Open call: ISPA Netherlands Fellowship

The fellowship provides three-year access to ISPA’s extensive international network of arts professionals to three mid-career leaders from the Netherlands’s performing arts community and one mid-career leader from the performing arts communities in Ghana, Indonesia or South Africa. Participants join the ISPA membership and attend the 2025, 2026 and 2027 New York ISPA congresses where they engage in the development and exchange of ideas with leaders from some of the world’s most significant presenting organisations, producing companies, artist management agencies, cultural policy groups, foundations, festivals and related professionals.

Performing arts professionals who are deeply committed to increasing the global connectivity of the performing arts industry, as well as those who take initiative in their own professional development, are most likely to benefit. In considering applying, please be aware that the ISPA Congress is not a traditional arts market and opportunities for self-promotion are limited.

The fellowship consists of four components:

• Fellows gain access to all ISPA member benefits from 2025 to 2027 including year-round digital programming, one-on-one peer consulting, and exclusive content on the ISPA website, newsletter and social media.
• Fellows attend the New York ISPA Congresses (January 2025, 2026 and 2027).
• Fellows attend a one-day seminar prior to the New York congresses where they meet the fellowship cohort and learn through a series of peer-to-peer conversations and workshops.
• Fellows are paired with a current ISPA member at their first New York Congress as part of ISPA’s Community Building Program. Current members welcome fellows to the congress and help facilitate their participation.

Benefits

In 2025, fellows will receive:

• One-year ISPA membership with access to all member benefits.
• Full pass registration to the New York 2025 ISPA Congress (14 to 16 January 2025), including a one-day seminar prior to the congress (13 January 2025).
• Up to $2 375 stipend to assist with travel and accommodation expenses related to attending the New York Congress.

Pending a successful annual review, fellows are eligible to participate for up to two additional years and receive the same benefits as year one of the programme.

Access

For any questions pertaining to access needs and support, contact programme and advancement lead Mara Driscoll at mdriscoll@ispa.org.

Eligibility

The Netherlands Fellowship seeks to engage leaders within the professional performing arts sector in the Netherlands as well as Ghana, Indonesia and South Africa. Three participants must be based in the Netherlands and one participant must be based in Ghana, Indonesia or South Africa and be interested in developing their career through an extended engagement with ISPA.

Applicants must:

• Be permanent residents or citizens of the Netherlands, Ghana, Indonesia or South Africa.
• Be currently working in the performing arts.
• Have a minimum of five years professional experience in the performing arts.
• Have not received an ISPA membership in the past.
• Have the ability to attend and fully participate in ISPA for the next three years.

Application process

Those interested in applying for ISPA’s Netherlands Fellowship must submit an application form online here before 17 May.

The deadline will not be extended and late submissions will not be reviewed.

Read the application guidelines here.

View the original call here.