Deadline: 29-Oct-23
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has announced an open call for the Youth Inter-Cultural Arts Fund (YIAF) to strengthen the capacity of youth across the ethnic divide to promote inter-ethnic dialogue, civic values and combat discrimination through arts-based activities and inter-cultural initiatives.
The YIAF will distribute grants to selected CSOs working with boys and girls and cultural organizations with a strong track record in the areas of youth empowerment and the promotion of civic values through the arts and inter-cultural activities.
Priorities
- The priorities of the YIA Fund are:
- To strengthen inter-ethnic relations and co-operation among youth of different language and cultural backgrounds through joint activities;
- To instil mutual respect and combat ethnic stereotypes and prejudices by developing a sense of community and belonging;
- To raise awareness about the importance of civic engagement as a tool for integration;
- To promote the arts as a medium for cross-cultural communication and mutual understanding.
Building New Bridges
- The Building New Bridges (BNB) project builds on the 2014-2021 Building Bridges Fund (BB) which introduced a model for integrated education in North Macedonia by supporting schools, municipalities and civil society organizations (CSOs) to pair children of different backgrounds and languages through joint extra-curricular activities.
- This new project further aims at building inclusive societies that cherish and take pride in cultural pluralism and respect for tolerance, dialogue and co-operation, in a climate of mutual trust and understanding as the best guarantees of social peace and security.
- The BNB is currently supported by the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Funding Information
- Under the 2nd call for proposals, the YIAF provides grants up to 5000 Euro for eligible CSOs/cultural entities and municipalities for project proposals implemented between February 2024 and January 2025.
Project Activities
- Eligible activities should aim towards:
- Fostering common civic values;
- Encouraging inter-ethnic socialization;
- Promoting tolerance through the arts and cultural initiatives. Possibilities are endless and no strict limits are set as long as project participants and beneficiaries with different languages of instruction are actively engaged and bridges are being built.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include civil society organizations, cultural entities/foundations and municipalities.
- The YIAF will distribute small grants to selected CSOs, youth centres, cultural centres and other legally registered entities (e.g., municipalities) in the Republic of North Macedonia with a proven track record in the areas of youth empowerment and the promotion of civic values through the arts and inter-cultural activities. Funded project proposals will be administered directly by awarded CSOs, contracted by the Mission as Implementing Partners and managed in accordance with OSCE administrative guidelines and regulations on Implementing Partners.
- If funded, at the beginning of project activities each grant recipient is requested to carry out a baseline survey to measure the initial degree of social cohesion among participating boys and girls. Specifically, the survey is intended to measure perceptions of belonging, inclusion, tolerance and participation as important domains of social cohesion. The survey will be developed by the BNB Unit and carried out by grant recipients as implementing partners. Participants will be assured of confidentiality of the information provided in the survey.
- All data will be securely stored and maintained within the Mission’s server. The findings of the baseline survey will feed into the final self-evaluation report.
For more information, visit OSCE.