Call for Proposals: Cultural and Creative Organisations in Ukraine

Deadline: 20-Jul-2026

The EU4Culture II programme by the Goethe-Institut invites Ukrainian cultural and creative organisations to apply for Stage I funding of up to €9,000 to develop structured, testable value propositions that strengthen intermediary roles in the cultural and creative sectors. Selected organisations also receive mentoring and may progress to Stage II, which offers up to €60,000 for implementation and scaling.

The EU4Culture II open call, implemented by the Goethe-Institut and funded by the European Union, supports Ukrainian cultural and creative organisations in developing intermediary services and ecosystem-strengthening models.

The programme focuses on improving how cultural organisations support:

• Artists and creatives
• Cultural networks and institutions
• Creative sector development systems

Core Purpose

The call aims to:

• Strengthen cultural and creative ecosystems in Ukraine
• Support intermediary organisations (hubs, networks, platforms)
• Develop structured service and support models
• Improve coordination, advocacy, and sector capacity
• Enable sustainable cultural infrastructure development

Key Focus Areas

Cultural Ecosystem Development

• Strengthening cultural networks and platforms
• Supporting creative sector coordination
• Improving sector-wide communication systems

Intermediary Functions

• Capacity-building for cultural actors
• Advocacy and representation
• Market access support for creatives
• Networking and collaboration facilitation
• Innovation in cultural services

Structural Sector Support

• Addressing systemic challenges in cultural ecosystems
• Supporting underserved geographic or thematic areas
• Enhancing sustainability of cultural organisations

Supported Organisations

Eligible Types

• Cultural networks
• Creative hubs and clusters
• Associations and unions
• Umbrella organisations
• Cultural platforms and alliances
• Advocacy organisations
• Cultural media initiatives
• Creative sector intermediaries

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be legally registered non-profit organisations in Ukraine
• Operate in government-controlled territories
• Be operational for at least 2 years
• Demonstrate administrative and financial capacity

Funding Structure

Stage I Support

• Up to €9,000
• Purpose:
  • Development of structured value propositions
  • Needs assessment and stakeholder mapping
  • Concept development for cultural ecosystem services

Stage II (Conditional Progression)

• Up to €60,000
• Purpose:
  • Testing and implementation of value propositions
  • Refinement and scaling of solutions
  • Long-term sustainability development

Stage I Activities

Selected organisations will work on:

Analysis and Research

• Identifying target groups
• Mapping ecosystem stakeholders
• Conducting needs assessments
• Analysing sector challenges

Concept Development

• Designing value propositions
• Defining intermediary service models
• Structuring proposed solutions

Planning Outputs

• Implementation strategy design
• Impact definition
• Sustainability planning
• Testing methodology

Expected Deliverables (Stage I)

By the end of Stage I, organisations must produce:

• Defined target group(s)
• Clearly identified problem or opportunity
• Structured solution proposal
• Testing and implementation approach
• Expected impact framework
• Sustainability and scaling plan

Implementation Timeline

• Stage I implementation: October 2026 – February 2027
• Stage II (if selected): from April 2027 onwards

Support Beyond Funding

Selected organisations receive:

• Mentoring and advisory support
• Capacity-building assistance
• International networking opportunities
• Strategic guidance for ecosystem development

Assessment Focus

Applications are evaluated on:

• Relevance to cultural ecosystem needs
• Strength of intermediary function
• Quality of proposed value proposition
• Organisational capacity
• Sustainability and scalability potential

Why This Programme Matters

• Strengthens Ukraine’s cultural infrastructure
• Supports long-term creative sector resilience
• Builds professional intermediary institutions
• Enhances access to markets and networks for artists
• Encourages sustainable cultural ecosystem development
• Promotes innovation in cultural support systems

How It Works

Step 1: Identify Organisational Role

• Confirm intermediary function (hub, network, platform, etc.)
• Define sector or geographic focus

Step 2: Analyse Ecosystem Needs

• Conduct stakeholder mapping
• Identify gaps and challenges
• Define target beneficiaries

Step 3: Develop Value Proposition

• Design service or support model
• Define problem-solution structure
• Plan implementation approach

Step 4: Apply for Stage I Funding

• Submit proposal
• Demonstrate organisational capacity
• Align with ecosystem development goals

Step 5: Implementation (Stage I)

• Conduct analysis and development work
• Produce structured value proposition
• Prepare for potential Stage II application

Step 6: Stage II (If Selected)

• Implement and test solution
• Evaluate impact
• Refine and scale model

Common Mistakes

• Applying without clear intermediary role
• Weak or vague ecosystem analysis
• No structured value proposition
• Lack of sustainability planning
• Insufficient organisational capacity evidence

Tips for a Strong Application

• Clearly define your role in the cultural ecosystem
• Focus on real structural sector gaps
• Provide evidence-based needs analysis
• Design scalable and sustainable models
• Emphasise long-term ecosystem impact

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is EU4Culture II Stage I?

• A funding call supporting Ukrainian cultural organisations
  • Focuses on developing intermediary cultural ecosystem models

How much funding is available?

• Up to €9,000 for Stage I
• Up to €60,000 for Stage II (if selected)

Who can apply?

• Non-profit cultural and creative organisations in Ukraine
• Must be registered and operational for at least 2 years

What is an intermediary organisation?

• A cultural entity that supports others in the ecosystem
  • Examples: hubs, networks, platforms, associations

What is the main goal of the programme?

• To strengthen Ukraine’s cultural and creative ecosystem through structured support systems

What happens after Stage I?

• Successful applicants may be invited to Stage II
  • Focus shifts to testing and implementing solutions

What must Stage I deliver?

• A structured value proposition including:
  • Target group
  • Problem definition
  • Solution design
  • Impact and sustainability plan

Conclusion

The EU4Culture II Stage I open call supports Ukrainian cultural organisations in building stronger intermediary roles within the cultural and creative sector. With up to €9,000 in funding, it enables the development of structured, testable value propositions that can later scale through Stage II funding of up to €60,000, strengthening long-term cultural ecosystem resilience in Ukraine.

For more information, visit Goethe-Institut.