The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development is committed to supporting activities in the field of culture and development. Although based in Amsterdam, the organization is able to grant awards, fund innovative cultural activities, and produce publications on a global scale. The Prince Claus Fund is dedicated to support people and organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Yearly, the organization awards artists, thinkers and cultural organizations for outstanding quality of work that has a positive effect on a wider or cultural field.
Besides awarding monetary gifts on a yearly basis, the Prince Claus Fund began the Cultural Emergency Response in reaction to the 2003 looting of the National Museum of Baghdad. The first project helped to refurbish the reading room at the University Library in Baghdad. The CER consistently strives to provide global first aid for cultural heritages that have been destroyed by man made or natural disasters.
The organization in general believes that cultural emergency relief is an integral part of humanitarian emergency relief. Emergency first aid, cultural activities and awards are continually awarded to those whom understand the necessity to sustain and develop culture. And because there are so many cultural issues to address, the organization limits its contribution (for each action) to a maximum of 25,000 euros.
