Interest-free loans for artists, photographers, and designers
Apply for a loan
If you are a professional visual artist, photographer, designer based in the Netherlands, or a graduation student at a Dutch art or design academy, you can apply for an interest-free loan.
The loan can be used for the production of an exhibition at home or abroad, a publication, as well as for the purchase of equipment or tools such as a laptop or camera, material research, making prototypes, or participating in an artist residency, etc.
Deadlines
- November 10, 2024.
- January 19, 2025
- March 16, 2025
- May 18, 2025
- September 14, 2025
- November 16, 2025
Our partners
Have you recently received a grant from the Mondriaan Fund, Stimuleringsfonds, or CBK Rotterdam? If the answer is yes, and your application meets the general conditions, you qualify for an accelerated application process. This enables you to secure an interest-free loan as a supplement to your grant.
Need more info on how to apply?
Are you wondering if you qualify for a loan? Want to learn more about how interest-free loans work at Fonds Kwadraat? Read below for more information.
Who can apply and for what?
Professional artists, photographers, and designers can apply for an interest-free loan from Fonds Kwadraat of up to €8,000. The loan must be repaid within a maximum of 3 years and can be used for creating and presenting (new) work, such as an exhibition at home or abroad, a publication, as well as for the purchase of equipment or tools like a laptop or camera, material research, creating prototypes, or participating in an artist residency, etc.
Graduation students at Dutch art and design academies can apply for an interest-free loan of up to €800 for the development and presentation of their final project, to be repaid in up to 20 installments of €40 per month.
Small non-profit art institutions can apply for a loan up to €8,000.
General conditions
Download our general conditions here.
When to apply?
You can apply for an interest-free loan from Fonds Kwadraat throughout the year. It’s important to note that there are 5 application rounds per year. After the closing date, the Fonds Kwadraat committee reviews the received applications approximately three weeks later. Within a few days following the committee meeting, you will receive a notification regarding the approval of your application.
The upcoming closing dates are as follows:
- September 15, 2024
- November 10, 2024
Assessment
The Fonds Kwadraat committee evaluates applications based on the following criteria:
- Professionalism (CV): Your professional background and experience.
- Quality of Work: The artistic quality of your portfolio and previous projects.
- Project Quality: The quality and feasibility of the specific project for which you are applying for the loan.
- Financial Accountability: The financial justification for the loan request.
Your application has been approved! What’s next?
Once your application is approved, you will receive a message from us to finalize your interest-free loan with Fonds Kwadraat.
What does that entail?
- You will receive a loan agreement specifying the monthly repayment via automatic direct debit. Here is an example of the loan agreement.
- If the loan amount exceeds € 5,000, a guarantee is required. Students always need a guarantee for the entire loan amount of € 800. Here is an example of the guarantee form.
- Submit the completed guarantee form along with the loan agreement for repayment to gcrouwel@fondskwadraat.nl.
Guarantee
For loans exceeding €5,000, Fonds Kwadraat requires a guarantee for the amount above € 5,000. For example, if you borrow € 6,000, a guarantee of € 1,000 is necessary. In the case of the maximum loan amount of € 8,000, the guarantee is € 3,000.
If, for any reason, it becomes impossible to fully repay the loan, Fonds Kwadraat will request the person who signed the guarantee to pay the outstanding amount. However, if the loan is repaid according to the agreement, no payment is required from the guarantor. The person signing the guarantee form can be a family member, friend, acquaintance, gallery, or client.
Repayment
A loan must be repaid in a maximum of three years through monthly installments. Approximately twelve weeks after the funds are made available, the first repayment is expected, but if desired you can always repay faster.
When closing the loan, you’ll pay a one-time administration fee of 3.5% of the borrowed amount. These costs are deducted directly when entering into the loan agreement.
Example: For an interest-free loan of € 3,500, the administration costs would be € 122,50. You’ll receive € 3,377,50. The automatic direct debit repayment consists of 36 installments of € 93,82 each. The overview shows the monthly repayment amount and the total number of installments for loan repayment.
FAQ
How long does it take to know if my application has been approved?
Approximately three weeks after the closing date of an application round, the Fonds Kwadraat committee meets to discuss the applications received. Within a few days of the committee meeting, you will be notified of the approval of your application.
There are five application rounds per year with the following closing dates:
- September 15, 2024
- November 10, 2024
How long will it take to receive the money from the loan?
If your application is approved, you will receive the loan agreement by email. As soon as Fonds Kwadraat has received a signed copy, a copy of a recent bank statement, and possibly a guarantee, the money will be transferred.
Can I repay my loan faster?
Yes, you can always do that. To do so, please contact Fonds Kwadraat, info@fondskwadraat.nl.
Can I apply for a new loan for a new project if I already have a Fonds Kwadraat loan?
If at least three-quarters of your current loan with Fonds Kwadraat has been repaid, you can apply for a new loan. You can only have one loan at a time with Fonds Kwadraat, so if a second loan is approved, you must first repay your first loan fasterin order to receive your second loan. To do so, please contact Fonds Kwadraat, info@fondskwadraat.nl.
Can I get a loan if I live abroad?
Yes, artists who live abroad and are registered in the Netherlands with a Dutch bank account number can apply for a loan. If you are not registered in the Netherlands and do not have a Dutch bank account number, you are not eligible for a loan. In case of doubt, Fonds Kwadraat may request a guarantee.
Can I get a loan if I do not have Dutch nationality?
Yes, artists who are registered in the Netherlands and have a Dutch bank account number for the entire duration of their loan can apply for a loan. If in doubt, Fonds Kwadraat requests a guarantee.
What if two artists or designers collaborate on one project?
It is possible to jointly submit an application for a maximum of € 8,000 for one project, with one of the two artists taking on the contractual obligations Additionally, both artists can individually apply for loans for the same project, with a maximum of 2 times € 8,000.
Was Fonds Kwadraat previously called Materiaalfonds?
Yes, previously it was called Materiaalfonds. Since October 2015, the fund has a new name: Fonds Kwadraat. This name change reflects the broader focus of the fund, which now not only finances materials but also supports various artistic projects and productions.
Do you have any more questions?
If you are unsure whether your project qualifies or if you have other questions, please contact Gili Crouwel, Director of Fonds Kwadraat, at 020 6255112 or via info@fondskwadraat.nl.
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