Call for proposals: Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture launches « Spaces of Culture » 2026

Deadline |

Cultural and civil society organizations across Sub-Saharan Africa are invited to apply for the « Spaces of Culture » funding scheme. Part of the broader Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme funded by the European Union, this initiative seeks to foster innovative, co-creative projects that strengthen cultural relations between the two continents.

The « Spaces of Culture » programme, managed by EUNIC (EU National Institutes for Culture), has officially opened its 2026 call for proposals. With a financial envelope of EUR 350,000, the scheme aims to support seven distinct projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, offering grants of up to EUR 50,000 per project.

What Kind of Projects?

​The call is open to a wide range of formats, including festivals, performances, exhibitions, artist residencies, and digital or hybrid initiatives. Projects can focus on various sectors such as:

• Arts and creative industries. ​
• Heritage and digitalisation. ​
• Education, youth, and gender. ​
• Social inclusion and human rights. ​

The « Triangular Partnership » Requirement​

A unique feature of this call is the mandatory triangular partnership. Every application must represent a collaboration between: ​

1. At least three local cultural/civil society partners from eligible Sub-Saharan African countries.
2. ​At least three EUNIC members (national cultural institutes or EU Member State embassies).
3. The relevant EU Delegation(s) in the concerned country(ies). ​

The programme emphasizes « fair collaboration, » encouraging partners to engage in mutual listening, learning, and co-creation on an equal footing.

Selection Criteria and Eligibility

​Proposals will be evaluated based on their relevance to the local context (25 points), partnership setup (20 points), innovation (20 points), and foreseen impact (20 points). Special attention will be given to projects that widen access to culture for youth, people with disabilities, and communities in fragile or rural areas.

Key Dates to Remember​

• 30 April 2026: Recommended deadline to submit a 1-page concept idea to potential partners.
• 21 June 2026 (23:59 CAT): Final deadline for submission of full proposals. ​
• 1 September 2026: Start of the implementation period (ending 31 August 2027). ​

Applications must be submitted in English using the official templates available on the EUNIC website. While the submission must be in English, evaluators have stated they will focus on the substance and ideas rather than linguistic accuracy.

For more details and to download the application package, interested organizations should visit https://eunic.eu/news/spaces-of-culture-2026

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