I amsterdam - Cultural Policy

Binding Communities
The City of Amsterdam values the arts as a way to bind communities together - stimulating cultural and economic development in its own right. The cultural policy of the city of Amsterdam has been developed by the Arts & Culture arm of the Welfare Department, which clearly promotes a policy that nurtures this belief into reality, not only relying on the historical culture embedded in its surroundings, but supporting current cultural developments in the city. It's main objectives are:

• Development of the city's arts and culture policy.
• Promotion of cultural life.
• Granting subsidies to museums, theatres, concert halls and other cultural establishments.

Funding
The Arts & Culture office of the Dienst Maatschappeiljke Ontwikkeling (Department of Social Development) provides funding through the Art Fund for a very broad selection of areas in the arts: performing arts, fine arts, photography, design and architecture, writing, film and amateur art. It subsidises projects, awards, finances and supports commissions and awards Amsterdam art prizes. Funding is also provided for an abundance of amateur as well as established arts, including: stage arts, film, museums, festivals, galleries, art leasing programmes, and public libraries, among many other areas. The arts sector provides employment for more than 12,000 people in Amsterdam. Some 2,000 artists live in the city, and more than 3,000 students follow courses at the art and music academies.  

Pillar of Society
The cultural policy has clearly been paying off: the City's 2003 'Cultural Monitor'  from the Department of Cultural Development reveals that Amsterdammers themselves boast the highest arts participation rate for the entire country: 84% of adult Amsterdammers and 96% of the children in Amsterdam enjoy the various theatres, museums, galleries, cinemas and festivals the city has to offer.

Department of Social Development
The Dienst Maatschappelijke Ontwikkeling (DMO) active covers policies in six areas: Higher Education, Youth, Assimilation & Integration, Sport and Recreation, Art & Culture, and Health & Social Welfare. For more information on these policies, contact DMO at:

Address: Gebouw Metropool
Weesperstraat 101
Tel: +31 (0)20 552 2222
email: info@dmo.amsterdam.nl