Cultural Horizons: Innovative Cultural Products

Cultural Horizons:Innovative Cultural Products is an open call funding the development and deployment of small international cooperation cultural projects that prioritise interdisciplinarity, digital technologies (AR/VR, AI, big data), new audience engagement formats and cultural entrepreneurship. Eligible applicants are Ukrainian legal entities or individual entrepreneurs registered and operating in Ukraine for at least one year, acting as lead applicant, with at least one partner organisation registered in an EU Member State. The total call budget is €400,000 with individual grants from €10,000 to €20,000 (100% lump sum); the submission period is 11 June to 14 August 2026 and project implementation is scheduled between 31 January and 30 July 2027. The programme is implemented by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation in partnership with Cultural Vistas gGmbH and co‑funded by the EU Creative Europe programme; full guidelines, templates and contacts are on the official programme and UCF call pages.

What it funds

Scope summary

Small international cooperation projects in the cultural, artistic and creative sectors that develop innovative cultural products using interdisciplinarity, digital technologies (AR/VR, AI, big data), new audience formats, inclusivity and cultural entrepreneurship. Projects may be implemented in Ukraine and/or abroad and include mentorship and professional exchange elements.

Who can apply:Main applicant must be a legal entity or individual entrepreneur resident and operating in territory controlled by Ukraine for at least one year; applications must include at least one partner organisation registered in an EU Member State (EU partner). Artists and cultural professionals with Ukrainian citizenship are eligible for individual mobility subgrants under the wider programme. Submission requires standard registration and partner documentation.

1. 1Lead applicant: Ukrainian legal entity or individual entrepreneur (resident and operating in Ukraine >=1 year).
2. 2Minimum one partner: organisation registered in an EU Member State.
3. 3Projects limited in duration (implementation January July 2027 for this call).

Funding and budget:Total call budget €400,000. Individual grants: minimum €10,000; maximum €20,000. Project duration: up to 5 months (implementation start not earlier than 31 January 2027; end 30 July 2027). Exchange rate adjustments to UAH may apply.

Applications are submitted electronically using the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation templates and guidelines; required attachments include project proposal, work plan, budget and registration extracts for the Ukrainian lead and the EU partner. Follow application details and downloads on the programme pages Programme site and Call page. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Official call guidance, templates and submission instructions are on the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation call pages and the Cultural Horizons portal.

Call identity and administration

Call title:Cultural Horizons: Innovative Cultural Products. Identifier: CREA-CULT. Implementing organisations: Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (UCF, Ukraine) together with Cultural Vistas gGmbH (Germany). Co-funded by the European Union under the Creative Europe programme and managed through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) under delegated powers. Primary portal reference: EU Funding & Tenders Portal and programme webpages maintained by Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and Cultural Vistas Cultural Horizons website and UCF call page.

Purpose and strategic aims:The programme aims to increase access of Ukrainians, particularly displaced persons, to culture and cultural heritage; to strengthen EU–Ukrainian connections in the cultural sector; to promote mentorship as a professional development tool; and to support professional development of Ukrainian artists and cultural actors by providing subgrants, mentorship and exchange opportunities.

Scope, thematic focus and eligible activities

This specific open call, Innovative Cultural Products, funds international cooperation projects in the cultural, artistic and creative sectors that develop innovative approaches. Innovation factors highlighted by the call include interdisciplinarity, adoption of cutting-edge digital technologies (examples explicitly listed: augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, big data), new audience engagement formats, inclusive practices, flexible governance models and cultural entrepreneurship. Projects may be implemented in Ukraine and/or abroad but must be carried out through partnerships that include a Ukrainian lead applicant and at least one EU partner organisation.

Who may apply — Eligible applicant types and partnership rules

Primary applicant:legal entities of any ownership form and individual entrepreneurs registered and operating in territory controlled by Ukraine for at least one year at the time of the call. The main applicant must be resident of Ukraine. At least one partner must be a non-resident registered in an EU Member State. Only organisations registered in European Union member states are eligible to participate as partners. Artists and cultural professionals with Ukrainian citizenship are target beneficiaries for some categories (mobility, debuts), but the Innovative Cultural Products call specifically requires an international cooperation project led by a Ukrainian resident organisation or individual entrepreneur with at least one EU-based partner.

Eligible applicant types (explicit list):legal entities of all forms of ownership registered in Ukraine; individual entrepreneurs registered in Ukraine; EU-based legal entities as project partners (organisations registered in EU Member States); artists and cultural professionals (as project personnel or beneficiaries where applicable).

Geographic eligibility and beneficiary scope

Geographic eligibility is bilateral:lead applicants must be resident in Ukraine and partners must be registered in European Union member states. The call therefore targets Ukraine as primary beneficiary geography with partnerships across the EU. The programme as a whole also includes subgrants administered in EU institutions (residency category) and mobility across EU and Ukraine.

Financial details and grant conditions

Total budget for this call:€400,000 (reported also as UAH 19,108,000 subject to final exchange rate at grant preparation). Minimum grant per project: €10,000 (UAH 500,000). Maximum grant per project: €20,000 (UAH 1,000,000). The call duration and timelines limit project implementation to an overall period up to 5 months (implementation start not earlier than 31 January 2027 and end 30 July 2027 inclusive).

Funding type, co-funding and nature of support

Funding type:grant / subgrant. The opportunity provides money (direct grant awards / subgrants) to selected projects and also non-monetary support in the form of mentorship, training for mentors, and networking opportunities. There is no explicit public statement in the call text that beneficiary co-funding is required for these subgrants; typical Creative Europe subgrants may require cost-sharing or eligible budget articulation, but the scraped guidelines do not state a compulsory co-financing percentage for this specific call. Applicants must submit detailed budgets and follow provided templates.

Nature of support:monetary subgrants (€10,000–20,000) plus non-monetary mentorship, training and networking services.

Consortium requirement and project model

Consortium requirement:The call requires international cooperation projects led by a Ukrainian resident main applicant with at least one EU-based partner. This is effectively a minimum two-party partnership: Ukrainian lead plus at least one EU partner organisation. The EU partner must be an organisation registered in an EU Member State. Therefore single-applicant submissions are not eligible for this particular open call.

Eligible sectors and project types (target sectors)

Target sectors:culture and arts, cultural heritage, creative industries, arts education, cultural entrepreneurship, digital culture and cultural technology. Explicit technology and approach mentions include AR/VR, artificial intelligence, and big data. Thematic priorities also include interdisciplinarity, audience engagement innovation, inclusivity, governance models and social integration for displaced persons.

Project stage and expected maturity

Expected project maturity:ready-to-implement small-scale cultural or creative projects and pilot innovations (development, validation and demonstration within a short implementation window). Projects should be implementation-ready for delivery within the January–July 2027 timeframe. The call supports production/delivery of cultural products, residencies, educational or audience engagement initiatives rather than early ideation-only activities.

Deadlines, timelines and application process

Submission period for this call:11 June 2026 18:00 — 14 August 2026 18:00 (local times as indicated on UCF site and portal). Deadline on EU portal: 2026-08-14T21:00:00+00:00. Timeline for the call: technical eligibility check 17–31 August 2026; expert evaluation until 12 November 2026; grant agreement signature by February 2027; project implementation start no earlier than 31 January 2027 and end by 30 July 2027 (inclusive). Deadline model: single-stage. Application method: open call with electronic submission of templates and documents through the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation platform and slots specified (Project Proposal Form, Excel Work Plan and Budget templates).

Application type and submission materials:Open call with electronic submission. Mandatory application documents include: Project Proposal Form (electronic), Project Work Plan (Excel template), Budget (Excel template with instructions), and an extract from the Ukrainian Unified State Register for the main applicant. EU partner must provide scanned registration certificate or extract from national commercial register with certified Ukrainian translation unless originally in English. Letters of Intent or Memoranda of Intent from partners are required (templates provided in Guidelines).

Assessment stages, evaluation and success rates

Application stages:single-stage submission followed by administrative/technical eligibility check, then expert evaluation by reviewers and selection committee, recommendation for funding, negotiation and grant agreement signature. Based on call budget and grant sizes the total number of projects funded for this call can be estimated: with €400,000 total and grants of €10,000–20,000, expected number of awards ranges approximately from 20 up to 40 projects depending on grant sizes; this aligns with programme statements that at least 20 subgrants will be provided under some categories. The scraped documents state that a minimum of 20 subgrants will be provided for the residencies; for Innovative Cultural Products the minimum number is not explicitly stated but the same overall budget constraint applies. No explicit overall success rate is provided; rough estimate: if 20–40 awards are available and typical call demand is higher, success rate likely below 30% depending on applicant volume.

Co-funding requirements and financial administration

The call requires applicants to complete a detailed budget template (Budget form 2026). The scraped guidance does not state an explicit mandatory co-financing percentage for the Innovative Cultural Products subgrants. Applicants must prepare full project budgets and supporting financial documentation. The total amount in UAH will be finalised on the day of call opening and the UAH amounts may be adjusted using InforEuro exchange rates at the date of decision to initiate grant agreement preparation.

Templates and application structure

Provided templates (required as part of electronic submission) include:Project Proposal Form (electronic upload), Project Work Plan (Excel template), and Budget (Excel template with detailed instructions in tabs). Letter of Intent / Memorandum of Intent templates are provided in the Guidelines (Section XVIII TEMPLATES on the UCF call page). For residency subgrants, separate Work Plan and Budget templates are available on the Cultural Vistas site. Applicants are advised to download and complete the exact templates and follow formatting, content and document certification requirements in the Guidelines.

1. 1Project Proposal Form — required, completed and uploaded electronically.
2. 2Project Work Plan — Excel template, required.
3. 3Budget — Excel template with instructions, required.
4. 4Extract from Unified State Register (for Ukrainian main applicant) — issued no earlier than call launch and no later than application deadline; obtain early given martial law constraints.
5. 5EU partner registration certificate or commercial register extract with Ukrainian certified translation if not issued in English.
6. 6Letters of Intent / Memoranda of Intent — scanned originals following provided templates.

Eligibility risks and special notes

Important administrative notes:under martial law in Ukraine, access to and issuance of Register extracts may be subject to special regulation (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 209 dated 6 March 2022). Applicants are strongly advised to obtain the required official extract well in advance. Documents must meet specified issue-date windows. EU partner documentation must be provided in PDF and translations certified as required. The UAH amounts are indicative and can change based on exchange rates applied at grant preparation time.

Contacts, information sessions and further resources

Information and application sessions will be organised offline and online; follow updates on the Cultural Horizons pages. Contacts for enquiries: programa.coho@ucf.in.ua for grant calls; horizons@ucf.in.ua for other questions; alternative UCF contacts: info@ucf.in.ua. Cultural Vistas contact for residency queries: culturalhorizons@culturalvistas.org. More details and downloadable templates are available on the programme pages Cultural Horizons website and UCF call page.

Explicitly mentioned countries and region

Ukraine (primary lead-applicant residence) and Member States of the European Union (required location of at least one partner). Germany is explicitly referenced as location of implementing partner Cultural Vistas gGmbH. The overall region: EU–Ukraine cooperation.

Summary: what this opportunity is about

Cultural Horizons:Innovative Cultural Products is an open call for international cooperation projects that support the creation, development and deployment of innovative cultural and creative outputs linking Ukrainian organisations and artists with partners from EU Member States. It is implemented by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation with Cultural Vistas, co-funded by the EU Creative Europe programme. Grants range from €10,000 to €20,000 per project, with a total call budget of €400,000. Projects must be led by Ukrainian resident legal entities or individual entrepreneurs (registered and operating in territory controlled by Ukraine for at least one year) and include at least one EU-registered partner. The call prioritises interdisciplinarity, digital cultural technologies (AR/VR, AI, big data), new audience engagement and inclusive governance or entrepreneurship models, and projects must be ready for delivery within a short implementation window in 2027. Applicants must submit standard templates (project proposal, work plan, budget) and statutory registration documents; EU partners must provide certified registration evidence. Selected projects receive monetary subgrants plus access to mentorship, training and networking offered by the Cultural Horizons programme, with administrative eligibility checks, expert evaluation and grant preparation phases occurring between August 2026 and February 2027. Applicants should consult the official call Guidelines and use the provided templates for compliant submission and obtain required registry extracts well ahead of the deadline in view of martial law-related restrictions ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary sources: EU Funding & Tenders Portal call page CREA-CULT, Cultural Horizons programme pages and Ukrainian Cultural Foundation call documentation linked on the programme websites listed above.

What This Opportunity Is About

This call supports the development of innovative cultural products in Ukraine through EU-Ukrainian partnerships, focusing on interdisciplinarity, cutting-edge digital technologies (AR/VR, AI, Big Data), new audience engagement formats, and flexible cultural entrepreneurship models ¹.

The initiative aims to strengthen connections between Ukrainian and EU cultural sectors, promote mentorship as a professional development tool, and enhance access to culture for Ukrainians, particularly displaced persons ².

Who Can Apply

Eligible Applicants:Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered in Ukraine for at least one year, with at least one EU partner organization registered in an EU member state ³.

Lead Applicant Requirement:The Ukrainian partner must act as the lead applicant for all submissions ³.

Funding Details

The grant amount in Ukrainian hryvnias will be specified on the day the call for project applications opens, based on the European Commission's InforEuro exchange rates ¹.

Key Requirements & Conditions

1. 1International cooperation project only (implemented in Ukraine and/or abroad)
2. 2Mandatory EU-Ukrainian partnership with Ukrainian lead applicant
3. 3Project must incorporate innovative approaches (digital technologies, interdisciplinarity, new engagement formats)
4. 4Only organizations registered in EU member states eligible as partners
5. 5Full documentation required: Register extract, EU partner registration certificate, Letter of Intent

Application Timeline

Program Administrators & Support

The program is implemented by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (Ukraine) in partnership with Cultural Vistas gGmbH (Germany), co-funded by the Creative Europe Program of the European Union through EACEA ⁴.

Contact Information:For grant calls: programa.coho@ucf.in.ua; For other questions: horizons@ucf.in.ua ⁴.

Official Resources:Program website: https://horizons.ucf.in.ua/en/; UCF call page: https://ucf.in.ua/en/m_open-call/6a29297b9e866f60bc21d1f2 ⁴.

Offline and online information sessions for applicants will be organized; follow updates on the official websites ⁴.

Footnotes

1. 1Call budget may be adjusted based on InforEuro exchange rates applied on the decision date for grant agreement preparation https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/competitive-calls-cs/14624COMPETITIVE_CALLen.
2. 2Program objectives include strengthening Ukrainian-EU cultural connections, promoting mentorship, and fostering professional development of Ukrainian artists https://horizons.ucf.in.ua/en/.
3. 3Eligibility requires Ukrainian legal entities/entrepreneurs registered for 1+ year with EU partner; Ukrainian partner must be lead applicant https://ucf.in.ua/en/m_open-call/6a29297b9e866f60bc21d1f2.
4. 4Program implemented by Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and Cultural Vistas, co-funded by Creative Europe/EACEA; contact: programa.coho@ucf.in.ua https://culturalvistas.eu/our-programs/professional-study-tours/cultural-horizons.