Fertile Ground 2024

We have seen that while access to trust-based funding gives freedom to develop their independent arts practice, we need to offer more than financial investment to be able to sustainably support these individuals. We therefore invest in local infrastructures these emerging practitioners depend upon, to will ensure the growth of the Seed Awardees in the long run. Therefore, in this new pilot programme we provide key organisations in the Global South, working in specific regions and disciplines support to work with Seed Awardees, to offer them a platform to showcase their work, to participate in residencies or workshops, to provide them with access to new connections and mentors to catalyse their professional development. The enthusiasm of the Hawthornden Foundation about the Fertile Ground programme led to them granting 300.000 Euros support for the next 3 years to enable us to include literary organisations. In 2023 we have selected another 4 organisations within this pilot programme which we see as the start of building a sustainable ecosystem, through which we can support our partners and create opportunities for our ever-growing network.