Deadline: 11-Sep-23
The new edition of the Culture of Solidarity Fund welcomes European transnational collaborative initiatives that address the theme of just transition and environmental sustainability from a specific cultural angle.
Funding Information
- The Fund has grants available in three amounts:
- up to €10.000
- €10.000 – 20.000
- €20.000 – 30.000
- Grants can be used to finance a wide range of activities, from seeding entirely new initiatives to scaling up existing ideas to a European level.
- The complete timeline of awarded projects may be up to 12 months.
What are they looking for?
- The call is open to organisations based in Europe and actively engaged in the cultural, creative, or allied sectors. In keeping with the mission to create solidarity through culture, the Fund specifically welcomes actions in line with the theme of this call that forge European transnational and/or trans local collaborations, and thereby build cross-border alliances of solidarity.
- For this edition, they are looking for new ideas and experimental initiatives that address just transition from an inherently cultural angle by:
- raising public awareness of the complexities and urgencies of adapting to climate change and other environmental emergencies in a systemic way;
- reinforcing democratic decision-making processes against growing political polarisation by creating a safe environment for open communication, candid exchange and respectful dissent on these issues;
- designing creative solutions for changing ecosystems;
- encouraging holistic working approaches and culture-driven cooperation between public and private stakeholders who are key actors in social and economic transformation.
What can culture do to further just transition?
- Social Justice, equity and rights: The dependence of the current economic model on fossil fuels has prolonged and sharpened social inequalities and disparities within Europe: income inequality, access to resources, healthcare, and education, as well as security issues and overall quality of life.
- Polarisation of opinions and political radicalisation: All over Europe, the public discourse around climate change and green transition is increasingly confrontational, ideologically charged, and emotionally triggering, making it virtually impossible for those who believe and those who deny the scientific evidence to engage in meaningful and respectful debate about the future.
- Traditional regional and job-related identities: Many European localities and professional communities that have traditionally relied on CO2 emitting industries such as coal mining, car manufacturing or intensive farming may have a strong cultural attachment to these activities, especially in more remote, disadvantaged, or rural areas.
- Employment and job loss: Transitioning to a sustainable economy often involves job losses due to the closure or downsizing of CO2-emitting industries. This can pose significant cultural challenges to community cohesion and local economies.
- Local knowledge and expertise: Most fossil fuel-dependent manufacturing and agricultural regions in Europe possess specific knowledge and technological expertise related to their industries. Preserving and utilising this local knowledge maintains a sense of cultural continuity during just transition and can be essential for the success of new sustainable economies.
Eligible Countries
- Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Palestinian Territories, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications must be submitted in English and include a complete budget;
- The call is open to civic, public, or private organisations with legal status that operate in the cultural and creative or other sectors of society, including education and academia, health and social care, environment, human rights, social entrepreneurship, rural development, spatial planning, social entrepreneurship, etc;
- Applicants can be based anywhere in Europe or its immediate neighbourhood. All proposals, however, must address the overall theme of the call, i.e. challenges related to just transition;
- They do not accept proposals submitted by political parties. The work is strictly nonpartisan.
For more information, visit European Cultural Foundation.