application system of the Mondriaan Fund. The deadline for submitting an application is 3 October 2024, before 16.00 (Netherlands Time zone)/ 10.00 (Caribbean Time zone). You can request an account on the Mondriaan Fund website. You need this to submit an application. This only applies if you do not have an account yet. Applicants must take into account a processing period of 3 months after the deadline of the application round. A contribution cannot be awarded retroactively.
Background information National Digital Heritage Strategy
In the Netherlands, collective agreements have been made about making heritage collections digitally accessible. This is done according to the National Digital Heritage Strategy with the aim of contributing to the network of connected heritage. Applicants can use the tools and knowledge available within the Digital Heritage Network (NDE). Support is provided by the provincial digital heritage coaches and through the NDE data workshops. Part of working in an NDE-compliant manner is formulating an information plan. With an information plan you inventory, research and make plans to sustainably preserve your digital collection and to present it in an even better manner to the public. An information plan is linked to the mission and vision of the organisation and ensures coherence between the organisational policy and the digital infrastructure. There are also organisations in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom with the ambition to join these collective agreements.
Information about NDE-compliant working can be found here. Questions about this can be asked through vasb@argjrexqvtvgnnyrestbrq.ay.
Conditions
- A contribution can be requested by museums, archives and other collection-managing heritage institutions with a public function, in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
- A contribution to Digitising Heritage cannot be requested for fixed costs or for regular running costs.
- Art vocational education institutions and post-academic institutions cannot apply, nor can commercial institutions that are mainly focused on sales.
- No application can be submitted by the sectoral connections New Institute, Royal Library, KNAW Humanities Cluster, National Archives, Sound & Vision and Cultural Heritage Agency.
- Applicants in the Netherlands have or are developing policy that is in line with the National Digital Heritage Strategy, as established by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and managed by the Digital Heritage Network (NDE). This policy is formulated in an information plan that is developed prior to or during the implementation of the project. The information plan is submitted with the application or final report. The applicant signs the NDE Manifesto at the start of the project (or has already done so). An application can also be submitted for plans where (further) coordination with the Digital Heritage Network takes place after the deadline; in that case it is important to describe this ambition and planning in the application. For applicants in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, joining the National Digital Heritage Strategy is optional. If an application is in line with the National Digital Heritage Strategy, an institution indicates in the plan which aspects of the National Digital Heritage Strategy the plan is in line with. If an institution still wants to coordinate or investigate how the institution wants to digitise and/or improve the data quality of digital heritage collection in line with the National Digital Heritage Strategy, these plans can be described in the application.
- The maximum contribution for development contributions is € 15,000.
- Cultural institutions endorse the Fair Practice Code, the Governance Code Culture and the Code Diversity & Inclusion. Application of the Fair Practice Code automatically means that the institution puts the artists’ fees guideline into practice.
Assessment
The submitted application and attachments will be checked for completeness by employees of the Mondriaan Fund and tested against the formal conditions.
Digital Heritage Network checks with institutions in the Netherlands whether the application has been drawn up in an NDE-compliant manner or whether it contains this ambition; and thus meets this formal condition. For applicants in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, joining the National Digital Heritage Strategy is not a formal condition; applications from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom are submitted to the committee regardless of whether they have been drawn up NDE-compliant or have this ambition.
Applications that are complete and meet the conditions are submitted to an advisory committee that advises on awarding a contribution for Digitising Heritage. A contribution to Digitising Heritage can only be awarded if the committee advises positively. If the advice is positive, the advisory committee can make a recommendation about the amount of the financial contribution to be awarded and the period over which it will be provided.
Unfortunately, due to a limited budget, we cannot always honour all positive advice. In that case, the board of the Mondriaan Fund asks the advisory committee to weigh the positive recommendations against each other and to rank them in order of priority. This means that it may happen that an application is assessed positively, but no contribution can be awarded.
The advisory committee assesses the application on the basis of:
- Plan with content of motivation, including explanation of:
- the sustainable character;
- the way in which it contributes (or aims to contribute) to a stronger, usable digital infrastructure;
- the way in which it lays the foundation for greater digital visibility of the collection;
- the importance within the regional and/or (inter)national context;
- the way in which the plan improves the digital heritage collection compared to the current situation;
- the way in which institutions from the Netherlands work in an NDE-compliant manner or embody this ambition (for applications from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, this aspect is optional);
- possible partnerships.
- Budget with quotes and coverage plan.
- If applicable: an information plan and commitments from participating parties.
- A factual description of the organisation and collection, including the vision and mission and an overview of activities in the past 3 years.
The advisory committee evaluates the following criteria:
- Interest of the institution and collection
- Does the organisation have a clear vision and mission?
- Is it important that the collection of this institution is digitised, also taking into account the regional and/or national context of this collection?*
- Quality of the plan*
- To what extent is the plan sustainable in nature and does it contribute to a stronger, usable digital infrastructure; or does it contain the ambition to do so?
- To what extent does the plan contribute to the foundation for greater digital visibility of the collection?
- Is the plan important within the regional and/or (inter)national context? This includes collaborations, the place where it takes place, regional distribution, etc.*
- Effect on digital heritage collection*
- To what extent does the plan offer the opportunity to improve the digital heritage collection compared to the current situation?
- Alliances with other parties
- Does the applicant establish connections with other parties that strengthen the significance of the project? For example, in the field of increasing support, regional cooperation, or reaching a new audience.
- Does the collaboration add value to the plan?
*Note: this criterion carries more weight, as it is a particular point of consideration within this open call.
Checklist
To process your application, the Mondriaan Fund needs information. All of this information can be submitted in the application form itself, together with the documentation that you can upload. Below you will find a checklist that follows the layout of the application form and contains all the information required.
Tip: collect all your information before you start filling out the online application form. Your attachments should be uploaded as PDFs. Please note: make sure that your documents meet the stated conditions. Otherwise, we will unfortunately not be able to process your request. Do not exceed the number of pages where a maximum is indicated.
Checklist
Recent (less than 1-year-old) and valid registration excerpt from the Kamer van Koophandel (KvK- Chamber of Commerce)
Actual data setting (max. 4 pages)
With a brief description of the collection and the institution’s activities over the past 3 years, including objectives, target groups, collaborations and public outreach.
Plan
In the case of:
- Plan (max. 20 pages)
With an overview of the intended activities. Also substantiate the sustainable character, the way in which the project contributes (or wants to contribute) to a stronger, usable digital infrastructure and lays the foundation for greater digital visibility of the collection. Also describe the importance within the regional and/or (inter)national context and the way in which the plan improves the digital heritage collection compared to the current situation. Applicants from the Netherlands are also asked to describe how they work in an NDE-compliant manner or how they would like to develop this ambition (this is optional for applications from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom). Finally, describe any collaborations. - Development contribution (max. 20 pages)
Name the title of the development research, the start date, content of the plan for the research, any collaborations and the substantive motivation.
For institutions in the Netherlands: proof of signing the Manifest Netwerk Digitalisering Erfgoed.
This is optional for institutions from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
Applying codes
It is expected of all cultural institutions that they follow the Fair Practice Code, the Governance Code Culture and the Code Diversity & Inclusion. Application of the Fair Practice Code automatically means that the institution puts the artists’ fees guideline into practice. Briefly describe your policy vision on the Fair Practice Code and how it is applied within your organisation.
Information plan (This is optional for institutions from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom)
With an information plan you inventory, research and make plans to sustainably preserve your digital collection and to present it in an even better manner to the public. An information plan is linked to the mission and vision of the organisation and ensures coherence between the organisational policy and the digital infrastructure. Institutions in the Netherlands can submit the information plan with the application or with the final report. For institutions from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, it is optional to submit an information plan with the application or final accountability.
Itemised budget with coverage plan
See here for an explanation of the budget for the open call for Digitising Heritage. If there is any uncertainty about a budget item, the Mondriaan Fund can request additional documents (quotes).
If applicable:
Confirmation letters of third party contributions
Merge all letters in a PDF.
Bank details
We need the bank account number of the institution applying in order to transfer the amount if the application is granted. If the organisation has not previously submitted an application to the Mondriaan Fund or if the account number has changed since the previous application, please upload a recent bank statement clearly stating the name of the account holder and IBAN/bank account number of the applicant institution. Applicants based in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom can provide a bank statement or other document from the bank showing the account holder’s name and bank account number.
Declarations of consent from participating institutions
If the other participating institutions do not submit their own application, we will ask for declarations of consent before submitting this application. Combine all statements in a PDF.