Deadline: 09-Jun-2026
The Ministry of Culture in Spain has launched a funding programme to support cultural cooperation projects in rural areas. The initiative promotes collaboration across autonomous communities and strengthens cultural ecosystems in rural municipalities through innovation, partnerships, and improved access to cultural activities.
Programme Objective
The main objective is to enhance cultural development in rural Spain by:
- Strengthening collaboration between cultural actors across regions
- Promoting innovation in cultural creation and dissemination
- Improving access to cultural activities in rural communities
- Encouraging citizen participation in cultural life
- Supporting sustainable rural cultural ecosystems
- Building alliances between cultural organisations and professionals
- Enhancing inter-regional cultural communication and exchange
Geographic Scope and Definition of Rural Areas
The programme specifically targets rural municipalities in Spain, defined as:
- Municipalities with fewer than 30,000 inhabitants and a population density below 100 inhabitants per km²
- Municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants regardless of density
Projects may be implemented by organisations located outside rural areas, provided the activities take place within eligible rural municipalities.
Collaboration Requirements
All funded projects must be collaborative and involve:
- At least three different autonomous communities in Spain
- Joint participation of cultural actors across regions
- Shared design and implementation of cultural activities
Eligible collaborators include:
- Cultural companies
- Non-profit cultural organisations
- Self-employed cultural professionals
Focus Areas
The programme supports a wide range of cultural cooperation activities, including:
- Cultural cooperation and co-creation projects
- Innovation in cultural production and dissemination
- Cultural communication between autonomous communities
- Development of territorial cultural ecosystems
- Citizen participation in cultural life
- Expansion of access to cultural activities in rural areas
- Formation of cultural alliances and networks
- Support for rural cultural development initiatives
- Strengthening local cultural infrastructure and ecosystems
Funding Details
- Total programme budget: €708,363
- Maximum grant per project: €120,000
- Funding cap: Up to 80% of total project cost
- Remaining 20% must be covered by applicants (own resources or co-financing)
Eligible Applicants
Eligible entities include:
- Companies in the cultural sector
- Non-profit cultural organisations
- Self-employed cultural professionals registered under the Special Regime of Self-Employed Workers
Applicants must be involved in cultural activities and demonstrate capacity to implement collaborative, multi-regional projects.
Project Requirements
All proposals must:
- Be implemented in eligible rural municipalities
- Include partners from at least three autonomous communities
- Demonstrate collaboration between multiple cultural actors
- Contribute to cultural access, innovation, and ecosystem strengthening
- Show clear cultural and territorial impact
Why This Programme Matters
This initiative addresses cultural inequality between urban and rural areas by strengthening access to cultural opportunities in underserved regions. It promotes decentralised cultural development, supports regional cooperation, and fosters innovation in cultural production. By connecting multiple autonomous communities, it builds stronger national cultural cohesion while revitalising rural cultural ecosystems.
Key Expected Outcomes
The programme aims to achieve:
- Increased cultural activity in rural municipalities
- Stronger collaboration between cultural actors across Spain
- Improved access to cultural experiences in underserved areas
- Enhanced innovation in cultural creation and dissemination
- Development of sustainable rural cultural ecosystems
- Greater citizen participation in cultural life
Conclusion
The Ministry of Culture’s rural cultural cooperation programme supports collaborative, multi-regional cultural initiatives that strengthen access, innovation, and cultural ecosystems across rural Spain. By requiring partnerships across multiple autonomous communities, it promotes cultural exchange, regional cooperation, and long-term sustainability in rural cultural development.
For more information, visit Ministry of Culture.