Arts and Culture in / from the Netherlands

The Press and Cultural Affairs Section (PCZ) of the Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New York supports and promotes art and culture from the Netherlands, including the Caribbean territories, in the United States.

Who are we?

Our task is to implement the Netherlands’ international cultural policy. We act as cultural intermediaries between the Dutch and American art worlds to facilitate cultural partnership and exchange.

PCZ New York coordinates the cultural network in the US. The other missions in the network are San Francisco, Chicago, Miami and Washington. We distinguish between the following art and culture-related categories:

• visual arts
• cultural heritage
• creative industry (games, design, fashion, architecture)
• dance
• e-culture
• film
• literature
• music
• theatre

Check out our blogs for the latest news on Dutch performing arts, architecture, design events and related news in the US:
Dutchperformingarts.com & Dutchartevents.com

What do we do?

The Press and Cultural Affairs Section is based in New York, the United States’ cultural capital and epicentre of the American cultural sector and international cultural developments. We exchange information with the other missions in the US cultural network and also help them process grant applications. One of our tasks is to implement Dutch national and international cultural policy in the US. We inform American cultural professionals – curators, programmers, publishers, producers, distributors, policymakers, agents and journalists – about art and artists in the Netherlands, Dutch cultural events and new developments in the arts world in the Netherlands. We advise American cultural professionals seeking to invite Dutch artists to the US and inform them of opportunities to apply for funding. We also advise the Dutch government and cultural funds on the quality and cachet of American locations such as museums, galleries, theatres, concert halls, cultural centres, etc. In addition, we regularly represent the Dutch government at cultural events such as festivals and conferences.

It is also important to know what we do not do. We do not promote individual artists or companies, we do not book performances or exhibitions, we do not negotiate contracts and we do not finance American artists wanting to perform or exhibit in the Netherlands. In other words, PCZ is not an organiser. However, we can initiate activities, ensure that they are carried out by operators in the cultural field and provide a certain amount of funding.

Dutch art collections in the United States

Dutch art enjoys a surprisingly high profile in the United States. Dutch design and architecture, in particular, have not gone unnoticed. Sectors that have received extra attention and funding, for instance dance and youth theatre, are also doing well. This is important, because it shows that consistent investment in international cultural policy pays.

Besides temporary exhibitions, the US is home to numerous collections of Dutch old masters, which are often part of museums’ permanent exhibitions. You can find an overview of these collections on the CODART website. CODART is an international network of curators of Dutch and Flemish art, and its website shows that Dutch works of art are very well-represented in American museums. For more information see Codart.nl.

Funds and institutions

Dutch cultural policy focuses on theme and content. Alongside individual artists, various foundations and funds have a considerable impact on the sector. If you have any questions about Dutch cultural policy, visit the website of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science: Rijksoverheid.nl.

International cultural policy is the joint responsibility of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Education, Culture and Science.

Cultural organisations, art and culture funds, sectoral institutions, authorities and diplomatic missions in the Netherlands and abroad can apply to SICA, the Dutch Centre for International Cultural Activities, for information on cultural activities and funding. This implementing organisation promotes the Dutch cultural sector’s international activities and ambitions and creates a platform for opinion-forming on international cultural policy. For more information see: Sica.nl.

Grants for cultural projects

The Press and Cultural Affairs Section has a budget to support cultural projects and promote Dutch art and culture in the US. The budgets are intended for project activities initiated by American organisations in partnership with Dutch artists or institutions. Consequently, applications can only be made by American organisations. PCZ also aims to generate sponsorship in the US, in addition to Dutch support.