Deadline: 16-Apr-2026
Culture Helps Solidarity invites Ukrainian arts and culture professionals to apply for grants aimed at rebuilding community connections and supporting displaced persons. Grants up to €7,000 are available for projects focused on resilience, creativity, and healing through cultural practices.
About
The Culture Helps Solidarity initiative invites arts and culture professionals from Ukraine to apply for project grants designed to support creativity, resilience, and community connection during and after the ongoing war. This program, co-financed by the European Union via Creative Europe, is implemented by the European Cultural Foundation in partnership with Insha Osvita (Kyiv), zusa (Berlin), and the VETERANKA Movement (Kyiv). Running until 2028, the program offers individual grants, thematic project grants, and collaboration grants.
Key Objectives
This call focuses on several core objectives:
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Strengthening Community Connections: Support for people affected by the war in Ukraine, including displaced persons, refugees, and veterans.
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Rebuilding Trust: Use cultural and artistic practices to create meaningful encounters, rebuild social trust, and foster solidarity.
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Supporting Vulnerable Groups: Special focus on veterans, women veterans, and individuals facing social fragmentation or emotional strain due to war.
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Participatory Cultural Formats: Encourage the use of socially engaged, dialogical, and collaborative art forms to create safe spaces for emotional healing and shared experience.
Why This Program Matters
The war in Ukraine has caused forced displacement and social fragmentation, resulting in the emergence of new forms of distance and trauma. Many communities continue to navigate transition and displacement, with individuals forming new relationships while coping with deep emotional and structural challenges. This initiative recognizes the critical need for healing and reconnection in such difficult times, positioning cultural practices as tools for rebuilding trust and community bonds.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include:
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Individuals over the age of 18 from Ukraine or any Creative Europe country.
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Civic, public, or private organizations based in Ukraine or Creative Europe countries working within the cultural, creative, or civil sectors.
Eligibility Criteria
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Projects must focus on community rebuilding, cultural engagement, and solidarity.
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Proposals from political parties or those focusing solely on humanitarian aid or cost-of-living support are not eligible.
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Application must be submitted in either English or Ukrainian and must include:
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A completed application form.
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A project budget.
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Grant Details
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Grant Amounts: Up to €7,000 per selected project.
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Eligible Costs:
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Production, marketing, rental and operational costs, IT tools, materials, travel expenses, honoraria, expert fees, legal services, and other project-related costs.
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Co-Financing: While co-financing is not mandatory, applicants are encouraged to limit the grant request to 80% of the total project budget.
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Project Duration: Projects can run for up to 6 months, with activities starting no earlier than 1 July 2026.
Why This Fund Is Important
This grant program plays a vital role in using artistic practices to address the ongoing emotional and social challenges faced by Ukrainian communities. The initiative supports vulnerable groups and fosters solidarity, leveraging cultural activities to rebuild trust and resilience in times of uncertainty and trauma. By promoting dialogue, participation, and collaboration, the program helps heal the social fabric of war-affected communities and strengthens their path toward recovery.
FAQs
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Who is eligible to apply?
Individuals over 18 years old and civic or cultural organizations from Ukraine or Creative Europe countries. -
What is the maximum grant amount?
Grants of up to €7,000 are available. -
What types of projects are eligible?
Projects focused on rebuilding community trust, supporting displaced persons, and fostering solidarity through cultural practices and dialogical art forms. -
What costs can be covered by the grant?
Production, travel, marketing, expert fees, operational costs, and other justified project-related expenses. -
Can I apply for co-financing?
Co-financing is not mandatory, but applicants are encouraged to request no more than 80% of the total project budget. -
When do applications open and close?
Applications open on Tuesday 3 February 2026 and close on Tuesday 17 March 2026. -
What languages can the application be submitted in?
Applications can be submitted in English or Ukrainian.
Conclusion
The Culture Helps Solidarity program offers essential grants to Ukrainian arts and culture professionals, supporting projects that rebuild community connections, foster solidarity, and promote healing through cultural practices. With a focus on participatory and collaborative art forms, this initiative provides critical support to strengthen resilience and creativity in Ukraine’s most vulnerable communities.
For more information, visit European Cultural Foundation.