The Ministry of Culture awards subsidies to one or more projects taking place during the calendar year in Luxembourg.

This subsidy is intended for natural persons, as well as collectives, groups and artistic ensembles, which are not legally listed as an assocation, active in the following fields:

• visual arts, architecture, design, artisanry;
• circus arts and street art;
• audiovisual art production, art film and essay film;
• dance;
• literature;
• music;
• cultural heritage, history, folklore;
• sociocultural subjects;
• theatre and performing arts;
• interdisciplinary subjects.

This subsidy is intended to help create conditions in which artists can carry out their work freely and autonomously.

The Ministry of Culture focuses on projects that will grant everyone access to culture and particularly supports initiatives that are innovative and original. Special attention is paid to projects centred on the creation of art with a strong regional, national or international influence.

Who is concerned

Eligible persons

This subsidy is intended for natural persons who are Luxembourg nationals or residents, and who are active in the culture sector, as well as collectives, groups and artistic ensembles which are not legally listed as a non-profit association.

The subsidy is not aimed at:

• non-Luxemburgers residing abroad;
• communes;
• associations and establishments benefiting from an agreement with the Ministry of Culture;
• sole proprietorships;
• commercial companies;
• foreign associations; school establishments;
• charities.

Eligible projects and events

The Ministry of Culture may award subsidies for persons carrying out the following culture sector projects in Luxembourg (non-exhaustive list):

• special cultural events;
• artistic professional development (cohesive, long-term projects including the production of artwork, marketing campaigns, activities to develop international presence and expand foreign audiences, etc.).

In addition, the following types of projects are also eligible:

• in the fields of visual arts, architecture, design and artisanry:
  
  • exhibitions;
  • catalogues and other publications.
• in the fields of audiovisual art production, art film and essay film:
  • exhibitions;
  • the production of art films and unusual, experimental or innovative projects (art and essay film);
• in the field of dance: the choreography of original work;
• in the field of literature:
  • educational projects to promote reading;
  • the publication of works of exceptional national importance;
  • authors' readings;
• in the field of music:
  • commissioned compositions;
• in the fields of theatre and performing arts:
  • theatrical productions;
  • events for children and young adults;
• in interdisciplinary, social and educational fields, as well as in the fields of cultural heritage, folklore, history and interculturalism:
  • educational cultural projects;
  • creating shows;
  • exhibitions.

Ineligible projects

The Ministry of Culture does not award subsidies to individuals for the following culture sector projects in Luxembourg:

• projects and events that meet the selection criteria for a different grant awarded by the Ministry of Culture;
• projects and events with no artistic or cultural dimension;
• projects and events intended to raise funds for charity;
• projects and events commissioned by an association or establishment that is party to a convention with the Ministry of Culture;
• projects and events that form part of a primary school, secondary school or university curriculum;
• acquisitions of property and material, existing projects or instruments;
• honorarium and per diem fees covered by the Ministry of Culture;
• projects funded by Luxembourg's FilmFund, such as the creation of music clips;
  
• the construction, acquisition, rental or renovation of rehearsal spaces;
• projects in tourism;
• projects of a cultural, proselytising or political nature.
  

Deadlines

Individuals wishing to receive this subsidy must submit a complete application postmarked no later than 2 months before the beginning of the project. Applications submitted after the project execution will be rejected.

To be on the agenda of a meeting of the Ministry of Culture's advisory body, a complete application must have been received by the "guichet subsides" at least 5 working days before the meeting in question (the dates of the meetings are available below in the section "How to proceed").

How to proceed

Filing an application

Applications must contain the application form for a subsidy for individuals carrying out culture sector projects, in addition to the following documents:

• an itemised estimated budget for the project for which the application is being submitted;
• a schedule indicating the stages of the project;
• a detailed curriculum vitae, signed and declared to be true and faithful;
• photos, recordings or copies of the works produced;
• a press kit;
• any other supporting documentation that may be useful for the application.

Applicants must complete the application form:

• using a computer;
• in French, German, Luxembourgish or English.

Individuals must send the duly completed and signed form together with all the required documents to the Ministry of Culture by post, or by email to subsides@mc.etat.lu.

Once it has received the application, 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 still to be submitted in order to complete the application.

Selection criteria

The Minister of Culture's advisory body, composed of officials from the Directorate and the Cultural and Financial Services of the Ministry of Culture, evaluates each application according to the following evaluation criteria:

• the project's innovative character and artistic quality: i.e. the unique and innovative aspects of the project as described in the application. Applicants should show how the project supports the production of quality original art;
• the project's role in the applicant's career: i.e. how the project in question fits into the project owner's professional artistic development;
• project management and feasibility, i.e. how well-conceived the project is. Applicants should include a clear and precise description of the different project phases from concept to implementation;
• the project budget plan: i.e. an estimated budget that is detailed, realistic and clear. Applicants should show that the requested subsidy is crucial to the project. Applicants must list all other sources of funding (public and private). Applicants are encouraged to seek sources of funding in addition to public subsidies;
• audience development: i.e. how the project will find and reach its audience, which should be clearly explained in the application for a subsidy. Will the impact be local, regional, national or international?;
• they must provide proof of their experience and involvement in the culture scene: i.e. the applicant's past experience organising similar projects by submitting supporting documents such as press kits.

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 Magalie Tasch.

The advisory body meets about once a month. For 2023, it will meet on the following dates:

• 11 January;
  
• 1 February;
  
• 15 March;
  
• 19 April;
  
• 10 May;
  
• 14 June;
  
• 12 July;
  
• 13 September;
  
• 11 October;
  
• 8 November;
  
• 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 awarded. The Ministry will inform the applicant of its decision by post.

Amount of subsidy

Subsidies awarded in the form of a direct payment of public financial aid to the beneficiary, usually before the project is carried out.

The subsidy will be transferred to the beneficiary as soon as possible.

Subsidies awarded by the Ministry of Culture will generally cover no more than 60% of the total cost of the project for which the application was submitted.

Obligations on the applicant

Recipients of a subsidy are required to meet the following obligations:

• they may only use the subsidy to pay costs and expenses related to the project for which the application was submitted;
• all materials provided to the public for the purpose of presentation, information or advertising, including the website, must show the following note "Avec le soutien du ministère de la Culture" (Supported by the Ministry of Culture) together with the Ministry's logo.

In addition, applicants must send the Ministry of Culture a report form and all requested documents no later than 3 months after the project is completed.

Forms / Online services

Who to contact