The Prince Claus Fund stimulates and supports activities in the field of culture and development by granting awards, funding and producing publications and by financing and promoting networks and innovative cultural activities. Support is given to people and organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Equality, respect and trust are the essential parameters of such partnerships; quality and originality are the preconditions of support.

The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and development was established to mark the 70th birthday of H.R.H. Prince Claus of the Netherlands on September 6th, 1996, for the purpose of 'expanding insight into cultures and promoting interaction between culture and development'.

The Fund adopts a broad and dynamic approach to culture, based on the concept of a constantly changing culture. Culture refers both to the way people go about their daily lives and to values and processes of investing life with meaning.

The Fund's chief interest is in the development of ideas and ideals and the manner in which people give form to them.The Fund regards the interaction between culture and development as confirmation of culture's integral role in development processes.

The Fund is aware of the post-colonial situation in which an 'imposed' culture has become part of indigenous culture. This has resulted in cultural activities which generate new ideas and forge new contexts. The Fund recognizes the desire to rediscover and re-evaluate one's own history, while old values are sometimes reinterpreted in new circumstances with new meanings.