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j.backus [at] dutchculture.nl
United States
United States and the Netherlands
The United States of America is one of the focus countries of the Netherlands’ international cultural policy. Its scale, culture and leading global position make the country attractive for Dutch culture makers from all genres and disciplines. On average more than 2,000 Dutch cultural activities take place in the U.S. each year, making it the number one export country outside of Europe for Dutch arts and culture.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the U.S., in which the cultural sector has also been hit exceedingly hard. However, it is a large country with an enormous cultural infrastructure, where the growth opportunities for Dutch art and culture remain great. The U.S. is the most important bilateral partner for the Netherlands, in which art and culture also play an important role.
Regional dispersion
Traditionally, Dutch cultural projects in the U.S. tend to take place in the New York City metropolitan area, followed by large cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami. Dutch international cultural policy towards the U.S. focuses on these cities, but also strives for a national approach, giving special attention to secondary and upcoming cities in the U.S. with growing art centres and important venues. This includes – but is not limited to – cities such as Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Nashville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. Dutch-American heritage cooperation focuses mostly on New York State and the Midwest.
Policy framework
Currently the goals are to strengthen the position of the Dutch cultural sector in the U.S. through visibility, exchange and sustainable cooperation, and to support the bilateral relationship between the Netherlands and the U.S. through Dutch cultural activities in the U.S.
Priority is given to the following disciplines: design (including jewellery and fashion design), film, literature, performing arts (theatre, live music and content for young audiences), photography, international heritage cooperation, and visual arts. Lesser priority is given to the following disciplines: architecture, dance, digital culture / gaming, electronic dance music, Old Masters, and tangible heritage.
The heritage that connects the Netherlands with the United States goes back 400 years. The Dutch government focuses on the sustainable conservation, management and accessibility of the shared heritage and archives, with room for different perspectives. Read more…
Information & advice
Would you like to receive more information regarding opportunities for cultural exchange with the U.S.? Feel free to contact our Focal Countries Desk with your questions.
Advisor
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Year:
United States at a glance
2426 registered activities in 2023
featuring 631 artists
featuring 631 artists
Number of activities
12 months (2023)
12 months (2023)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where can I find funding within the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, there are various funding opportunities available for artists, cultural practitioners and organisations with international ambitions. You can find a first overview on our Funding Support page. For a more extensive overview, see our Cultural Mobility Funding Guide.
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.
- Where can I find funding within the United States?
In the United States art and culture are barely supported financially on a federal level. This means that the opportunities for funding in the United States are very different from for example the Netherlands. In the U.S. it is essential to find private funding. For example the Netherlands America Foundation is a foundation that aims to support Dutch-American exchange and that supports small to midlevel projects. The Dutch embassy in Washington and the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York, work demand-oriented. This means that foremost they will work together with American organisations or institutes and are focused on their applications for support. As a Dutch organisation, it is therefore important to find an American partner.
To find your way in the landscape of private funding in the U.S. think about contacting local societies or clubs that have something in common with your project, to get more fundraising. For example, when you perform Bach concerts, find a ‘Friends of Bach’ society.
Also see the guide to cross-border mobility for artists and cultural workers from and travelling to the U.S. by On The Move.
- What rules and regulations do I have to consider (visa, social security, taxation)?
Acquiring the right visa for working in the United States, is a complex business. For working on cultural projects it has not been made easier in the past years. If you are only travelling to the US for a short visit or business trip, to meet up with partners or prepare a project, an ESTA visa is usually enough. You can obtain one through the Waiver Program.
As soon as you start working though; exhibiting and selling art, screening a movie, participating in a fair or going on tour, you will need to get a work permit. There are different permits and it might take some time to apply for. For more information, you can contact the mobility team of DutchCulture.
If you need help applying for a visa, you are often facing high legal costs. The non-profit legal organisation Tamizdat offers performers and artistic organisations help, they can also function as your petitioner if needed.
Disclaimer: The information given above is based on experience and information provided by the U.S. authorities. In case of any doubt or further questions, please contact the U.S. Embassy in The Hague.
- How can I promote my work in the United States?
It is a good idea to engage local publicists, that have an understanding of your art discipline, audience and region. The cultural department of the Consulate General in New York can help you find a network or decide to promote your work through their channels.
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.
- How can I find a residency, a venue at which to perform or an exhibition space?
Through the DutchCulture database, you can find 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, DutchCulture's TransArtists 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.
- How can I keep up to date with any news concerning cultural work in the US?
The Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York manages a Facebook page and a Twitter page.
