Evaluation
The Prince Claus Fund mid-term evaluation was begun in 2006 and concluded in the spring of 2007. The Evaluation Committee, chaired by Dutch Central Bank president Nout Wellink, assessed the execution and effects of the Fund’s activities. The outcome of the evaluation was generally very good. The committee was pleased with the Fund’s positive attitude and the large number of activities it takes on with its small staff. The committee also praised the financial management and the organizational transparency of the Fund. A more critical note was sounded by the committee when it came to the Prince Claus Fund Library, for its limited distribution and the collection’s (overly) Western imprint. The Evaluation Committee was impressed by the Fund’s communication results, but recommended that it target more specific groups in future. The committee also noted that Dutch policy makers and politicians show too little interest in the Fund. A number of the recommendations made by the Evaluation Committee were implemented immediately.
Finances
Financially, 2007 was a successful year. The funded activities only slightly exceeded their budget. Overhead costs were kept to a modest 15%.
The Fund received 2,000 applications and requests for information. It honoured 100 projects and 51 travel proposals, bestowed eleven awards and undertook nine Cultural Emergency Response Actions (CER). This year’s allocations were distributed fairly evenly across the Prince Claus Fund themes. Most of the eleven awards went to recipients in the Culture and Conflict category.
In 2007, the Fund received an additional € 200,000 from the thirteenth draw of the Dutch National Postal Code Lottery for the continuation of the CER program in the next five years. Oxfam Novib contributed € 47,000 towards the translation of the Hidden Afghanistan catalogue into the Afghan languages Dari and Pashtu. To finance the Dutch premiere of the Sahel Opera, the Fund raised money from HGIS Culture Fund (joint funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture) and the VandenEnde Foundation.
Relocation
In 2007, the Fund prepared to relocate to a building which is more suitable, both for housing a larger staff and for serving a more public function. The Fund found a new location at Herengracht 603 in Amsterdam. The City of Amsterdam kindly agreed to donate € 150,000 towards the high renovation costs. The actual move will take place in 2008. Therefore, the money reserved for the 2007 relocation is for the most part untouched.
Annual Report
Last year, the Fund participated in the Transparency Contest for Annual Reports. Its annual report received a very low ranking, mainly due to its late publication. The 2006 Annual Report was printed in four languages, hence the delay. The Fund considers it a challenge to achieve a better transparency score in 2008.
The Board
The Board met four times in 2007. Important items on the agenda were the Sahel Opera and the Fund’s evaluation. Members of the Board were also present at various Fund events, such as the Sahel Opera’s African premiere in Bamako, the European premiere in Amsterdam and subsequent performances in Paris; network partner Jant Bi’s Waxtaan dance performance in Amsterdam; and the presentation of the Prince Claus Fund Awards in Amsterdam. The Board would like to thank the Fund’s director and staff for managing to continue all the Fund’s activities despite the extra workload created by the Sahel Opera. The Board has confidence in the continued existence and development of the Prince Claus Fund and sees a bright future for the Fund.
Lilian Gonçalves-Ho Kang You
Chair of the Board of the Prince Claus Fund
