Call for Projects for Individuals: Prize Jacqueline Nonkels 2026 (Belgium)

Deadline: 30-Nov-2026

The Prize Jacqueline Nonkels is an annual Belgian award providing €10,000 to support projects that preserve, research, restore, and promote Belgian surrealist heritage. It funds exhibitions, publications, conservation work, education, and institutional initiatives. The prize prioritizes cultural impact, public engagement, and long-term sustainability of surrealist heritage.

Prize Jacqueline Nonkels — Support for Belgian Surrealist Heritage

The Prize Jacqueline Nonkels is a cultural funding award dedicated to preserving and promoting Belgian surrealist heritage through research, conservation, and public engagement. It is awarded annually with a €10,000 grant for selected projects.

Purpose of the Prize

The prize ensures Belgian surrealist heritage remains preserved, accessible, and actively studied.

Key objectives:

• Preserve surrealist artworks, archives, and cultural sites
• Restore damaged or fragile works
• Support academic research and publications
• Promote exhibitions and public engagement
• Improve education and cultural dissemination
• Strengthen long-term visibility of surrealism in Belgium

What the Prize Supports

Research and Publications:

• Academic studies on Belgian surrealism
  • Art history research
  • Archival discovery projects
• Catalogues, essays, and critical editions

Exhibitions and Public Programs:

• Museum exhibitions
  • Thematic surrealism exhibitions
• Public installations and cultural events
• Educational outreach programs

Conservation and Restoration:

• Restoration of artworks and objects
  • Paintings and mixed-media works
• Preservation of archives and documents
• Protection of surrealist heritage sites

Education and Institutional Work:

• Workshops, lectures, and seminars
• University and museum collaborations
• Public awareness initiatives

Who is Eligible?

The prize is open to a wide range of applicants.

Eligible applicants:

• Individuals
  • Researchers
  • Curators
  • Artists
  • Historians
• Legal entities
  • Museums
  • Foundations
  • Cultural institutions
  • NGOs
• International applicants
  • Allowed if project benefits Belgian surrealist heritage

Eligibility requirements:

• Clear link to Belgian surrealism
• Demonstrated cultural or academic value
• Realistic planning and budgeting
• Strong dissemination strategy
• Long-term relevance and sustainability

Evaluation Criteria

Projects are assessed using multiple criteria.

Academic and cultural value:

• Innovation in research or interpretation
  • New perspectives on surrealism
• Contribution to surrealism studies
• Relevance to rediscovered or newly studied works

Public impact:

• Accessibility to audiences
  • On-site visitors
  • Digital audiences
• Educational engagement
• Cultural visibility

Feasibility:

• Realistic timeline
  • Phased project planning
• Budget accuracy
• Management capacity

Sustainability:

• Long-term continuation potential
  • Archival preservation
  • Institutional integration
• Cultural legacy
• Ability to inspire future projects

Relevance:

• Alignment with anniversaries or exhibitions
• Urgency of preservation needs
• Contemporary cultural significance

Why It Matters

The Prize Jacqueline Nonkels plays a key role in preserving Belgium’s surrealist tradition.

It:

• Protects national and international cultural heritage
• Encourages new research and interpretations
• Improves museum and archival accessibility
• Strengthens public engagement with surrealism
• Ensures continuity of surrealist cultural memory

How It Works

Step-by-step process:

1. Project development
   • Define objectives and relevance to surrealist heritage
2. Application submission
   • Include proposal, budget, and timeline
3. Jury evaluation
   • Review cultural value and feasibility
4. Selection process
   • Best proposals awarded funding
5. Funding allocation
   • €10,000 prize granted
6. Project execution
   • Implementation of activities
7. Public dissemination
   • Results shared through exhibitions, publications, or programs

Common Mistakes

• Weak link to Belgian surrealist heritage
• Vague or unmeasurable goals
• Unrealistic budgets or timelines
• No dissemination or public outreach plan
• Lack of sustainability strategy
• Poor documentation of cultural impact

Tips for a Strong Application

• Clearly define cultural contribution
• Include measurable outcomes
• Emphasize originality and innovation
• Add strong dissemination strategy
• Demonstrate long-term impact
• Build institutional partnerships

FAQ

What is the Prize Jacqueline Nonkels?

• It is a Belgian cultural award supporting surrealist heritage.
  • Focus areas:
    • Research and academic studies
    • Conservation and restoration
    • Exhibitions and public programs
    • Education and outreach

What is the prize amount?

• The award provides €10,000 funding.
  • Purpose of funding:
    • Project implementation
    • Research support
    • Public dissemination activities

Who can apply?

• Individuals and organizations are eligible.
  • Individuals:
    • Researchers
    • Curators
    • Artists
    • Historians
  • Organizations:
    • Museums
    • NGOs
    • Cultural foundations
  • International applicants:
    • Allowed if supporting Belgian surrealism

What types of projects are eligible?

• Projects must relate to surrealist heritage.
  • Eligible categories:
    • Research and publications
    • Exhibitions and installations
    • Conservation and restoration
    • Education and institutional initiatives

What are the selection criteria?

• Projects are evaluated on:
  • Cultural value
    • Innovation and originality
  • Public impact
    • Audience reach and accessibility
  • Feasibility
    • Budget and planning realism
  • Sustainability
    • Long-term cultural impact

Can international projects apply?

• Yes, international projects are eligible.
  • Conditions:
    • Must benefit Belgian surrealist heritage
    • Must improve visibility or preservation

Why is Belgian surrealism important?

• Belgium has a globally significant surrealist tradition.
  • Importance includes:
    • Major contributions to surrealist art history
    • Influential artists and movements
    • Strong museum and archival collections
    • Ongoing cultural and academic relevance

Conclusion

The Prize Jacqueline Nonkels ensures the preservation and promotion of Belgian surrealist heritage through funding research, exhibitions, conservation, and educational initiatives. It strengthens long-term cultural visibility and supports new interpretations of surrealism for future generations.

For more information, visit King Baudouin Foundation.