2002-12-06 - Netherlands
European Cultural Foundation - Programmes and Grants
ECF is an independent non-profit organisation that promotes cultural co-operation in Europe. It aims to contribute to an open and democratic Europe which respects human and cultural diversity and it also seeks to embed culture in the European agenda.

Three priorities shape our grants and programme activities. Please read more about the priority relevant to your field of interest before proceeding:

Encouraging intercultural dialogue means Europe's many and diverse cultures interacting with one another. It is about making a space for people from different cultural communities to encounter one another, create and innovate.
Stimulating participation through the arts means involving people in making art, and so encouraging them to feel confident, included and active in society. It is about personal transformation and social change.
Strengthening the cultural sector means developing responsive policy frameworks so that cultural activity and cooperation can flourish. It means invigorating the participative approach to cultural policy development.

We also now have a grants line for innovative pan-European activities. Individuals can apply for grants under our Mobility Scheme, in Enlargement of Minds.

WHEN?
Application deadlines
15 January (for projects starting as of April)
15 March (for projects starting as of July)
15 September (for projects starting as of December)

========================
Applying for Action and Information Grants - Practical Guidelines

WHO?
- Who can apply as lead organisations?
Independent cultural organisations (NGOs) from western, central, eastern and south eastern Europe, including Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Russia.
- Who can apply as partner organisations?
Independent organisations from the South Mediterranean (including Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Syria) will be supported as partners in projects submitted by a European NGO.
- How many different countries should be represented in each project?
There is no specific requirement regarding the number of countries that should be represented. Regional and cross-border projects are welcome. However, the ECF will not award grants to local/bilateral projects that could be supported through national or regional funds.
- Restrictions
Student, state and commercial organisations are not eligible for support.

WHAT?
Content
ECF assessors are looking for projects that complement or build on our thematic priorities and programmes. Please ensure you read about programmes and grants before you fill in the application form.
Other key features include:
- Professional standards
- Strong partnerships
- European relevance
- Innovation/Originality
- Impact
- Sustainability
- Concrete results

Restrictions
We do not support school and university exchanges or art therapy. Festivals will only be supported in exceptional circumstances where content fits closely with the ECF’s priority themes. International projects will only be considered if there is a strong European component. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Costs
ECF's grants budget is modest but our aim is to support a wide range of projects, from small-scale grassroots initiatives to higher profile projects with a wide-reaching impact in Europe. Grants awarded by ECF would not usually exceed Euro 40 000 and priority is given to projects that have a balanced range of sources of income, including other partners for funding.

Costs supported by project grants include: international, national and local travel (cheapest economy fare tickets available), visa, meetings, living costs (accommodation and meals for participants), fees for artists, experts, translators or interpreters, professional materials and rental of space and equipment needed for the project. Living costs or “per diems” should be calculated with close consideration of regional economic standards. Other costs can only be included with special prior agreement.

Restrictions
Institutional costs for running the organisation (rent of the organisation’s premises, permanent staff costs, electricity, etc) are not accepted.
ECF cannot fund the total budget of any project.

Kontakt:
European Cultural Foundation
Vanessa Reed
Jan van Goyenkade 5
1075 HN Amsterdam
The Netherlands
tel: +31.20 676 02 22
fax: +31.20 675 22 31
vreed@eurocult.org
www.eurocult.org
Source: Artservis by Alenka Pirman - Slovenia