Heinz Kaempfer Fund

The Heinz M. Kaempfer Fund was founded in 1989 with the aim to promote and make accessible the study of the Japanese fine and applied arts through, among other means, the provision of financial support for young scholars.

The Fund was named after Heinz Kaempfer (1904-1986), former secretary and chairman of the Society for Japanese Arts. From the 1950s onwards Kaempfer played a prominent role in the promotion and appreciation of Japanese art in the Netherlands. He was involved in several of the Society's publications and exhibitions. On his 75th birthday Kaempfer, was honoured with a collection of articles, A Sheaf of Japanese Papers, with contributions by scholars from all over the world.

Portrait of Heinz Kaempfer
Heinz Kaempfer

Purpose of the Fund

The Heinz M. Kaempfer Fund aims to promote the study of the Japanese fine and applied arts, and the publication of research results through the provision of financial support for young scholars.

  • The Fund provides financial support for publication and/or the acquisition of publication permissions for images.
  • The Fund awards grants to young researchers as a contribution towards travel expenses connected to research projects.
  • Grantees will be invited to present the results of their research for publication in Andon, the journal of the Society for Japanese Arts.

Terms and Conditions for applications

Applications for an HKF subsidy must concern projects or activities which contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the Japanese visual, applied, or performing arts.
 
Applications must include a detailed description of the planned project or activity, including, if applicable, the date(s) and location(s) of the activity, the names and contact details of the institutions and/or scholars involved, as well as a list of any further financiers/sponsors.
 
Applications must include a full and detailed budget of all costs involved. This budget must clearly show which costs the applicant wants to cover with HKF funds and which will be covered by other parties.
 
Applications should concern activities (e.g. a conference, study trip, or academic course) or concrete research projects that are yet to take place. Funding cannot be granted once the activity has started or after it has taken place. Likewise, no subsidies can be provided for research projects that have been concluded or are in progress.
 
Purely commercial activities are not eligible for funding.
 
The applicant will be required to submit a brief report of the activity after its conclusion for publication on the HKF website. Quotes from the report may be used by the HKF on social media.
 
Any publications, exhibitions or footage resulting from the activity or project must mention the HKF contribution.
 
Applicants may be given the opportunity to publish (aspects of) their findings in Andon, the journal of the Society for Japanese Art.
 
Please note that the HKF has two deadlines per year: before 1 March or before 1 September. Applicants will be notified of the HKF's decision in the course of March or September. The HKF does not consider any applications in the intervening period, with the exception of applications regarding the acquisition of images for publication. For the latter, and for any further questions you may have, please enquire with our secretary.
 
Payment will, in principle, be made on a fifty-fifty basis, that is, fifty percent of the amount will be paid before the activity takes place and fifty percent will be transferred afterwards.

Recent activities

The Heinz Kaempfer Fund was host and organiser of the following events:

  • Heinz Kaempfer Fund Thesis Award, 2024
  • Seminar New perspectives on (the presentation of) Japanese Art I (with the IIAS), 2023
  • Heinz Kaempfer Fund Thesis Award, 2022
  • Symposium - Topics in Japanese Lacquer Art, Leiden 2017
  • Kunisada Symposium, Leiden 2017
  • Collecting Japanese Art in European Museums, Leiden 2013
  • History and Techniques of Japanese Lacquer art, Amstelveen 2000
Here is a complete overview of activities organised by the fund.
 
Our official policy plan (in Dutch only), can be found here: Beleidsplan

Board of the Heinz Kaempfer Fund

The board consists of:

  • Anna Beerens - Chair
  • Eva Sprinkhuizen - Secretary
  • Christiaan Kamstra - Treasurer
  • Suzanne Klüver
Board members do not receive any financial compensation.

Financial details

Public Benefit Organisation

The Heinz Kaempfer Fund is a so-called ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling; in English: Public Benefit Organisation). Note that natural and legal persons who donate to an ANBI can deduct their gifts from their Dutch income tax or corporate income tax. See the website of the Dutch Tax Office (Belastingdienst) for more information.
 
Our RSIN is: 008466403

Contact details

heinzkaempferfund@societyforjapaneseart.org
 
Please visit the Society for Japanese Arts website for futher details