Understanding BIS Funding: What Cultural Organizations Need to Know About the 3 Codes & Compliance in 2025
How the Netherlands' largest cultural funding program is transforming fair practice standards—and what it means for your organization
The Big Picture
If you're leading a cultural organization in the Netherlands, you've probably heard about BIS funding. But what exactly is it, and why is everyone suddenly talking about Fair Practice Code compliance?
Starting January 1, 2025, the rules have fundamentally changed. Let's break down what this means for cultural organizations—whether you're already BIS-funded, aspiring to be, or simply want to align with sector best practices.
What is BIS?
BIS stands for "Culturele BasisInfraStructuur" (Cultural Basic Infrastructure)—the Netherlands' premier funding program for cultural organizations.
Think of BIS as the backbone of Dutch cultural life. It's the four-year funding cycle that supports major theaters, orchestras, museums, festivals, and development organizations across the country.
The Numbers (2025-2028):
€559 million annual budget
117 organizations selected for BIS funding
306 additional organizations funded through Rijkscultuurfondsen (national cultural funds)
4-year funding cycle (providing crucial stability)
423 total multi-year grants awarded
This isn't just grant funding—it's core operating support that allows cultural institutions to plan long-term, take creative risks, and serve their communities with confidence.
What Changed in 2025?
The 2025-2028 BIS period marks a watershed moment for fair practices in the Dutch cultural sector. For the first time, compliance isn't optional—it's mandatory.
The Three Codes Requirement
As of January 1, 2025, all BIS-funded organizations must demonstrate adherence to:
Fair Practice Code - Fair compensation, social dialogue, and ethical working conditions
Code Diversiteit en Inclusie - Diversity, equity, and inclusion across all dimensions
Governance Code Cultuur - Strong governance and organizational oversight
This requirement is evaluated under the assessment criterion "Maatschappelijke betekenis" (Social Significance)—meaning your fair practice compliance directly impacts your funding eligibility.
The Five Assessment Criteria
BIS funding decisions are based on five equally weighted criteria:
1. Artistieke en/of Inhoudelijke Kwaliteit (Artistic/Content Quality)
Your core work must be excellent. This is non-negotiable—quality remains the foundation.
2. Maatschappelijke Betekenis (Social Significance)
This is where Fair Practice Code lives. Your organization must demonstrate:
How you apply the Fair Practice Code principles
Your commitment to diversity and inclusion
Strong governance practices
Goals for continued improvement during the 4-year period
3. Toegankelijkheid (Accessibility)
Are your programs accessible to diverse audiences—physically, economically, culturally, and socially?
4. Bedrijfsmatige Gezondheid (Business Health)
Financial stability, sound management, and organizational resilience matter.
5. Geografische Spreiding (Geographic Distribution)
Cultural excellence should be available throughout the Netherlands & beyond, not just in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Den Haag.
Why This Matters (Even If You're Not BIS-Funded)
You might be thinking: "We're not a BIS organization, so why should we care?"
Here's why compliance matters for every cultural organization:
1. It's Becoming the Sector Standard
What's mandatory for BIS today often becomes expected practice across the sector tomorrow. Municipalities, provinces, and other funders are watching—and adopting similar requirements.
2. It Strengthens Your Organization
Fair practice isn't just about compliance—it makes your organization more resilient, ethical, and effective. Organizations with strong fair practice foundations:
Attract and retain better talent
Build stronger community trust
Reduce legal and reputational risks
Create more sustainable business models
3. It Improves Your Funding Prospects
Whether you're applying for BIS in future cycles, seeking provincial funding, or applying to Rijkscultuurfondsen—demonstrated Fair Practice Code compliance strengthens every application.
4. It's the Right Thing to Do
Beyond funding requirements, fair practice reflects the cultural sector's commitment to treating artists, workers, and communities with dignity and respect.
The Compliance Challenge
Here's the uncomfortable truth: compliance is hard.
BIS organizations must:
Demonstrate adherence across all 3 codes (Fair Practice, DEI, Governance)
Provide evidence through policies, contracts, and financial records
Set improvement goals for the 4-year funding period
Track and report on progress
For many organizations, especially smaller ones, this creates significant administrative burden:
❌ Manual document review (days of work)
❌ Complex cross-referencing between multiple frameworks
❌ Difficulty tracking compliance over time
❌ Risk of missing key requirements
❌ Expensive consultants needed for assessment
❌ Unclear how to demonstrate "sufficient" compliance
Looking Ahead: The Future of Cultural Funding
The 2025-2028 BIS period is just the beginning. Here's what we're seeing:
Short Term (2025-2026)
Platform ACCT continuing ketentafel discussions to refine sector fee standards
Raad voor Cultuur advising on governance improvements
Municipalities adopting similar fair practice requirements (following VNG guidance)
First progress reports from BIS organizations showing compliance efforts
Medium Term (2027-2028)
Fair practice becoming normalized across the sector
Data-driven insights revealing sector-wide patterns and progress
Best practices emerging from organizations leading the way
Next BIS round planning (2029-2032) with likely stricter requirements
Long Term (2029+)
Fair practice as baseline expectation for all cultural funding
Integration with sustainability reporting (CSRD, VSME)
Automated compliance becoming standard practice
Cultural sector as model for fair practices in creative industries
Four Actions You Can Take Today
Whether you're BIS-funded or not, here's how to start strengthening your fair practice:
1. Assess Where You Are
Honestly evaluate your current practices across the five Fair Practice principles. Where are you strong? Where are the gaps?
2. Compare Your Artist Fees
Look at the Platform ACCT fee tables. How do your current rates compare? What would it cost to close the gap?
3. Document Your Policies
If you don't have written policies for fair compensation, governance, or DEI—start creating them. Even basic documentation is better than nothing.
4. Join the Conversation
Participate in sector meetings, and peer learning opportunities. Fair practice improves when we learn together.
The Bottom Line
With 117 BIS organizations required to comply, 306 additional Rijkscultuurfondsen recipients encouraged to follow suit, and municipalities increasingly adopting similar standards, Code compliance is becoming the new normal.
The question isn't whether your organization will need to demonstrate compliance to all three codes—it's when, and how easily you'll be able to do so.
Organizations that embrace this shift now—using smart tools, building strong foundations, and genuinely committing to fair, diversity, inclusion and governance practices—will be the ones that thrive in this new landscape.
Resources
Want to learn more?
About Relevé: We're building AI-powered sustainability and compliance tools specifically for the cultural sector. Our mission is to make complex frameworks like Fair Practice Code accessible to organizations of all sizes—so you can focus on creating great culture, not managing compliance paperwork.
Questions about BIS funding, Fair Practice Code compliance, or becoming an early adopter? Drop us a line at hello@relevee.nl