'These consortia will make a strong contribution to the development of the Dutch IX field.'

The first calls from CIIIC — the Innovation Impact Challenge by implementing partner RVO and ADRIE (Artistic & Design Research for Immersive Experiences) by the Creative Industries Fund — have recently opened. In this and future newsletters, as well as on the website, we’ll share insights into how these are progressing. This time, we spoke with Tim Terpstra, project lead at the Creative Industries Fund.

'I have great appreciation for the many organisations in the field that have managed to set up collaborations and draft ambitious plans in such a short time.'

Who exactly are you, Tim? Why are you doing this, and what’s your role within the programme? (And what do you find exciting/fantastic/challenging about it?)

I'm Tim. I have a background as a mediator in art and technology and I'm currently involved as interim project lead for the Artistic & Design Research for Immersive Experiences (ADRIE) programme, part of CIIIC, on behalf of the Creative Industries Fund. Together with the team, we’re now in the process of implementing it.

I'm especially driven to foster transdisciplinary creativity. Immersive experiences play a key role in that, as they spark empathy and offer new perspectives, while also connecting creative disciplines and fields of knowledge. What excites me is the programme’s potential to boost the role of artistic and design-based research, and to strengthen and innovate the sector. What makes it challenging is that things don’t just fall into place with a programme like this—it’s quite different in several ways. One of the ambitions, for example, is to reposition makers by involving them earlier and in more prominent roles in large-scale collaborations with cultural and media organisations and research institutes. The programme also makes space for the international context of the field, which is another exciting dimension.

We’re right in the middle of the first application round for ADRIE. How’s it going so far?

So far, everything’s going well and as expected. I really appreciate the many professionals in the field who’ve managed to initiate collaborations and draft ambitious proposals on such short notice. We're looking forward to reviewing the plans submitted in this round.

Can you give us a peek into the process so far? What have you done, and how did that go?

In 2024, we coordinated closely with organisations across all key sectors of the field, which helped shape the programme as it is now. In early April 2025, we published the grant scheme and soon after organised an information session and a matchmaking event. It’s still a bit early to talk about key learnings, but I’d be happy to share more on that later!

What does ADRIE aim to achieve in the long run? Can you paint a concrete picture?

By 2026, we hope to support ten consortia of meaningful scale—composed of makers, producers, cultural and media organisations, and researchers—who will start their activity programmes in 2026 and 2027. Through artistic and design-based research, they’ll develop new knowledge and skills for creating and applying immersive experiences. These programmes will interweave research, the creative process (design and production), and distribution, exhibition and of course, audience experience. Each consortium will make a strong contribution to the development and renewal of the Dutch IX field.

And the big question: Can people still join? If so, how? If not, when’s the next opportunity?

Absolutely. The current round is open until 23 May 2025, 17:00 CET. In this first round, consortia can apply for funding to develop a two-year activity programme. Later this year, selected applicants will be able to apply for funding to carry out those programmes. A new call will open in the first quarter of 2026—ideal for those who need more time to build consortia. Over the coming months, we’ll work closely with the CIIIC programme team to help makers, researchers and institutions connect in the best possible way. Make sure to read the guidelines carefully, and if you have questions, feel free to reach out to us at adrie@stimuleringsfonds.nl.