A subsidy is an optional contribution, granted in furtherance of a general interest – that is, which adds value to the culture offerings available to the public. It is a small, local contribution which does not hinder competition in the EU.

The Ministry of Culture (ministère de la Culture) grants subsidies for one or more projects undertaken in Luxembourg within a calendar year.

Such subsidies are intended for groups that are legally organised as a non-profit association (ASBL), a foundation or a societal impact company (SIS – société d'impact sociétal), operating in the areas of:

• dance;
• theatre, street art and circus arts;
• music;
• visual arts, architecture, design, artisanry;
• literature;
• heritage, history, landscape gardening and popularisation of science;
• audiovisual, multimedia and digital arts;
• multidisciplinary projects.

Who is concerned

 Eligible associations

The subsidy is intended for ASBLs, foundations and SISs that are registered and active in Luxembourg.  

Private individuals must file an application for a subsidy for individuals carrying out cultural projects.

Communal authorities must file an application for a subsidy for communes carrying out cultural projects.

The subsidy is not intended for:

• associations and cultural organisations which have a pre-existing agreement with the Ministry of Culture;
• associations registered abroad;
• educational institutions, including music schools;
• charities;
• commercial companies.

Local or municipal orchestras, marching bands and choirs are only eligible for this subsidy under certain conditions, as listed under ‘Special subsidies’.

Eligible projects

The Ministry of Culture will only provide financial support for projects which spotlight artistic creation.

The Ministry of Culture subsidy may be granted for the following projects (non-exhaustive list):

• productions in the visual arts;
• non-fiction, artistic or cultural publications;
• compositions and sound recordings;
• artistic audiovisual productions that are atypical, experimental or innovative;
• creations and productions of shows;
• season lineups;
• cultural outreach projects or knowledge transfer projects (lectures, conferences, visits, tours, workshops, etc.);
• public cultural events (concerts, shows, exhibitions, talks, festivals, get-togethers, etc.);
• multidisciplinary projects.

Ineligible projects

The Ministry of Culture will not award this subsidy for:

• projects which conform to the objectives of a different financing package offered by the Ministry of Culture, such as grants or calls for projects;
• projects funded by the Film Fund Luxembourg;
• projects funded by Kultur | lx;
• acquisitions, equipment or infrastructure costs;
• employees’ salaries;
• projects which are not culturally orientated, or where the cultural aspect is merely ancillary;
• charity projects or fund-raising drives;
• commercial projects;
• ceremonial events (ceremonies, galas, banquets, etc.);
• projects undertaken as part of school or university work;
• the production of commemorative monuments or plaques;
• tourist projects;
• projects of a religious, proselytising or political nature;
• projects to which the public will not have widespread access.

Special subsidies

Any cultural association that is celebrating an important anniversary (25^th, 50^th, 75^th, 100^th, 125^th, etc.) and which has been continuously active since its founding, may apply for an anniversary subsidy in the amount of EUR 1,500. This subsidy may be combined with subsidies for other projects.

Local or municipal orchestras, marching bands and choirs are only eligible for this subsidy in the following 3 circumstances:

• an anniversary subsidy, as described above;
• a EUR 3,500 subsidy to commission a piece of music from a Luxembourgish composer, or a composer residing in Luxembourg;
• a subsidy for a co-production (a joint creation of a specific musical project) with a foreign ensemble.

Selection criteria

The Subsidies Committee will assess each application on its merits, its coherency, and the credibility both of the project and of the project owner. In order to qualify for financial support from the Ministry of Culture, the project must meet a number of criteria in relation to quality, accessibility and viability.

In particular, the Committee will assess:

• the project’s contribution to Luxembourg’s cultural offering:
  • its contribution to developing a diverse and high-quality cultural offering;
  • the emergence of new artistic creations and cultural trends;
  • the consolidation of artists’ careers;
  • the cultural grounding of the project owner and the artist(s);
  • the experience of those involved;
• the project owner’s organisational skills:
  • the coherence of the projected budget (expenditure and funding);
  • the achievability of the planned schedule;
  • the involvement of local partners and grounding in a particular area;
  • the network dynamic;
  • the project owner’s experience;
• access to culture for the public and the benefits for the artistic scene:
  • the public interest and accessibility;
  • the development of new audiences;
  • the sustainability and credibility of the impact targets;
  • the project owner's grounding in the local or regional cultural scene;
  • collaboration with Luxembourg artists.

Particular attention is paid to the remuneration of the artists involved, and access to culture for all. The Ministry of Culture encourages the use of the Kulturpass, and lower prices for those in need, but also recognises that there is value in the creation: due justification should be provided for universal free access if a cultural event is to be supported by a subsidy.

N.B.: Cultural grounding implies a regular, significant and lasting cultural activity which has helped to forge links with the audience in Luxembourg, and a network comprising local and/or regional cultural players.

Deadlines

Complete subsidy applications (the form + all required supporting documents) must be submitted to the Ministry of Culture at least 2 months before the beginning of the project. Applications filed after that deadline may be denied. Applications filed after the project has been completed will not be considered.

For inclusion on the agenda of the next meeting of the Subsidies Committee, applications must be filed at most 5 working days before the date of the meeting. After that point, the application will automatically be added to the agenda of the committee's next meeting.

Complete applications that are filed within the required time frame will be forwarded automatically to the Subsidies Committee, which will rule on its eligibility.

How to proceed

Filing an application

The application for the subsidy must be filed:

• online via MyGuichet.lu with or without a LuxTrust product (a Smartcard, Token, Signing-Stick) or electronic ID card (eID) (see ‘Forms / Online services’); or
• using the MyGuichet.lu mobile app.

It is important for applicants to choose the form that matches their category. Before filing the application, you should prepare the requisite supporting documents to be attached, in .jpg or .pdf format – namely:

• a detailed budget;
• a financing plan;
• a CV for each of the artists involved: only necessary if you are unable to provide links to one or more websites showcasing their artistic careers;
• a rundown of the association’s cultural programmes: a link showcasing the association’s cultural activities.

You also have the option to attach any further documentation you believe would be helpful in assessing your application.

The duly completed and signed form, along with all the uploaded documents, will be forwarded to the Ministry of Culture.

Once the application has been received, the Ministry of Culture will send the applicant one of the following documents:

• either a confirmation of receipt, if the application is complete;
• or a letter listing the documents that still need to be submitted in order to complete the application.

Any questions can be addressed to subsides@mc.etat.lu.

Subsidies Committee

The Subsidies Committee – which comprises senior management staff and staff from the cultural and financial departments of the Ministry of Culture – will assess each application for a subsidy against the eligibility and assessment criteria concerning both the applicant and the project.

The members of the advisory body are: Vesna Andonovic, Nadine Erpelding, Josiane Geisler, Alix Glück, Joé Haas, Josée Hansen, Claudine Hemmer, Cédric Kayser, Julia Kohl and Sophie Lammar.

Meeting dates for 2023:

• 19 April;
• 10 May;
• 14 June;
• 12 July;
• 13 September;
• 11 October;
• 13 December.

The advisory body will issue an opinion on whether an application is eligible for a subsidy, and if necessary, on the amount to be granted. The applicant will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

Meetings of the Subsidies Committee are not open to the public. Committee members are bound by strict confidentiality rules in relation to the processing of applications.

The committee members undertake to examine the files and assess each application with impartiality and integrity.

Amount of subsidy

The subsidy is granted in the form of a direct payment of financial aid to the beneficiary, as soon as possible. Depending on the nature of the project, a performance guarantee may be granted.

The financial support granted by the Ministry of Culture takes account of the scope of the project and the expenses required for its implementation, but usually will not exceed 60 % of the total cost of the project. However, in exceptional cases, when justified by the nature or scope of the project, the committee reserves the right to exceed that threshold. The applicant must contribute at least 5 % of the total amount.

The Ministry of Culture can grant these subsidies for projects which are already receiving another form of State aid.

The amount of the subsidy that is granted will depend on the annual budget allocated to the Ministry for the provision of aid to cultural projects, and on the number of eligible applications.

Obligations on the applicant

Recipients of a subsidy are required to satisfy several conditions:

• the subsidy may only be used to cover costs and expenses in connection with the project for which the application was submitted;
• all presentation, information and advertising documents – including websites – intended for the public and produced after the granting of the subsidy must bear the statement 'With the support of the Ministry of Culture', along with a copy of the Ministry’s logo;
• the applicant must inform the Ministry of any major changes to the project.

Legislation, safety and ethics

By submitting their application to the Ministry of Culture, the project owner undertakes to comply with the law, safety standards and the below-mentioned fundamental principles. Failure to comply with one or more of the following points may lead to the rejection of any of the applicant’s future financial aid applications.

The applicant undertakes to:

• have obtained all necessary authorisations in advance, and comply with the legislation in force applicable to the project, including on freedom from discrimination, freedom of expression, intellectual property and copyright laws, and the legislation on the processing of personal data;
• comply with the Labour Code and ensure that any person carrying out paid work in the context of the project has an employment contract or an agreement, and is insured in accordance with the applicable norms;
• have familiarised themselves with, and where applicable, complied with, the safety, accessibility and hygiene measures required for public events;
• preserve public areas, limit potential nuisances impacting the surrounding area, and minimise the environmental impact.

In addition, the Ministry of Culture asks that recipients of its subsidies:

• take account of people with special needs and ensure that the project minimises the number of barriers to accessibility, insofar that the availability of facilities and the organiser’s capabilities permit;
• ensure access to all, without discrimination. An age limit may be imposed, depending on the nature of the project;
• for events that are open to young children, ensure changing facilities are available and easily accessible;
• ensure access to all members of the press, without discrimination.

Forms / Online services

Who to contact