Groeispurt

The Groeispurt is a Nijmegen subsidy scheme for art and culture that supports new initiatives in their artistic development by giving them room for experimentation. With the Groeispurt , Cultuur Academy wants to give emerging talent a boost, without unnecessary restrictions and obligations. The scheme offers a fast and flexible form of support to promote artistic growth and experimentation.

Application rounds and budget

Applications are processed in order of receipt, divided into three periods. With a large number of applications, the budget may be exhausted before the end of a period. In that case, you can reapply from the beginning of the next period.

Periode 1: (gesloten)
indienen vanaf 06-01-2025 t/m 06-04-2025
Periode 2: (open)
indienen vanaf 07-04-2025 t/m 07-09-2025
Periode 3:
indienen vanaf 08-09-2025 t/m 31-12-2025

Wil je meer weten over Fondsen & Subsidies? Bezoek dan de themapagina op onze kennisbank. Wil je direct aanvragen? Klik hier!

Application Preparation

Hieronder vind je handvatten voor het invullen van je aanvraag, toegespitst op discipline. Mocht het om een cross-over of multidisciplinair project gaan, bekijk dan de verschillende disciplines die van toepassing zijn. De Groeispurt heet niet voor niets zo, het gaat om de Groeispurt die jij als maker doormaakt dankzij jouw project. Probeer hier dan ook een duidelijk antwoord op te formuleren. Waar begin je, en waar wil je op het eind van het project staan? Vormt dit project een stap in een nog veel grotere ambitie? Wat is je droom of stip op de horizon? Probeer ook duidelijk te maken wat je aan het eind van het project hebt geleerd. Welke nieuwe vaardigheden, kennis en/of netwerk heb je opgedaan? Je ontwikkelingen hoeven niet alleen op artistiek inhoudelijk vlak plaats te vinden.

Important things to look out for in your application

• Your application should include a budget, and we encourage you to include a fee for yourself as well. Please do provide a clear breakdown of your hourly rate and, for example, what hours you expect to make in what phase of your project.
• Are you going to present/exhibit/release your work somewhere? Make sure that contact has already been made with the location so that the (im)possibilities are clear. A commitment from the location is of course a plus point! Please note that if your project is part of a larger project/program that already receives funding from the municipality of Nijmegen, your project will not be eligible. In case of doubt, please check this!
• If you need permission from third parties for your project (think permit from municipality, owner of location or land, etc.) make sure that here too you are already clear about what can and cannot be done.

Fund coordinator & advisors

The Growth Spurt is run by Maike Pijnappel. She started as fund coordinator in March 2025 and has both the Groeispurt and Stroomversneller under her belt. Assessing applications is not something Maike does alone. For each discipline there is an advisor who looks at the artistic quality of your application and the development you have in mind as a creator. The advisors all have a considerable amount of knowledge and work experience and have an extensive cultural network in Nijmegen and beyond. In multidisciplinary projects the application will be assessed by multiple advisors.

Jade Kerste

Fine arts consultant

Jorien Stravens

Consultant music

Heleen Kalkman

Consultant theater & dance

Victoire Elekonawo

Advisor hip hop

Mathieu Janssen

Advisor film

Willem Claassen

Consultant literature

Application process Groeispurt

1) Bekijk de criteria

• Does your project meet the criteria? Then you can proceed to step 2.

2) Start your application

• Bekijk de vragen die we stellen via het voorbeeldformulier.
• Maak een begroting en dekkingsplan van jouw project. Weet je niet hoe? Bekijk onze pagina’s met voorbeelden: klik hier voor een eenvoudige begroting, hier voor een uitgebreide begroting en hier voor een zeer uitgebreide begroting.
• Wees duidelijk over je doelgroep en promotiestrategie. In onze Kennisbank kan je meer lezen over hoe je je doelgroep bepaalt en hoe je een promotiestrategie ontwikkelt.
• Define what discipline your project falls into. Should it be a crossover or multidisciplinary project, look at the different disciplines that apply.
• Create a project schedule.
• Make sure your portfolio and/or resume is up to date.

3) Choose your application method (you can apply in three ways)

• By filling out the application form as completely as possible.
• By creating a project plan in which you answer our questions from the application form.
• By doing a pitch with the fund coordinator and one of our advisors (question-answer interview) in which you answer the questions in the form and explain your project.

Unsure of which way is right for you? Contact us and we'll think with you.

4) Make the application

• Complete the application form.
• If you have created a project plan, you can put a brief summary at the answer boxes and refer to your project plan.
• If you wish to pitch, please describe in +/- 100 words why the project fits the Groeispurt and attach it. In the application form, you may refer to "pitch" in the response fields. We will then contact you to schedule a pitch.
• Upload the required documents
  • Budget
  • CV and/or portfolio
  • Bank statement (only name and account number visible)

5) Email confirmation

You will receive an email confirmation of your request within 1 hour. If you do not receive a confirmation, please contact us.

6) Review of your application

We aim to respond within 4 weeks. Your application will be reviewed by our advisors based on the criteria and look at the totality of the project and whether it aligns with Groeispurt's core values. Multi-disciplinary projects involve multiple advisors. Should we have additional questions, you will have the opportunity to answer them. We will let you know by email, including a timeframe in which we would like to receive the additional information requested.

7) Award or rejection

If you are awarded a grant, you will receive a letter explaining exactly what we expect from you. If you are rejected, we will try to explain the reasons as carefully as possible and help you think about where you could apply for support. You may also receive a conditional grant, for example if you still need to cover part of the budget with external funds/resources. In that case we will make arrangements about how and when this will be delivered.

8) What happens after award?

• You receive the money in your account and you can start implementing your project.
• You will receive a logo package from us and we ask you to include our name/logo on all communications (flyers, posters, etc).
• We would like to receive an invitation to the public moment of your project (except education projects).
• Upon completion of your project, we ask you to fill out our evaluation form and upload an image of the project. We will then feature your project on our website and social media channels.

Heb je vragen over de Groeispurt of twijfel je over een aanvraag? Neem gerust eens contact op met Maike via groeispurt@cultuuracademy.nl. Je kunt je vragen ook telefonisch stellen. Het telefonisch spreekuur is elke dinsdag tussen 14:00 uur en 15:00 uur via 06 36277689.

Let op, in de zomerperiode is er geen telefonisch spreekuur op 15 juli, 29 juli en 5 augustus.

Experiences

Groeispurt highlighted: Yildiz Gies - No Man's Land

Sometimes we find ourselves in a no man's land - a place between waking and sleeping, between expectation and reality. With her latest project No Man's Land, Nijmegen-based writer and singer-songwriter Yildiz Gies explores this indefinable world. an award from Groeispurt allowed Yildiz to realize this special project and take a crucial step in her artistic development.

Groeispurt highlighted: Showing color - Niels Scheurwater

Photographer Niels' project Kleur Bekennen is rooted in personal experience and themes of safety and connection. Thanks to the support of Groeispurt , Niels was able to take this project to a professional level-both substantively and practically.