For a third time, the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development from the Netherlands is calling for interested applicants who wish to secure funding for cultural heritage works that are under threat so that such historical treasures may be preserved. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) coursed this Dutch grant invitation to various Filipino cultural agencies, including the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

This means that Filipino film archives projects could receive financial support from the Cultural Emergency Response (CER) Programme of the Prince Claus Fund through the “Third Round of the Open Call for First Aid to Documentary Heritage under Threat.” Selected projects must strive to avert and minimize the loss of documentary heritage, primarily those that are under threat because of armed conflict or natural disasters. Aside from film archives, those qualified for applications include inscriptions, manuscripts, tablets, rare books, and other types of archives and written documents. 

According to the Social Development Committee-Subcommittee on Culture of the NEDA Board, the Embassy of the Netherlands in the Philippines is hopeful that it will receive applications from the Philippines following the recent eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas. The deadline for applications is on February 17, 2020 at 5 p.m. Amsterdam time. An average of 15,000 euros will be granted to approved projects.

Photo from the Philippine Film Archive of the Film Development Council of the Philippines

An eligible project must aim to respond to an urgent situation and preserve documentary heritage that is relevant locally, regionally, nationwide, or worldwide. The project must come from Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, or Asia. Meanwhile, the selection criteria are urgency of the highlighted need, sustainability and soundness of the plan, and significance of the threatened documentary heritage to the concerned community. Applications will be evaluated by external expert reviewers and Prince Claus Fund staff members. 

The “Third Round of the Open Call for First Aid to Documentary Heritage under Threat” is made possible by the partnership of the Prince Claus Fund and Whiting Foundation. Both groups believe that culture is a basic need, therefore they are exerting efforts to preserve culture by providing first aid to threatened works. For them, culture inspires resilience and confidence, and is a source of identity. 

Since the call for proposals in 2017 and 2018, the Prince Claus Fund has supported 26 projects out of 70 applications. It made known its desire to reach countries that have not yet received grants, that is why it has been strongly encouraging proposals from the Caribbean, South America, Central Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. The third round is expected to champion wider historical diversity and make way for the global dissemination of almost forgotten stories.

Photo from the Prince Claus Fund (https://princeclausfund.org/open-call-first-aid-to-documentary-heritage-under-threat-2019)

The Prince Claus Fund disclosed that the most urgent proposals will be prioritized to receive the limited budget of the CER Programme. It has called on applicants from emergency situations to submit immediately so that there will be more time to save objects of cultural importance that are under threat of man-made or natural disasters. 

Established in 1996, the Prince Claus Fund has been supporting culture and development in Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. It was put up to pay tribute to the dedication of Prince Claus in bettering culture and development, and it has been receiving support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutch Postcode Lottery, and several private individuals and corporations. Its four programs are CER for Heritage, Grants & Collaborations, Next Generation (for young people), and Prince Claus Awards. 

Three Filipinos have been hailed as Prince Claus Awards Laureates for being visionaries in the fields of culture and development. In 2018, National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik was honored for his contributions to the Visual Arts/Film field. His fellow filmmaker, Lav Diaz, was recognized in 2014 and musicologist Elena Rivera Mirano was awarded in 2001.

For more information, visit PrinceClausFund.org.