From January 1st 2013 MEDIA Desk Nederland, SICA and Trans Artists have merged into DutchCulture, the new organization for international cultural cooperation. Cees de Graaff, former director of SICA, is the general director of DutchCulture.

DutchCulture works with - and for - the cultural sector, the government and the diplomatic network both in the Netherlands and abroad. DutchCulture is commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission.

Among other things, DutchCulture provides information on European grants and on artist-in-residences throughout the world, organizes work visits for embassies and foreign experts, collects information on the export of Dutch culture, stimulates collaboration with China, Brazil, Russia and Turkey and coordinates cultural programmes centred on international events.

The organization includes the following desks:

• Foreign Affairs Desk

This desk focuses on facilitating the Dutch embassies abroad, informing international partners about developments in the Dutch cultural field, and stimulates collaborations between the Netherlands and international partners with a visitors program and the Arts Holland Magazine.

• Europe Desk

This desk informs about opportunities to apply for EU funding for projects related to culture, media and citizenship and offers support when applying for funding. The Europe Desk informs the Dutch cultural field about the important developments in European cultural policymaking and brings together the strengths of the Cultural Contact Point (CCP)<http://ec.europa.eu/culture/annexes-culture/doc1232_en.htm>, Europe for Citizens Point (ECP) en de MEDIA Desk Nederland. EUNIC Netherlands is also part of this cluster.

• The SICA Desk

This desk collects information connected to cultural cooperation such as the knowledge databases from the digital Cultural Exchange Platform and the cultural mappings of Brazil, Turkey and China. ‘Buitengaats’ is also part of this desk; a database where all data related to Dutch cultural activities abroad is gathered.

Next to that this desk realizes manifestations such as NLRF2013.

• Cultural Heritage Desk

This desk informs the Dutch field of cultural heritage on developments in international policy-making, and stimulates collaboration within the international field of cultural heritage. The Cultural Heritage desk manages the international visitors program and the Matching Fund in the framework of ‘Gemeenschappelijk Cultureel Erfgoed. The tasks of the former Erfgoed Nederland are now part of the Cultural Heritage Desk.

• Trans Artists Desk

This desk stimulates and informs about cultural mobility for artists with a strong focus on artist-in-residence opportunities. Here you can find all about facts, use and value of international artist-in-residence programs as well as other cultural opportunities for artists to stay and work elsewhere.