Culture for Inclusion Call: 2024 Up Grants

Deadline: 18-Mar-2024

The new edition of the microgrants programme is out and open to all socio-cultural centres based in a country joining the Creative Europe Programme.

In this edition of Up Grants, they are seeking to support socio-cultural centres (and other cultural organisations with a strong community focus) that are running or planning to launch impactful projects that promote inclusion. The programme will boost your initiatives by enhancing their impact and increasing their visibility. Up Grants goes beyond merely collecting existing good practices: it actively seeks to propel them forward for continued development. If your socio-cultural centre is currently undertaking or planning to undertake a project that promotes innovative practices in inclusion and community engagement, they invite you to showcase it by applying for Up Grants funding.

The Strands

In order to be eligible, your project needs to fit in one of these four thematic strands:
- Strand 1: E-inclusion and Digital Accessibility
  - This strand supports actions implemented by socio-cultural centres aimed at creating digital interfaces (applications, tools, websites etc) that accommodate an entire community to the greatest extent possible, irrespective of factors like ability, age, location, language, education, literacy, culture, and economic situation.
- Strand 2: Building Inclusive Narratives
  - This strand supports actions that craft inclusive narratives by incorporating diverse characters, countering stereotypes, respecting different cultures and prioritising authenticity in storytelling, or education and training actions that provide for cultural workers on how to adapt content for maginalised groups. Applicants should provide a set of indicators that demonstrate their commitment to inclusivity.
- Strand 3: Identification and Removal of Barriers for Marginalised Groups
  - This strand encourages projects actively identifying and addressing obstacles affecting marginalised groups. The strand is about creating spaces in which barriers to access are removed or minimised. Applicants should provide indicators of their project’s commitment to and impact on inclusion and access.
- Strand 4: Equality and Diversity Criteria in Boards and Management
  - A board is the governing body of an organisation: it sets the organisation’s strategy based on its core values. This strand is about building inclusive boards and management teams to achieve diversity in various dimensions which extend beyond gender and ethnicity. Some additional aspects to consider for a more comprehensive approach to inclusion are: age, ability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, socio- economic status, linguistic barriers. Applicants will be asked to provide indicators of how their organisation works towards achieving inclusive and accessible managerial positions for marginalised groups. (i.e., diverse recruitment, transparent promotions, mentorship and cultural competence training, etc).

What’s in it for my organisation?

All eligible submissions, including those not selected for the grant, will be included in a comprehensive database on the ENCC website. This database will not only offer visibility at national and international levels, but also serve as a valuable resource for sharing and learning from diverse experiences in the field. The four winning organisations stand to benefit in several ways from participating in the Up Grants scheme.
- Financial assistance: Four selected projects will be awarded a grant of €3500 each, providing financial assistance for the implementation and development of their initiatives.
- Showcasing best practices: The four selected best practices will be prominently featured on the website and various communication channels. This exposure will not only highlight their achievements but also inspire others in the socio-cultural sector.
- Participation in the annual conference: One representative of each successful project will be invited to join the annual conference in Riga, Latvia in June 2024, providing a platform to share experiences, network, and contribute to the broader discourse on socio-cultural initiatives for accessibility and inclusion. There they will be asked to organise a workshop related to the supported project. Travel costs will be covered as well as two nights of accommodation, together with the ticket to attend the whole event. NB: in case they cannot attend, grant winners will be asked to produce a video-summary of their project to be showcased at the event.

Eligibility Criteria

The Up Grants micro grant scheme is open to all socio-cultural centres (and other cultural organisations with a strong community focus) based in a country joining the Creative Europe Programme. All ENCC members, members of members, and any other non-profit socio-cultural centres are welcome to submit one or multiple proposals.

Criteria

Presented projects must:
- Fit one of the four strands;
- Be innovative;
- Contribute to awareness building and/or reach a wide community or a new type of target group;
- Include a clear assessment of their impact through the use of quantitative and qualitative indicators relevant to the specific initiative.
Priority will be given to initiatives that:
- Engage the local community, citizens and organisations working in other sectors, highlighting the networking aspect of the practice;
- Involve wider audiences and promote cooperation beyond cultural centres territorial development and civic participation;
Organisations are invited to explain the additionality provided by the Up Grants (that is, why the grant provided would make a difference in relation to the project).