Pilot Urgency Programme

Our Awardees often work in challenging and unpredictable environments. Complementing the Prince Claus Fund Awards, the newly launched Urgency Programme provides rapid support to Seed and Fellows Award recipients whose artistic practices are disrupted by unforeseen and urgent circumstances.

Cover image courtesy of 2025 Seed Awardee Abdelhamid Belahmidi.

Within the programme, urgency is defined as both a time-sensitive situation requiring immediate action and a disruption that negatively impacts the continuity of an artist’s work. The aim of the Urgency Programme is to help mitigate the effects of such situations through the three trust-based channels of support: Relief Grant, Priority Relief Grant, and a Recovery Grant.

To be eligible for the support, the applicant must have received a Seed Award or Fellows Award at least one year prior to submitting a Relief Grant application.

The Pilot Urgency Programme is made possible through the support of the Postcode Loterij.

Relief Grant

Available through a rolling open call, the Relief Grant provides rapid, trust-based grants of up to €2,500 for unforeseen challenges that disrupt an artist’s practice and require urgent action. Applications are reviewed and processed within four weeks. To ensure timely response and quality of support, the number of applications processed each month is limited; once the cap is reached, submissions close until the next cycle. 

Priority Relief Grant

This is an additional Relief Grant that is activated in response to major natural disasters, regional conflicts, or other unforeseen crises impacting specific countries or regions. It is intended to support areas where a significant number of our eligible Awardees—specifically 10 or more—are located.

Recovery Grant

A short-term follow-up opportunity offered through our Fertile Ground Programme. This support is available to Awardees who have previously received a Relief Grant and would benefit from a temporary artistic residency to rest. It is also extended exceptionally to individuals identified through our outreach desk.   

Do you have any questions?

If you don’t find the information you need, feel free to contact us at: urgency@princeclausfund.nl.