New Cultural Funding Specifically for the Balkans

HESinfo

10 October 2006

The European Cultural Foundation (ECF), Hivos (the Dutch Humanist institute for cooperation with developing countries) and the Open Society Institute (OSI) have launched a new fund for cultural cooperation projects in and with South East Europe.

The Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture is specifically aimed at cultural projects by applicants from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo/a.

The fund is managed within the ECF's grants programme and follows its guiding principles but with a special focus on the Western Balkans. The first deadline was 1 July 2006. As from now on, the deadlines are aligned with the ECF grants programme (next round 1 March 2007). ECF received 65 applications during the first round and awarded 6 grants. See overview of awarded grants.

To find out whether your project is eligible for support please follow step by step the Application guide (guidelines, eligibility tc...). Apply now at www.eurocult.org.

Examples of the kind of projects that will be supported are: artistic projects, cultural and media initiatives, seminars, training, capacity building, cultural research and strategies for cultural policy development. Grants will be awarded to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with a track record of high quality work predominantly in the cultural sector.

Seeding funds will also be available to less established organizations which have demonstrated their potential but lack the necessary resources to develop cross-border or regional initiatives.

More information on organizations backing this call for proposals, visit their respective web-sites, Hivos and Open Society Institute.