{"id":3147,"date":"2026-01-22T13:05:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T11:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/?p=3147"},"modified":"2026-01-29T23:48:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T21:48:59","slug":"culture-helps-solidarity-open-call-for-collaboration-grants-first-round-january-march-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/culture-helps-solidarity-open-call-for-collaboration-grants-first-round-january-march-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Culture Helps Solidarity: Open Call for Collaboration grants \u2014 first round, January-March 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Culture Helps Solidarity\u00a0supports\u00a0arts and\u00a0culture professionals\u00a0from Ukraine\u00a0to sustain creativity, resilience, and community connection during and after the war.\u00a0Running until 2028,\u00a0it\u00a0combines three\u00a0grant schemes (individual\u00a0grants,\u00a0thematic\u00a0project\u00a0grants\u00a0and collaboration grants)\u00a0and\u00a0a rich\u00a0programme\u00a0of\u00a0mentoring, learning, and\u00a0peer\u00a0exchange.\u00a0Culture Helps Solidarity is\u00a0co-financed by the EU through Creative Europe and\u00a0implemented\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/culturalfoundation.eu\/\">European Cultural Foundation<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(Amsterdam) with\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Insha\u00a0Osvita<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(Kyiv),\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/zusaculture.org\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">zusa<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(Berlin), and the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/uwvm.org.ua\/en\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">VETERANKA\u00a0Movement\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(Kyiv).\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This open call is the first of two calls for proposals for collaboration grants. At least 15 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">international\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">projects will be awarded in each round. It offers EUR 20.000 to EUR 30.000 for crossborder cultural collaborations that aim to improve access to culture and to support the integration of<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in\/from Ukraine into their host communities, with particular attention to vulnerable groups such as veterans<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u202f<\/span><b>What are we looking for?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This call for proposals seeks to support collaborative projects between at least two organisations in Ukraine and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creative-europe.lu\/creative-europe-desk-luxembourg\/useful-links-2\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creative Europe countries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> respectively, that work with culture to improve access to cultural participation and support the integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees into their host communities &#8211; with particular attention to vulnerable groups such as veterans, and their mental well-being.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It prioritises partnerships between Ukrainian-led organisations, whether based in Ukraine or operating in exile, and non-Ukrainian organisations, especially from neighboring Creative Europe countries.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through these collaborations, the call aims to foster:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cross-border networking, the exchange of professional experience and good practices,\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stronger capacities for intercultural dialogue and mental health support, and\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the professional development of cultural managers in line with EU standards,\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">while highlighting a culture of solidarity in shaping a European future for Ukraine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><b>What do we offer?\u202f<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Fund has grants available in two amounts:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">up to \u20ac20.000 for partnerships of two organisations;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0up to \u20ac30.000 for partnerships of three or more organisations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to 9 grants are available in each category. Applicants must clearly indicate in their applications which grant amount they are applying for.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grants can cover a large variety of costs including production costs, marketing and advertising costs, rental and running costs for studios and cultural venues, IT, communication and production tools and materials, and &#8211; upon special request and where appropriate (e.g. when lost\/destroyed) &#8211; purchase of other goods, means, or services necessary for the implementation and execution of the project.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grants can also be used to cover travel costs, expert fees, artists&#8217; honoraria, legal services, staff- and operational costs. However, these amounts must all be proportionate and justifiable.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although co-financing is not mandatory, it is recommended that the grant is used to cover a maximum of 80% of the total project budget.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project timeline may be up to 12 months. Activities related to the project may not take place before the start date (1 June 2026).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The submission deadline for proposals is Tuesday, 31st March 2026, 13:00 Amsterdam time\/ 14:00 Kyiv time.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; font-size: 12pt;\"><b>In search of a project partner? Join our online matchmaking event and platform!<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are offering a digital matchmaking platform and an online matchmaking event and info session for organisations interested in applying and in search of suitable partners. Registered applicants will be invited to create their digital profiles before the event highlighting their main interest<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and needs in relation to the call. At the<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">online event, participants will have the opportunity to attend different info and networking sessions and move to one-on-one exchanges on the details of the partnership. We invite you to look out for further announcements<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and the link to register on our website and social media channels.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The online event will take place on\u202fThursday, 19<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span> <b>February 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at 14:00 Amsterdam time\/ 15:00 Kyiv time.\u202f We invite you to look out for further announcements<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and the link to register on our website and social media channels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><b>Eligibility criteria:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Applications must be submitted in English and must include a complete application form and budget;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Applicants must be above 18 years old and must demonstrate a sufficient level of English to work and communicate effectively in English;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The call is open to collaborations of at least two organisations, with the lead applicant submitting the proposal, and entering into a grant agreement in case the proposal is selected;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least one partner must be a civic, public or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">private (private organisations must have a non-commercial status and must be able to prove the project\u2019s charitable status) <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">organisation with a legal status in Ukraine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0&#8211;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">active in Ukraine or in exile and operating in the cultural, creative or civil sector;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least one partner must be a civic, public or private<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> organisation with a legal status and active in one of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/creative-europe.lu\/creative-europe-desk-luxembourg\/useful-links-2\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creative Europe countries<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and operating in the cultural, creative or civil sector;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least one partner must be a cultural organisation <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and\/or <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">actively working with on the integration of displaced persons or refugees from Ukraine into their new living environments and professional realities and communities &#8211; veterans in particular;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposed project must not receive funding from any other Creative Europe scheme;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proposals submitted by political parties will not be considered;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strictly humanitarian initiatives or individual requests for cost-of living support will not be considered.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><b>Selection criteria<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u202f<\/span><b>and process:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance to the overall theme and objectives of the call<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Does the project work with arts and culture to improve access to cultural participation and support the integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees into host communities? Does it have a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as veterans and their mental well-being through culture?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quality of partnership<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Does the proposal convincingly demonstrate the partners\u2019 capacities, complementarities between organisations and motivation to collaborate?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Authenticity and experimentation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Does the proposal or the constellation of partners present an authentic and fresh approach?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feasibility and implementation potential<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Does the proposal demonstrate a convincing feasibility and implementation potential, including a balanced and realistic budget?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impact<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Does the proposal demonstrate how it will have a positive impact on the communities addressed? Does it demonstrate a vision for the partnership beyond the project period, and how it will contribute to building long-term cultural relations between the Ukraine and Creative Europe countries and to the broader issues of the European integration of Ukraine?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sustainability<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Does the proposal embody a convincing understanding of environmental sustainability, fair and green transition and the ecological impact of war in particular?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following an eligibility check, applications will be assessed by a team of internal and external experts from a wide range of geographic, cultural and professional areas. Up to 9 projects from each grant category will be selected for support.\u202f\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As part of the grant, awarded partnerships will receive one-on-one mentoring support, will participate in online webinars and community calls as well as one in-person networking meeting. These in-kind support activities are an integral part of the grant, participation in them is therefore compulsory.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><b>Timeline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u202f\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22 January 2026<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">call for proposals open\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19 February 2026<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">info session &#038; matchmaking event\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">31 March 2026<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">call closed\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">End of May 2026<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proposals assessed and selected\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 June 2026<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">start date of selected projects\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autumn 2026<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in-person networking event (date TBC)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">31 May 2027<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">end date of selected projects<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30 June 2027<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">submission deadline for final reports <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><b>How to apply?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find more information -including the budget template- and submit your application via this link: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/culture-of-solidarity-fund.grantplatform.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/culture-of-solidarity-fund.grantplatform.com\/<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop their proposals through human expertise, critical thinking, and artistic or professional judgment. Proposals that rely primarily on AI-generated content or concepts are discouraged and may be given lower priority in the assessment process.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should you have further questions, please contact us at <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chs@culturalfoundation.eu<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201cCulture Helps Solidarity \/ \u041a\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0443\u0440\u0430 \u0434\u043e\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0430\u0433\u0430\u0454: \u0421\u043e\u043b\u0456\u0434\u0430\u0440\u043d\u0456\u0441\u0442\u044c\u201d is a project co-funded by the EU Creative Europe Programme and implemented by\u202fthe European Cultural Foundation (NL), Insha Osvita (UA), zusa\u202f(DE) and VETERANKA Movement\u202f(UA). <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Culture Helps Solidarity\u00a0supports\u00a0arts and\u00a0culture professionals\u00a0from Ukraine\u00a0to sustain creativity, resilience, and community connection during and after the war.\u00a0Running until 2028,\u00a0it\u00a0combines three\u00a0grant schemes (individual\u00a0grants,\u00a0thematic\u00a0project\u00a0grants\u00a0and collaboration grants)\u00a0and\u00a0a rich\u00a0programme\u00a0of\u00a0mentoring, learning, and\u00a0peer\u00a0exchange.\u00a0Culture Helps Solidarity is\u00a0co-financed by the EU through Creative Europe and\u00a0implemented\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0European Cultural Foundation\u00a0(Amsterdam) with\u00a0Insha\u00a0Osvita\u00a0(Kyiv),\u00a0zusa\u00a0(Berlin), and the\u00a0VETERANKA\u00a0Movement\u00a0(Kyiv).\u00a0\u00a0 This open call is the first of two calls for proposals for collaboration [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3148,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3147"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3163,"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3147\/revisions\/3163"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insha-osvita.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}