Call for Projects: Aschberg Programme for Artists and Cultural Professionals

The UNESCO-Aschberg Programme Call for Projects 2025 invites applications from governments, public institutions, and civil society organizations to strengthen the status, rights, and mobility of artists while safeguarding artistic freedom globally. Applicants can request up to USD 50,000 to implement projects addressing fair remuneration, gender equality, digital transformation, emergency support, and market access for artists, particularly from the Global South.

Programme Overview

The UNESCO-Aschberg Programme aims to protect and promote artists and cultural professionals worldwide by addressing vulnerabilities and structural challenges faced in the cultural and creative industries. The programme supports projects that:

• Ensure freedom of artistic creation and fair remuneration

• Safeguard mobility, association, and socio-economic rights of artists

• Promote participation in cultural life

• Enhance market access, especially for artists from the Global South

• Address gender equality and inclusion

• Respond to challenges related to digital transformation and AI

• Support artists in emergency situations

This initiative aligns with UNESCO’s strategic priorities, including Africa, gender equality, Small Island Developing States, youth, and inter-sectoral cooperation.

Funding Details

• Maximum funding per project: USD 50,000

• Support is available for capacity-building, advocacy, research, policy development, and direct support initiatives

• Priority is given to innovative, rights-based, cost-effective, and sustainable projects

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• National and local governments

• Public institutions

• Civil society organizations

Projects should demonstrate:

• Clear purpose and objectives

• Strong partnerships

• Alignment with UNESCO priorities

• Contribution to inclusive and sustainable cultural ecosystems

Why This Programme Matters

Artists and cultural professionals face ongoing precarity, including lack of:

• Legal recognition

• Fair remuneration

• Social protection

• Freedom of expression

The programme addresses these challenges by supporting initiatives that:

• Safeguard the status of the artist globally

• Strengthen resilience and mobility of cultural professionals

• Promote inclusive cultural development

• Advance international standards from the 1980 Recommendation on the Status of the Artist and the 2005 Convention on Cultural Diversity

How to Apply

1. Identify a Project Focus: Select activities that support artists’ rights, mobility, and inclusion.

2. Define Objectives: Ensure clarity on expected outcomes, beneficiaries, and impact.

3. Develop a Budget: Request up to USD 50,000 with a cost-effective plan.

4. Build Partnerships: Collaborate with relevant institutions, governments, or civil society organizations.

5. Prepare Application: Submit a project proposal detailing scope, methodology, outcomes, and alignment with UNESCO priorities.

Eligible Activities

Projects may include:

• Capacity-building programs for artists and cultural professionals

• Advocacy and monitoring initiatives

• Research and policy development in arts and cultural rights

• Direct support for artists at risk, including emergency interventions

• Market access programs, particularly for artists from the Global South

Key Considerations

• Demonstrate clear and measurable impact

• Align with UNESCO’s strategic priorities

• Ensure innovative and sustainable project design

• Prioritize rights-based approaches to artist protection

• Highlight gender equality, inclusion, and digital transformation components

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Lack of clarity on objectives and outcomes

• Weak or missing partnerships

• Budgeting that exceeds the USD 50,000 limit

• Proposals not aligned with UNESCO priorities

• Insufficient emphasis on artist protection, rights, or emergency support

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can apply?

National governments, public institutions, and civil society organizations are eligible.

2. What is the maximum funding per project?

Up to USD 50,000.

3. Are individual artists eligible?

No. Applications must be submitted by governments, institutions, or organizations.

4. What types of projects are prioritized?

Projects that promote artistic freedom, fair remuneration, mobility, inclusion, and emergency support for artists.

5. Can projects address digital and AI challenges?

Yes, initiatives responding to digital transformation or AI in the cultural sector are encouraged.

6. Are projects from the Global South prioritized?

Yes. Projects that enhance market access and mobility for artists from the Global South are given preferential consideration.

7. Can emergency support for artists be funded?

Yes, projects supporting artists affected by crises or emergency situations are eligible.

Conclusion

The UNESCO-Aschberg Programme 2025 empowers institutions to protect and strengthen artists’ rights, mobility, and resilience worldwide. By funding innovative, rights-based projects, the programme contributes to inclusive, sustainable, and culturally diverse ecosystems, addressing both structural vulnerabilities and immediate needs of artists and cultural professionals.