Call for Proposals: Spaces of Culture 2026

Deadline: 21-Jun-26

The Spaces of Culture 2026 call, launched by EUNIC (EU National Institutes for Culture), is now open for innovative cultural relations projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme supports Africa-Europe co-creation, cultural exchange, and fair partnerships through triangular collaborations involving local cultural/civil society actors, EUNIC members, and EU Delegations, with grants of up to €50,000 and a required minimum 5% co-funding.

About Spaces of Culture 2026

Spaces of Culture 2026 is the second call for proposals under EUNIC’s initiative to strengthen Africa-Europe cultural relations through:

• Co-creation
• Cultural exchange
• Dialogue
• Mutual listening
• Joint capacity building

The call supports projects to be implemented across Sub-Saharan Africa, with a strong focus on ethical, fair, and locally relevant partnerships.

Its broader goal is to strengthen:

• Continent-to-continent cooperation
• People-to-people exchange
• Collaborative cultural production
• Innovative international cultural relations practices

Funding at a Glance

• Programme Name: Spaces of Culture 2026
• Launched By: EUNIC (EU National Institutes for Culture)
• Geographic Focus: Sub-Saharan Africa
• Maximum Grant Amount: €50,000
• Co-funding Requirement: Minimum 5% from partners or third parties
• Project Type: Cultural relations and co-creation projects
• Application Format: One application per triangular partnership

What Types of Projects Are Supported?

The call supports a broad range of innovative cultural relations projects.

Eligible thematic areas include:

• Arts
• Creative industries
• Digitalisation
• Education
• Gender
• Heritage
• Human rights
• Social inclusion
• Sports
• Sustainability
• Tourism
• Youth
• Other relevant cultural or social themes

Projects should demonstrate:

• Innovation
• Relevance to the local context
• Fair and ethical partnership models
• Meaningful collaboration between European and African actors

Partnership Requirement (Very Important)

Projects must be submitted by a fully engaged triangular partnership.

Required partnership structure:

• At least 3 local cultural or civil society partners from the relevant country/countries
• At least 3 full EUNIC members
• Active EU Delegation involvement

Special flexibility:

• In countries where no EUNIC cluster exists, the requirement may be reduced to 2 full EUNIC members

This structure is central to eligibility and should be clearly reflected in the proposal.

Key Program Priorities

The programme strongly values projects that:

• Promote co-creation and co-production
• Strengthen Africa-Europe cultural cooperation
• Include less represented local partners
• Encourage participation from a broad range of EU Member States
• Support free artistic expression and speech
• Create opportunities in fragile or illiberal contexts
• Widen access to culture for underserved communities

Priority inclusion groups may include:

• Youth
• Persons with disabilities
• Communities in remote areas
• Communities in fragile contexts

Project Formats Allowed

The call is flexible in terms of design and delivery.

Projects may include:

• In-person activities
• Digital projects
• Hybrid formats
• Research activities
• Feasibility studies
• Capacity-building components
• Preparatory collaboration work

This flexibility is especially useful for partnerships testing new cultural cooperation models.

Alignment with Global Goals

Projects are expected to explicitly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This means proposals should ideally show how cultural relations work contributes to broader goals such as:

• Inclusion
• Equality
• Education
• Sustainable communities
• Rights and participation
• Social cohesion

Who Should Consider Applying?

This call is especially relevant for:

• Cultural organizations
• Arts collectives
• Civil society groups
• Heritage institutions
• Creative sector networks
• Youth-focused organizations
• Inclusion and human rights organizations
• EUNIC members and clusters
• Cross-border Africa-Europe cultural partnerships

Tips for a Strong Proposal

• Build a genuine triangular partnership from the start
• Show strong local ownership and co-creation
• Demonstrate why the project is relevant in the specific local context
• Include partners who are less represented in Africa-Europe cultural relations where possible
• Highlight innovation in format or partnership model
• Show clear contribution to the SDGs
• Include accessible and inclusive approaches for underserved groups
• Make the 5% co-funding clear and credible

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Spaces of Culture 2026?

It is an EUNIC funding call supporting Africa-Europe cultural relations projects in Sub-Saharan Africa through collaborative and locally grounded partnerships.

2. How much funding is available per project?

Applicants can request up to €50,000 per project.

3. Is co-funding required?

Yes. A minimum of 5% co-funding is mandatory from project partners or third parties.

4. Who must be included in the partnership?

Each application must include a triangular partnership involving:

• Local cultural/civil society partners
• Full EUNIC members
• An active EU Delegation

5. How many local and EUNIC partners are required?

Normally, the project should include:

• At least 3 local cultural or civil society partners
• At least 3 full EUNIC members

In countries without a EUNIC cluster, 2 EUNIC members may be acceptable.

6. What kinds of activities are allowed?

Projects can use:

• In-person formats
• Digital or hybrid approaches
• Research
• Feasibility studies
• Capacity building
• Co-creation and co-production activities

7. Does the project need to align with the SDGs?

Yes. Projects are expected to explicitly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Conclusion

Spaces of Culture 2026 is a strong funding opportunity for organizations building creative, inclusive, and fair cultural partnerships between Africa and Europe. With grants of up to €50,000, flexibility in project design, and a clear emphasis on co-creation, local relevance, and cultural access, it is particularly valuable for partnerships ready to develop impactful cultural relations work across Sub-Saharan Africa.

For more information, visit EUNIC.