THE HAGUE – The Dutch Foundation for Literature has approved 25 projects under its new Literatuur Caribe grant program, aimed at supporting writers and literary organizations in the Dutch Caribbean. Nineteen individual creators and six organizations will receive funding, out of a total of 47 submitted applications. The full list of selected projects is available on the foundation’s website.
The Literatuur Caribe scheme was launched in September 2024 to encourage and support literary development in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. The program accepts a wide range of projects, including novels, poetry collections, spoken word performances, and graphic novels. With an annual budget of €300,000, individual applicants may receive up to €25,000 per project, while organizations can receive up to €50,000.
A particular focus of the initiative is to promote literature in Papiamentu and Papiamento, with the goal of expanding the presence and accessibility of these languages in the literary world. Applications for funding can be submitted at any time.
The first application window ran from September 23 to November 1, 2024. The second round opened on February 4, 2025, but closed early on February 20 due to high demand and rapid exhaustion of available funds. The next application deadline is set for October 6.