Cultural Horizons: Artistic Debuts

Cultural Horizons:Artistic Debuts is a Creative Europe co‑financed cascade funding call implemented by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation in partnership with Cultural Vistas gGmbH to support early‑career Ukrainian artists and recent arts graduates through EU–Ukraine partnerships. Eligible main applicants are Ukrainian legal entities or individual entrepreneurs registered and operating in territory controlled by Ukraine for at least one year, with at least one partner organisation registered in an EU member state; applications are submitted electronically via the UCF portal. The total call budget is €350,000 with individual grants from €5,000 to €14,000 and projects of up to five months’ implementation. The call opened 03 August 2026 and the submission deadline is 05 October 2026 (Kyiv time).

What it funds

Purpose

Small-scale international cultural and artistic projects that support professional development of recent graduates from arts education, foster cooperation between Ukrainian and EU cultural institutions, and promote mentorship, residencies and creative exchanges.

Total call budget:€350,000 (approx. UAH 18,000,000). Individual grants range from €5,000 to €14,000. ¹

Who can apply

Lead applicants must be residents (legal entities or individual entrepreneurs) registered and operating in territory controlled by Ukraine. Projects must include at least one partner organisation registered in an EU member state. EU partners must provide registration documents.

Key dates & duration

1. 1Call opens: 03 August 2026
2. 2Deadline (single-stage): 05 October 2026, 05:00 Brussels time
3. 3Implementation period for successful projects: up to 5 months (start not earlier than 15 March 2027; projects end by 15 August 2027)

Eligibility & practical notes

This is an international cooperation call:main applicant must be Ukrainian and include at least one EU-based partner. Eligible beneficiaries include arts universities, cultural institutions, creative studios, art schools, cultural centres, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs. Required application documents include a project proposal, work plan, budget template and official registration extracts; EU partners must submit certified registration evidence.

More details and application materials are available from the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and the programme pages; online info sessions will be organised. Apply via the programme portal Cultural Horizons Open Call ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Application and full guidelines: Ukrainian Cultural Foundation Cultural Horizons open call page (link above). For questions: programa.coho@ucf.in.ua or horizons@ucf.in.ua.

Key facts and administrative data

Call title:Cultural Horizons: Artistic Debuts. Project acronym: Cultural Horizons. Grant agreement number: 101237681. Call identifier: CREA-CULT (Fostering Ukrainians’ access to culture and cultural heritage). Opening date: 03 August 2026. Deadline (single-stage): 05 October 2026 05:00 Brussels time. Expected duration of funded projects: implementation up to 5 months. Total budget available under this call: €350,000 (equivalent indicated as UAH 18,000,000 subject to InforEuro exchange rate adjustments). Minimum grant per project: €5,000 (UAH 250,000). Maximum grant per project: €14,000 (UAH 715,000).

Call purpose and objectives:The Artistic Debuts call is part of the Cultural Horizons programme. It aims to help recent graduates of arts education institutions establish themselves as practicing artists and cultural professionals; to develop their creative potential; and to enable sustainable cooperation between emerging artists and cultural institutions. The broader Cultural Horizons programme seeks to strengthen EU–Ukrainian cultural sector links, promote mentorship as a professional development tool, and foster professional development of Ukrainian artists and cultural actors.

Eligible applicant types

Primary eligible applicants and partners for this call are specified in the guidelines and the programme documentation. Eligibility emphasizes Ukrainian lead applicants in international cooperation projects partnered with EU-based organisations.

1. 1Lead applicants: legal entities and individual entrepreneurs based and registered in territory controlled by Ukraine and operating in that territory for at least one year at the time of the call launch.
2. 2Partners: organisations registered in European Union member states (legal entities of any ownership form). At least one non-resident partner is mandatory for international cooperation projects.
3. 3Eligible organisations include: arts universities and academies, universities of culture and the arts, higher education institutions offering relevant programmes, providers of non-formal arts education (creative studios, art schools, workshops, cultural and educational centres), cultural institutions, and other cultural organisations.
4. 4Individuals: artists and cultural professionals with Ukrainian citizenship are eligible for certain grant support types (the programme lists mobility, residencies, debuts categories) but the International Cooperation Project modality requires a main applicant that is a Ukrainian resident legal entity or individual entrepreneur acting as lead.
5. 5Other eligible types implied by the documentation: NGOs and nonprofit cultural organisations, public cultural institutions, and small cultural enterprises, where legally registered in Ukraine for lead applicants and in EU Member States for partners.

Funding type and financial modalities

Primary funding mechanism:competitive grants (subgrants). The programme is co-financed by the European Union through Creative Europe and implemented by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (UCF) with Cultural Vistas gGmbH (Germany). Subgrant categories in the Cultural Horizons programme include: Mobility, Debuts, Innovative Cultural Products, European Local Culture, and Residencies (the latter administered by Cultural Vistas). This specific call focuses on the Debuts category.

Consortium requirement and project type

This call supports international cooperation projects only. The project modality is an International Cooperation Project implemented in Ukraine and/or abroad in partnership with legal entities. The main applicant must be a resident of Ukraine and at least one partner must be a non-resident. Only organisations registered in EU member states are eligible to be partners. Therefore, a consortium (minimum two organisations: Ukrainian lead and at least one EU partner) is mandatory for this call.

Geographic eligibility and beneficiary scope

Beneficiary scope:Ukraine-based lead applicants in partnership with organisations registered in European Union member states. The programme targets Ukrainians (including displaced persons) and aims to strengthen ties with the EU cultural space. Explicitly mentioned implementing organisations: Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (Ukraine) and Cultural Vistas gGmbH (Germany).

Target sectors and thematic focus

Primary sector:culture and the arts. The call supports projects across the cultural and creative sector including arts education, cultural heritage, performing and visual arts, cultural institutions, cultural entrepreneurship, audience engagement formats, and innovative cultural outputs. The programme encourages use of interdisciplinary approaches and cutting-edge technologies where relevant (examples cited include AR/VR, AI, Big Data), inclusivity, and new management models in culture.

Project maturity and implementation stage

Project stage expected:idea to early-stage implementation. The Debuts category targets early-career artists, recent graduates and their initial professional projects and collaborations with cultural institutions; projects are small-scale, time-limited (implementation within up to 5 months under this call) and focused on professional development, creation of cultural products, pilot events, exhibitions, performances, education formats, or short residency outcomes.

Funding amounts and budgetary details

Total Call budget:€350,000 (UAH 18,000,000 subject to exchange rate adjustments via InforEuro at the negotiation date). For the Debuts category specifically: minimum grant amount per project €5,000 (UAH 250,000); maximum grant amount per project €14,000 (UAH 715,000). The call documentation notes that UAH equivalents may be adjusted according to European Commission exchange rate rules at negotiation time.

Application type and submission method

Application type:open single-stage competitive call with electronic submission. Applicants must submit a Project Proposal Form (electronically) and additional mandatory documents via the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation application portal and slots indicated for international partner documents and letters of intent. The submission period is stated as 03 August 2026 18:00 — 05 October 2026 18:00 (local times indicated on the UCF portal).

Nature of support

Beneficiaries receive monetary support in the form of grants (subgrants). Additionally, the programme provides non-monetary services: mentorship (peer-to-peer mentorship network), capacity-building through an online mentor training course, information and technical guidance for applicants, and access to professional exchange and networking opportunities across EU–Ukraine cultural partners.

Application and evaluation stages

Deadline model:single-stage submission followed by a technical eligibility check and expert evaluation leading to grant preparation. Timeline provided in the call: technical eligibility check until 19 October 2026; expert evaluation until 26 November 2026; grant agreement signature expected by 15 March 2027; project implementation to start not earlier than 15 March 2027 and end by 15 August 2027 inclusive (reporting included).

Success rates and co-funding requirements

No explicit success rate (probability of funding) is published in the call materials scraped. The call does not explicitly state an applicant-level co-funding requirement in the provided extracts. The documentation focuses on grant amounts and eligibility; applicants should consult the Guidelines for Applicants and Budget templates for any co-financing or eligible cost share rules. The UCF guidelines and budget template included with the call provide detailed budget rules and instructions which may specify eligible and non-eligible cost categories and any co-financing expectations.

Required documents and application templates

Mandatory application documents and templates mentioned in the call materials include the following. Applicants must prepare electronic uploads as specified by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation portal:

1. 1Project Proposal Form (submitted electronically) — primary application form. Applicants should complete the Project Proposal Call3 form (English references available).
2. 2Project Work Plan (Excel template) — structured work plan template provided for planning and scheduling project activities.
3. 3Budget (Excel template) — detailed budget template with instructions; includes a tab with filling instructions. Budget form 2026 provided for reference.
4. 4Extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Physical Persons-Entrepreneurs, and Public Formations for the main Ukrainian applicant. The extract must contain a full set of data and be issued not earlier than the call launch date and not later than the final application deadline. Ordering guidance and caveat about martial law access limitations are included in the guidelines.
5. 5For the EU partner: scanned copy of original registration certificate or extract from the commercial register according to the partner's country laws, accompanied by a duly certified Ukrainian translation unless issued originally in English. These must be uploaded to the International Partner Documents slot.
6. 6Letter(s) of Intent or Memorandum of Intent from partners — scanned copies uploaded to the Letters of Intent slot. Templates for letters/memoranda are provided in the Guidelines Section XVIII TEMPLATES.
7. 7Additional reference documents: Work Plan (English for reference), Project Proposal Call3 (English for reference), Guidelines for Applicants Call3 (English for reference), Budget form 2026 (for reference), Residency Guide (for residency category but may contain transferable rules).

Note on documentary timing and martial law:Access to the Unified State Register data during martial law and for one month after termination is subject to regulations under Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 209 dated 6 March 2022. Applicants are strongly recommended to order the extract well in advance to avoid delays.

Selection criteria and evaluation process (summary)

Applications undergo a technical eligibility check followed by expert evaluation. The Cultural Horizons programme emphasizes: quality and feasibility of the project design; relevance to the call objectives (professional development of early-career artists, fostering EU–Ukraine partnerships, mentorship integration); capacity of the applicant and partners to implement proposed activities; clarity and realism of the work plan and budget; inclusivity and diversity considerations; and potential for sustainable cooperation and longer-term impact. Exact scoring criteria and weightings are provided in the Guidelines for Applicants which are available with the templates.

Contacts, portals and where to apply

Primary application and detailed guidelines:Ukrainian Cultural Foundation open call page: Apply - UCF Artistic Debuts The EU Funding & Tenders Portal reference page: EU Portal Opportunity Programme pages and further information: Cultural Horizons programme site and Cultural Vistas Cultural Horizons.

Contact emails for questions:For grant call questions: programa.coho@ucf.in.ua. For other Cultural Horizons questions: horizons@ucf.in.ua. For Cultural Vistas enquiries: culturalhorizons@culturalvistas.org. General UCF contact: info@ucf.in.ua; media: press@ucf.in.ua.

Templates and application form structure (what to prepare)

The call provides downloadable templates and reference documents. Applicants should prepare the following structured documents in the requested formats (Excel/PDF/electronic form uploads):

1. 1Project Proposal Form: narrative sections covering project summary, objectives, target groups and beneficiaries (e.g., early-career artists, displaced persons), detailed description of activities, expected results and outputs, relevance to programme aims, description of partnership and division of responsibilities, risk analysis and mitigation, sustainability and future cooperation plans, and dissemination/visibility actions.
2. 2Project Work Plan (Excel template): chronological activity plan with milestones, deliverables, responsible partner for each task, timeline (weeks/months during the implementation period), outputs and indicators.
3. 3Budget (Excel template): detailed cost breakdown by category (personnel, travel, accommodation, materials, subcontracts, equipment where permitted, overheads or indirect costs if applicable), partner-specific budget lines, total eligible costs, and requested grant amount within the €5,000–14,000 range. Follow tab instructions for filling and ensure adherence to budget rules provided in the Guidelines.
4. 4Legal and administrative attachments: Ukrainian Extract from Unified State Register for the main applicant; EU partner registration documents (registration certificate or extract from commercial register) with Ukrainian translations when required; Letters or Memoranda of Intent signed by partners describing cooperation commitments and roles; any CVs or short bios for project leads and participating artists; proof of arts education institution affiliations if relevant.
5. 5Optional technical annexes: examples of previous work, visual materials, project concept notes, press references, or additional supporting documents that demonstrate applicant capacity and project feasibility (respecting the upload slots and file size/format constraints).

Administrative and practical notes for applicants

Applicants must ensure:compliance with eligibility rules (Ukrainian lead applicant resident and registered in territory controlled by Ukraine for at least one year; EU partner organisation registered in an EU member state); that required registration and legal extracts are current and obtainable within martial law constraints; that EU partner registration documents are uploaded in the specified 'International Partner Documents' slot; that Letters of Intent follow the provided templates; and careful completion of the Budget and Work Plan templates. Online information sessions will be organised; applicants should monitor the programme sites for schedules and updates.

Mentioned countries and organisations

Explicitly mentioned countries and organisations in the call materials:Ukraine (Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, lead implementer) and Germany (Cultural Vistas gGmbH, implementing partner). EU partner organisations must be registered in European Union member states. The programme is co-funded by the European Union (Creative Europe / EACEA).

Summary — What is this opportunity about and who should apply

Cultural Horizons:Artistic Debuts is an EU co-funded subgrant call administered by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation under the Cultural Horizons programme, implemented in partnership with Cultural Vistas. The call provides small grants (€5,000–14,000) for short-term international cooperation projects that support the professional development and market entry of recent graduates and early-career artists in Ukraine, while building sustainable collaborations with EU-based cultural institutions. The modality requires a Ukrainian lead applicant (legal entity or individual entrepreneur registered and operating in Ukraine for at least one year) and at least one partner organisation legally registered in an EU member state. Applications are submitted electronically using a Project Proposal Form, Budget and Work Plan templates, and must include legal registration extracts, partner registration documents, and Letters of Intent. The selection process comprises technical eligibility checks and expert evaluation with timelines published for eligibility checking, evaluation, grant agreement signature and project implementation between March and August 2027. The programme also offers mentorship, training for mentors, and networking opportunities as additional non-monetary support. This call is best suited for Ukrainian cultural organisations, arts education institutions, creative studios, and emerging artists or artist-led initiatives seeking short-term funding and EU partnership to produce debut projects, residencies, or professional development activities that strengthen EU–Ukrainian cultural ties and contribute to longer-term collaborations.

Footnotes

1. 1Apply and read full guidelines at the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation open call page: ucf.in.ua. EU portal reference: ec.europa.eu

Cultural Horizons Artistic Debuts is a Creative Europe co financed cascade funding call under the Cultural Horizons programme, implemented by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation together with Cultural Vistas gGmbH, and designed to help early career Ukrainian artists and arts graduates establish themselves professionally through EU and Ukraine partnerships.[16][18]

Purpose and policy context

The call is intended to increase access of Ukrainians, especially displaced persons, to culture and cultural heritage by supporting artistic and cultural projects built through EU and Ukraine cooperation. It also aims to strengthen links between the Ukrainian and EU cultural sectors, use mentorship as a professional development tool, and support the career progression of Ukrainian artists and cultural actors.[16][18]

Who can apply

Applications are open to partnerships between Ukrainian and EU based organisations, including cases where the Ukrainian partner is a legal entity or an individual entrepreneur and acts as the lead applicant.[18]

• Main applicants must be legal entities of any ownership form or individual entrepreneurs registered in Ukraine for at least one year and operating in territory controlled by Ukraine, excluding temporarily occupied territories.[18]
• At least one partner must be an organisation registered in an EU member state.[18]
• Applicants are expected to have relevant experience in the cultural field.[18]
• The project output must directly involve young artists as performers, authors, co authors, creative team members, or other key participants.[18]
• The project must be developed in cooperation with organisations registered in EU member states.[18]

What the call supports

The call focuses on professional development for graduates of arts education institutions and on cooperation with cultural institutions, educational institutions, and non formal arts education providers. It supports the creation of cultural products that help emerging artists build sustainable careers and enter the cultural sector in Ukraine.[18]

• Audio art.[18]
• Visual art.[18]
• Cultural heritage.[18]
• Cross sector cultural and creative industries projects.[18]
• Literature.[18]
• Performing and scenic arts.[18]

Funding, duration, and timeline

Application package and submission

Applications are submitted electronically through the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation platform. The call materials indicate that applicants should prepare a project proposal form, work plan, budget, proof of registration for the main applicant, registration documents for the EU partner, and a letter or memorandum of intent.[17][18]

• Project Proposal Form.[18]
• Project Work Plan in Excel format.[18]
• Budget template in Excel format.[18]
• Extract from the Ukrainian register for the main applicant, issued no earlier than the call launch date and no later than the application deadline.[18]
• Registration certificate or commercial register extract for the EU partner, with a certified Ukrainian translation unless the document is originally in English.[18]
• Letter or Memorandum of Intent using the template provided in the guidelines.[18]

How to assess this opportunity

This is a small grant opportunity with a limited budget, so proposals should be concise, partnership based, and tightly aligned with the programme goal of helping young artists enter the sector through practical cooperation with EU partners. The strongest applications are likely to show a clear artistic output, a credible collaboration model, and a direct benefit to early career artists or arts graduates.[16][18]

Further information and contacts

Applicants can review the official call page and guidance materials on the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation website at Cultural Horizons Artistic Debuts and the programme overview at Cultural Horizons programme.[16][18]

• Grant call questions: programa.coho@ucf.in.ua.
• Other programme questions: horizons@ucf.in.ua.
• Programme updates and information sessions are announced by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and Cultural Vistas.[18]