Culture Helps Solidarity - First call for proposals for collaboration grants

The "Culture Helps Solidarity" initiative is launching its first call for proposals to support collaborative cultural projects targeting organizations in Ukraine and Creative Europe countries. The goal is to enhance creativity and community connections in the context of the ongoing conflict, particularly focusing on the integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, with a specific emphasis on vulnerable groups like veterans.

Eligible applicants can include civic, public, and private organizations, provided private entities have non-commercial status and can demonstrate charitable aspects of their project. At least one partner must be Ukrainian-led, whether based in Ukraine or operating in exile, and another partner must be from a Creative Europe country, both active in the cultural, creative, or civil sectors. Political parties and humanitarian support requests will not be considered.

Funding is provided through a cascading grant scheme, with amounts ranging up to €20,000 for partnerships of two organizations and up to €30,000 for consortiums of three or more organizations. A total budget of €450,000 allows for up to nine grants in each category, funded to a maximum of 80% of total project costs, although co-funding is encouraged.

Projects should focus on sustainable cultural practices and mental health support through arts and culture, fostering partnerships that aid professional development and intercultural dialogue. The initiative mandates a consortium model, requiring at least two organizations to work collaboratively.

The application process is single-stage, with a submission deadline of March 31, 2026. Projects must commence between June 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027. Successful applicants will also receive financial and non-monetary support, including mentoring and participation in webinars and community calls.

Selection will prioritize projects based on their relevance to the call's themes, the quality of partnerships, and demonstrated sustainability. Applicants must be over 18 and proficient in English, with complete proposals submitted via an online platform.

Overall, this program is designed to leverage culture as a tool for social resilience and integration, reflecting the EU's commitment to supporting Ukrainian culture during this challenging period.

The Culture Helps Solidarity project is offering its first cascading grant call for proposals to support arts and culture professionals from Ukraine. The project aims to sustain creativity, resilience, and community connection during and after the war. Running until 2028, it combines individual, thematic, and collaboration grants with mentoring, learning, and peer exchange programs. The project is implemented by the European Cultural Foundation (Amsterdam) with Insha Osvita (Kyiv), zusa (Berlin), and the VETERANKA Movement (Kyiv).

This call supports collaborative projects between at least two organizations, one in Ukraine and one in a Creative Europe country. These projects should use culture to improve access to cultural participation and support the integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees into their host communities, with a focus on vulnerable groups like veterans and their mental well-being.

The call prioritizes partnerships between Ukrainian-led organizations (based in Ukraine or operating in exile) and non-Ukrainian organizations, especially from neighboring Creative Europe countries. The collaborations aim to foster cross-border networking, exchange of professional experience and good practices, stronger capacities for intercultural dialogue and mental health support, and the professional development of cultural managers in line with EU standards, while highlighting a culture of solidarity in shaping a European future for Ukraine.

Two grant amounts are available: up to €20,000 for partnerships of two organizations and up to €30,000 for partnerships of three or more organizations. Up to 9 grants are available in each category. Applicants must indicate the grant amount they are applying for.

Grants can cover a variety of costs, including production, marketing, advertising, rental and running costs for studios and cultural venues, IT, communication and production tools and materials, and, upon special request and where appropriate (e.g., when lost/destroyed), purchase of other goods, means, or services necessary for the project. Grants can also cover travel costs, expert fees, artists' honoraria, legal services, staff and operational costs, but these amounts must be proportionate and justifiable. Co-financing is not mandatory but recommended, with the grant covering a maximum of 80% of the total project budget.

The project timeline may be up to 12 months. Activities cannot start before June 1, 2026. The submission deadline is Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 13:00 Amsterdam time/14:00 Kyiv time.

Eligibility criteria include: Applications must be submitted in English with a complete application form and budget. Applicants must be over 18 and demonstrate sufficient English proficiency. The call is open to collaborations of at least two organizations, with the lead applicant submitting the proposal and entering into a grant agreement. At least one partner must be a civic, public, or private (with non-commercial status and proof of charitable status) organization with a legal status in Ukraine, active in Ukraine or in exile, and operating in the cultural, creative, or civil sector. At least one partner must be a similar organization with a legal status and active in a Creative Europe country, operating in the cultural, creative, or civil sector. At least one partner must be a cultural organization and/or actively working on the integration of displaced persons or refugees from Ukraine into their new living environments and professional realities and communities, particularly veterans. The proposed project must not receive funding from any other Creative Europe scheme. Proposals from political parties or strictly humanitarian initiatives or individual requests for cost-of-living support will not be considered.

Selection criteria include: Relevance to the call's theme and objectives, focusing on arts and culture to improve access to cultural participation and support the integration of IDPs and refugees, with a focus on vulnerable groups like veterans and their mental well-being. Quality of partnership, demonstrating the partners’ capacities, complementarities, and motivation to collaborate. Authenticity and experimentation, presenting an authentic and fresh approach. Feasibility and implementation potential, including a balanced and realistic budget. Impact, demonstrating a positive impact on the communities addressed, a vision for the partnership beyond the project period, and contribution to building long-term cultural relations between Ukraine and Creative Europe countries and to the broader issues of European integration of Ukraine. Sustainability, embodying a convincing understanding of environmental sustainability, fair and green transition, and the ecological impact of war in particular.

Following an eligibility check, applications will be assessed by internal and external experts from various geographic, cultural, and professional areas. Up to 9 projects from each grant category will be selected. Awarded partnerships will receive one-on-one mentoring support, participate in online webinars and community calls, and attend one in-person networking meeting. These in-kind support activities are compulsory.

Timeline: The call for proposals opened on January 23, 2026. An info session & matchmaking event will be held on February 19, 2026. The call closes on March 31, 2026. Proposals will be assessed and selected by the end of May 2026. Selected projects start on June 1, 2026. An in-person networking event will be held in Autumn 2026 (date TBC). The end date of selected projects is May 31, 2027. The submission deadline for final reports is June 30, 2027.

More information, including the budget template, and application submission are available at https://culture-of-solidarity-fund.grantplatform.com/. Applicants are encouraged to develop proposals through human expertise, critical thinking, and artistic or professional judgment. Proposals relying primarily on AI-generated content may receive lower priority. Questions can be directed to chs@culturalfoundation.eu.

A digital matchmaking platform and an online matchmaking event and info session are offered for organizations seeking partners. Registered applicants can create digital profiles highlighting their interests and needs. The online event will include info and networking sessions and one-on-one exchanges on partnership details. The online event will take place on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 14:00 Amsterdam time/15:00 Kyiv time.

The total funding available is 450,000 €. The project acronym is Culture Helps S. The full name of the EU-funded project is Culture Helps Solidarity. The grant agreement number is 101237762. The topic is CREA-CULT-2025-COOP-UA-2 - Fostering Ukrainians’ access to culture and cultural heritage.

In summary, this opportunity is a call for collaborative projects between organizations in Ukraine and Creative Europe countries that use culture to support the integration of Ukrainian IDPs and refugees, with a focus on vulnerable groups. The Culture Helps Solidarity project aims to foster cross-border networking, exchange of best practices, intercultural dialogue, and professional development. Grants of up to €20,000 or €30,000 are available depending on the number of participating organizations. The project seeks to build long-term cultural relations between Ukraine and Europe and contribute to Ukraine's European integration. The call encourages proposals that demonstrate relevance, quality of partnership, authenticity, feasibility, impact, and sustainability.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are civic, public, or private organizations (private organizations must have a non-commercial status and must be able to prove the project’s charitable status) with a legal status in Ukraine, active in Ukraine or in exile, and operating in the cultural, creative, or civil sector. Also, civic, public or private organizations (private organizations must have a non-commercial status and must be able to prove the project’s charitable status) with a legal status and active in one of the Creative Europe countries, and operating in the cultural, creative, or civil sector are eligible. At least one partner must be a cultural organization and/or actively working with on the integration of displaced persons or refugees from Ukraine into their new living environments and professional realities and communities, veterans in particular. Applicants must be above 18 years old and must demonstrate a sufficient level of English to work and communicate effectively in English. Proposals submitted by political parties will not be considered. Strictly humanitarian initiatives or individual requests for cost-of living support will not be considered.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant. Specifically, it is a cascading grant.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of at least two organizations is required. The call is open to collaborations of at least two organizations, with the lead applicant submitting the proposal, and entering into a grant agreement in case the proposal is selected.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes Ukraine and Creative Europe countries. At least one partner must be a civic, public or private organization with a legal status in Ukraine, active in Ukraine or in exile and operating in the cultural, creative or civil sector. At least one partner must be a civic, public or private organization with a legal status and active in one of the Creative Europe countries, and operating in the cultural, creative or civil sector.

Target Sector: The target sector is culture, arts, and integration of displaced persons and refugees, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as veterans and their mental well-being. The program supports arts and culture professionals from Ukraine to sustain creativity, resilience, and community connection.

Mentioned Countries: Ukraine, Germany, Netherlands

Project Stage: The project stage is not explicitly mentioned, but it appears to be aimed at development and implementation of collaborative projects. The projects should improve access to cultural participation and support the integration of internally displaced persons and refugees.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts are up to €20,000 for partnerships of two organizations and up to €30,000 for partnerships of three or more organizations. A total funding of 450,000 EUR is available.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants. Awarded partnerships will also receive one-on-one mentoring support, 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, and participation in them is compulsory.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be a single-stage process. Following an eligibility check, applications will be assessed by a team of internal and external experts.

Success Rates: Up to 9 projects from each grant category will be selected for support. Given the total funding available (€450,000) and the grant amounts (€20,000 and €30,000), the success rate is likely to be in the 10 to 39% range, but this is an estimate.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not mandatory, but it is recommended that the grant is used to cover a maximum of 80% of the total project budget.

This opportunity, the Culture Helps Solidarity First Call for Proposals for collaboration grants, is a cascading grant call designed to support collaborative projects between organizations in Ukraine and Creative Europe countries. The goal is to improve access to cultural participation and support the integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups like veterans and their mental well-being. The project is implemented by the European Cultural Foundation with partners in Kyiv and Berlin.

The call prioritizes partnerships between Ukrainian-led organizations and non-Ukrainian organizations, especially from neighboring Creative Europe countries. The grants are available in two amounts: up to €20,000 for partnerships of two organizations and up to €30,000 for partnerships of three or more organizations. Up to 9 grants are available in each category.

Eligible costs include production, marketing, rental, IT, travel, expert fees, artists' honoraria, legal services, and staff costs. Co-financing is not mandatory but recommended. The project timeline may be up to 12 months, with activities starting no earlier than June 1, 2026. The submission deadline is March 31, 2026.

Applicants must be civic, public, or private organizations with a legal status in Ukraine or a Creative Europe country, operating in the cultural, creative, or civil sector. At least one partner must be a cultural organization actively working on the integration of displaced persons or refugees. The selection criteria include relevance to the call's objectives, quality of partnership, authenticity, feasibility, impact, and sustainability.

Awarded partnerships will receive mentoring support, participate in webinars and community calls, and attend an in-person networking meeting. An online matchmaking event and platform are available to help applicants find project partners. Proposals that rely primarily on AI-generated content are discouraged.