1) Who can apply for Culture Programme projects?
Only organisations with legal status and whose work lies in the field of culture can apply.
2) What are the main sectors covered by Culture Programme?
The Culture Programme is characterized by a multi-sectoral approach, covering culture in all of its forms, including performing and visual arts, heritage and literary translations.
3) Which are the eligible countries that can participate in the Programme?
The 27 member states of the European Union, the three EEA/EFTA countries (
4) What actions are funded by the Programme?
The Programme supports three strands of activities: cultural actions; support to European-level cultural bodies; analysis and dissemination activities.
Strand one, Cultural Actions, accounting approximately for about three-quarters of the Programme’s budget, will enable a wide range of cultural organisations coming from various eligible European countries to collaborate on cultural and artistic projects. This strand has five sub-categories:
- Multi-annual co-operation projects, covering a period of three to five years.
- Co-operation measures, covering a maximum period of two years.
- Literary Translation Projects, lasting up to two years, for the translation of literary works from a European language into another European language.
- Co-operation projects with Third Countries, promoting cultural exchanges with countries outside EU, covering a maximum period of two years.
- Special measures, which relate to high-profile actions of considerable scale and scope. The European Capital of Culture event falls under this sub-strand.
Strand two, with about 10% of the Programme’s budget, supports cultural bodies active at European level. This strand is sub-divided in four categories: European Cultural Ambassadors: Advocacy Networks; Festivals; Policy Support Structures for the Culture Agenda.
Support for Analysis and dissemination of information -
For co-operation projects there is a need of at least 3 co-organisers (including the project leader) from at least 3 participating countries. For multi-annual projects there is a need of a minimum of 5 co-oganisers (including a project leader) from at least 5 participating countries.
Translation Projects are an exception: a grant can be awarded to a single publishing house or a group of publishers.
6) How can partners for a project be found?
The best thing is to secure partners that you’ve already worked with. However, if you do not know where to start from, here are two ways of searching for partners:
- You may use the official international Partner Search Database website which is hosted by the Spanish CCP: http://en.www.mcu.es/cooperacion/MC/PCC/BusqSocios/BusquedaSocios.html
- You may prepare a summary of your project in English and send it to the Cultural Contact Point Malta (marika.a.grech@gov.mt). The summary should describe the project’s objectives, planned activities and the role of co-organisers and partners in the project along with contact details. You should consider the summary as publicity for your project and therefore make it as attractive as possible. The summary will be sent to other CCPs in
7) What is the role of the co-organiser in the project and how does it differ from the one of the project leader?
Both the project leader and the co-organisers must have a specific and essential role both in the design and implementation of the project. The mentioned roles must be divided among the different participants. It is essential that all co-organisers and project leader develop the idea into a project together even if the initial idea springs from one co-organiser or project leader. The involvement of all participants must be clearly indicated in the project application.
8) What is the role of the project leader?
The project leader acts as the legal co-signatory of the project and the beneficiary. The project leader has also a co-ordinating role. Moreover, on completion of a project, the project leader must submit an activity report on the results to the European Commission, including final accounts. For multi-annual projects, the project leader must submit an interim report, including interim accounts.
9) How much does the European Commission contribute and how much must the participants contribute?
For co-operation projects the Commission may give up to 50% of the total budget (amounting between 50,000 and 200,000 euros for the whole project). For multi-annual projects it may grant up to 50% of the budget (up to 500,000 euros each year).
The Budget must be balanced, i.e. the total expenditure must equal exactly the total income.
Match funding can include:
- Grants
- Sponsorship
- Sales of products
- Ticket sales, etc
Contributions in kind are ineligible.
When filling in the application form, a list of grants must be secured towards match funding. For all sources of funding, a written statement signed by each co-funding institution must be provided, even for sources of funding which are still pending.
At the time of application, it is recognised that not all grants have been secured. It is acceptable to list applications that have been made with as much detail as possible about the amount applied for, the date when the decision is expected, etc.
Culture is a centralised programme so the project applications have to be submitted directly to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency in
The technical checking part is made by the Commission. Any application which is not filled accordingly will not be eligible to pass for selection.
A jury of independent experts, evaluate each project individually through a system of points.
Generally, from the time of submission of the application to the selection/refusal of projects and the issuing of contracts, the process takes around 5 months.
It is important to mention that the CCP cannot have any say in the choice of the selected projects.
A cooperation project has to be carried out within a period of 24 months. However, there is no minimum requirement for its duration. It must begin by a specific date mentioned in the call for application.
Multi-annual co-operation projects must last for a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years and must begin by the date mentioned in the call.
With regards to the period of eligibility of expenditure of the project, this lasts from the date of the signing of both parties of the contract awarded. No income or expenditure incurred before the official start date of the project is eligible to be included in the project budget.
No, it cannot. If in any case there will be a source of revenue from activities taking place as part of the project, then there should be an estimated amount of that income included as part of the budget proposal contribution of the project.
If during the course of the project the actual total cost incurred is less than the total estimated cost, the Commission will reduce its contribution proportionally. If a project makes a financial profit, the funds awarded by the Commission must be repaid to the level of the profit realised.
The administrative staff costs of the project must not exceed 20% of the total amount of all direct expenditure.
You can use the costs of staff already employed by your organisation only if:
- These costs are incurred exclusively in implementing the project;
- The accounting and payroll systems of the relevant co-organisers can clearly isolate and demonstrate the percentage of staff time, and relevant amounts, devoted to the implementation of the project.
Yes, it is possible for an applicant to be a lead organizer or co-organizer in more than one project at the same time, but only if such projects are dissimilar and about completely different activities. Any one project can receive only one EU grant, so it has to be absolutely avoided any overlapping regarding the match funding.