Culture Helps Solidarity - Second call for proposals for collaboration grants

Culture Helps Solidarity – Second call for collaboration grants funds cross-border cultural projects between organisations in Ukraine and Creative Europe countries to improve access to culture, support integration of displaced Ukrainians and refugees, and strengthen mental well-being, with priority for Ukrainian-led partnerships. Grants are up to €20,000 for partnerships of two organisations and up to €30,000 for partnerships of three or more, projects may run up to 12 months and the grant is recommended to cover no more than 80 percent of total project costs. Applications must be submitted by a lead organisation on behalf of at least two organisations (including at least one legally established in Ukraine and one in a Creative Europe country), must be submitted in English, and political parties or strictly humanitarian or individual cost-of-living requests are ineligible. The call opened on 1 September 2026 and closes on 10 November 2026 at 13:00 Brussels time; applications and forms are available via the Culture of Solidarity Fund grant platform.

What it funds

Scope and purpose

Grants for collaborative culture projects using arts and cultural activities to improve access to cultural participation and support integration of displaced Ukrainians and refugees (with attention to vulnerable groups, veterans and mental well-being). Projects should foster cross-border networking, intercultural dialogue, professional development of cultural managers and exchange of good practices.

Available funding:Up to €20,000 for partnerships of two organisations; up to €30,000 for partnerships of three or more organisations. Total budget for the call €450,000. Project duration up to 12 months; activities may start no earlier than 1 February 2027.

Who can apply

Eligibility summary

Lead applicant must be an organisation (not an individual) and proposals must be collaborations of at least two organisations. At least one partner must be a civic, public or non-commercial private organisation legally established in Ukraine (active in Ukraine or in exile). At least one partner must be legally established and active in a Creative Europe country. At least one partner must be a cultural organisation or work on integration of displaced Ukrainians/refugees. Applications must be submitted in English; applicants must be 18+.

1. 1Minimum partnership: two organisations from Ukraine and a Creative Europe country
2. 2Projects must not receive other Creative Europe funding
3. 3Political party submissions and strictly humanitarian or individual cost-of-living requests are ineligible
4. 4Non-commercial status required for private organisations claiming charitable status

Assessment and support

Applications undergo eligibility check and expert assessment against relevance, partnership quality, authenticity/innovation, feasibility, impact and sustainability. At least 15 international projects will be funded. Awarded partnerships receive compulsory in-kind support: one-on-one mentoring, community calls and an in-person networking event.

How to apply and more information:application form, budget template, guidance and registration for the matchmaking event are available at the call platform Apply and documents.

Opportunity summary

This open call, part of the Culture Helps Solidarity project (Grant Agreement 101237762), funds collaborative arts and culture projects that improve access to cultural participation and support the integration of displaced Ukrainians and refugees from Ukraine across Creative Europe countries and inside Ukraine. The call is implemented by the European Cultural Foundation together with Insha Osvita, zusa and the VETERANKA Movement and is co-funded by the EU Creative Europe programme. It is the second and final round of collaboration grants within the project, running to 2028.

Opening and deadline:Call opened 1 September 2026. Single-stage deadline: 10 November 2026 at 13:00 Brussels / 14:00 Kyiv time. Expected earliest project start date 1 February 2027; project duration up to 12 months.

Funding and budget

Total funding available for the programme:€450,000. Individual grants available under this call: up to €20,000 for partnerships of two organisations and up to €30,000 for partnerships of three or more organisations. Applicants must indicate which funding category they apply for. Grants may cover production costs, marketing, venue rental and running costs, IT and communication tools, purchase of goods where appropriate (e.g., lost/destroyed equipment), travel, expert fees, artists' honoraria, legal services, staff and operational costs. Amounts must be proportionate and justifiable. Although co-financing is not mandatory, applicants are recommended to plan the grant to cover a maximum of 80 percent of total project costs.

Number of awards and in-kind support:At least 15 international projects will be awarded. Awarded partnerships must participate in compulsory in-kind support activities: one-on-one mentoring, community calls and an in-person networking meeting.

Who can apply and consortium requirements

Eligible applicants are collaborations of at least two organisations. A lead applicant must submit the application and will enter into the grant agreement if selected. Applicants must be aged 18 or above and demonstrate sufficient English language skills to work and communicate effectively in English. Applications must be submitted in English and include a complete application form and budget.

1. 1Minimum consortium composition: at least two organisations, with a lead applicant submitting the proposal.
2. 2Geographic composition requirement: at least one partner must be a civic, public or private organisation legally established in Ukraine (active in Ukraine or in exile), and at least one partner must be a civic, public or private organisation legally established and active in a Creative Europe country (the Creative Europe participants include the 27 EU member states and additional participating countries; see footnote ¹).
3. 3Sectoral requirement: at least one partner must be a cultural organisation and/or be actively working on the integration of displaced Ukrainians or refugees from Ukraine, with attention to vulnerable groups and veterans.

Eligible applicant types (detailed)

Eligible applicant types include civic organisations, public bodies, and private non-commercial organisations operating in the cultural, creative or civil sector. Private organisations must be non-commercial and able to prove charitable status where applicable. The call prioritises Ukrainian-led organisations (based in Ukraine or in exile) partnering with organisations from Creative Europe countries. Political parties are not eligible; strictly humanitarian or individual cost-of-living support requests are excluded.

Geographic eligibility and participating countries

The call requires partners in Ukraine and partners in Creative Europe countries. Creative Europe participating countries include the 27 EU Member States and additional participating Third Countries (EEA/EFTA states like Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein; accession, candidate and potential candidate countries; and other third countries participating under Creative Europe rules). For a current authoritative list of participating countries consult the Creative Europe participation document referenced below ¹.

Priority topics, objectives and target sectors

Thematic focus:culture and cultural heritage as tools to improve access to cultural participation, foster integration of displaced Ukrainians and refugees into host communities and support the mental well-being of vulnerable groups (notably veterans). Target sectors: culture, creative industries, cultural heritage, community arts, cultural management and intercultural dialogue, and projects combining arts/culture with mental health support approaches.

Desired project outcomes and capacities

1. 1Cross-border networking and exchange of professional experience and good practices.
2. 2Strengthening capacities for intercultural dialogue and mental health support through cultural practices.
3. 3Professional development of cultural managers.
4. 4Building long-term cultural relations between Ukraine and Creative Europe countries and contributing to European integration of Ukraine.
5. 5Embedding environmental sustainability and fair and green transition considerations, including awareness of the ecological impact of war.

Selection criteria and evaluation process

Following an eligibility check, applications will be assessed by internal and external experts. Main selection criteria are relevance to the call objectives, quality of the partnership, authenticity and experimentation, feasibility and implementation potential (including balanced and realistic budget), impact on target communities and sustainability, including environmental considerations. At least 15 projects will be selected. Participation in mentoring and networking activities is compulsory for awardees.

Assessment and timeline

Application process and templates

Applications must be submitted in English through the Culture Helps Solidarity grant platform. The application form includes a narrative application and a budget section with a budget form. The call text emphasises that applicants should develop proposals based on human expertise and artistic/professional judgment; proposals primarily relying on AI-generated content are discouraged and may score lower.

How to apply:More information, guidance, tips, the application form and the budget template are available at culture-of-solidarity-fund.grantplatform.com. For questions contact chs@culturalfoundation.eu.

Project stage, nature of support and co-funding

Expected project stage:development, demonstration and implementation of collaborative cultural activities (mature concept with a clear implementation plan up to 12 months). Nature of support: monetary grants (up to €20,000 or €30,000 per project) plus mandatory non-monetary mentoring and networking activities. Co-funding: not mandatory but recommended; applicants are advised that the grant should cover up to 80 percent of the project budget.

Application format and stages

Application type:open single-stage call (applicants submit full proposals by the published deadline). Number of stages: 1 (eligibility check followed by expert assessment and selection).

Success rates

Exact success rates are not published. The call will fund at least 15 international projects from the pool of eligible applicants and the total budget of €450,000. The effective success rate will depend on the number and quality of eligible applications received.

Explicitly mentioned countries and regions

1. 1Ukraine (explicit requirement for at least one partner to be based/legally registered in Ukraine or operating in exile)
2. 2Creative Europe countries (includes the 27 EU Member States and additional participating third countries as defined by Creative Europe participation lists) ¹
3. 3Implementation organisations named: Netherlands (European Cultural Foundation, Amsterdam), Ukraine (Insha Osvita, VETERANKA Movement, Kyiv), Germany (zusa, Berlin)

Templates and application structure guidance

The official application form on the grant platform contains the required narrative sections and a budget form. Based on the call text, applicants should prepare the following elements in their submission:

1. 1Lead applicant and partner legal information and confirmation of legal status (including proof of non-commercial/charitable status for private organisations where relevant).
2. 2Project title, summary and main objectives aligned with call priorities.
3. 3Consortium description: roles, capacities, complementarities, and motivation to collaborate; evidence of Ukrainian-led participation where applicable.
4. 4Detailed workplan and timeline (activities must occur within the permitted project period and not before 1 February 2027).
5. 5Budget and budget justification using the provided budget form, indicating whether applying for the €20,000 or €30,000 category and demonstrating proportionality and realism. Include anticipated co-financing if any (recommended grant share up to 80 percent).
6. 6Risk and feasibility assessment including procurement/administrative timing considerations and contingency planning for contracting delays.
7. 7Impact and sustainability plan: expected community impact, vision beyond project period, environmental sustainability / fair and green transition considerations and sensitivity to ecological impacts of war.
8. 8Ethics, inclusion and safeguarding measures, particularly addressing vulnerable groups and veterans.
9. 9Confirmation that the project does not receive funding from another Creative Europe scheme and is not submitted by a political party.

Contact and further resources

Apply and access forms at culture-of-solidarity-fund.grantplatform.com. For technical questions about the call email chs@culturalfoundation.eu. Registration for the matchmaking/info session on 15 September 2026 is available via the Zoom registration link provided within the call text.

Summary: what is this opportunity about and who should apply

This call offers targeted, short-term collaboration grants to partnerships that combine Ukrainian cultural organisations (based in Ukraine or in exile) with organisations in Creative Europe countries to design and deliver cultural activities that foster cultural participation and integration of displaced Ukrainians and refugees from Ukraine, with special attention to vulnerable populations such as veterans and their mental well-being. Grants are modest (up to €20,000 or €30,000) and intended for practical, implementable projects up to 12 months in duration. Applicants should be organisations active in the cultural, creative or civil sector, able to demonstrate complementary capacities and a clear plan for meaningful cross-border exchange, impact and sustainability. The programme also provides compulsory mentoring and networking support to grantees and expects applicants to plan for administrative timelines and possible contracting delays.

Footnotes

1. 1See the Creative Europe list of participating countries for the authoritative list of participating third countries and the exact status of candidate and EEA/EFTA countries: List of non-EU Participating Countries in the Creative Europe Programme (version referenced by the call).

This is a single stage Creative Europe cascade funding call for cross border cultural collaborations between organisations in Ukraine and organisations in Creative Europe countries, with a focus on improving access to culture, supporting the integration of displaced Ukrainians and refugees, and strengthening mental well being, especially for vulnerable groups and veterans.[2][11] The call is the second and final collaboration grants round, with at least 15 international projects expected to be funded.[2][11]

What the opportunity is about

The call supports collaborative projects that use arts and culture to foster cross border networking, exchange professional experience and good practice, build intercultural dialogue and mental health support, and strengthen the professional development of cultural managers.[2][11] Priority is given to partnerships involving Ukrainian led organisations, whether based in Ukraine or operating in exile, together with non Ukrainian organisations, especially those from neighbouring Creative Europe countries.[2][11]

The broader Culture Helps Solidarity project runs until 2028 and is implemented by the European Cultural Foundation, Insha Osvita, zusa, and VETERANKA Movement, with the collaboration grants forming one of three support streams alongside individual grants and thematic project grants.[2][11]

Who can apply

Applications must be submitted by a lead applicant on behalf of a partnership of at least two organisations.[2][11] At least one partner must be a civic, public, or private organisation with legal status in Ukraine, active in Ukraine or in exile, and operating in the cultural, creative, or civil sector.[2][11]

At least one partner must be a civic, public, or private organisation with legal status and active in one of the Creative Europe countries, and operating in the cultural, creative, or civil sector.[2][11] At least one partner must be a cultural organisation or otherwise actively working on the integration of displaced Ukrainians or refugees from Ukraine, with particular attention to veterans.[2][11]

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, demonstrate sufficient English to work and communicate effectively, and submit a complete application form and budget in English.[2][11] Political parties are not eligible, and strictly humanitarian initiatives or individual cost of living support requests will not be considered.[2][11]

Funding amount and budget rules

The grant size depends on partnership size:up to €20,000 for partnerships of two organisations, and up to €30,000 for partnerships of three or more organisations.[2][11] Applicants must clearly state which grant amount they are requesting.[2][11]

Co financing is not mandatory, but the call recommends that the grant cover no more than 80 percent of the total project budget.[2][11] Eligible cost categories include production, marketing, advertising, venue rental and running costs, IT, communication and production tools and materials, travel, expert fees, artists honoraria, legal services, staff costs, operational costs, and, where justified, replacement or purchase of other goods, means, or services needed for delivery.[2][11]

Project duration and timing

Projects may run for up to 12 months, and activities may not start before 1 February 2027.[2][11] The call opened on 1 September 2026 and closes on 10 November 2026 at 13:00 Brussels time, which is 14:00 Kyiv time.[2][11]

Selected projects are expected to be assessed and selected by the end of January 2027, with final projects ending on 31 January 2028 and final reports due by 29 February 2028.[2][11]

Selection criteria

Applications are assessed on relevance to the call theme, quality of partnership, authenticity and experimentation, feasibility and implementation potential, impact, and sustainability.[2][11] The sustainability criterion includes environmental sustainability, fair and green transition, and the ecological impact of war.[2][11]

A balanced and realistic budget, clear complementarity between partners, innovative cultural collaboration methods, and a credible path to longer term cooperation are all important in the assessment.[2][11]

What selected applicants receive

Awarded partnerships will receive one on one mentoring support, community calls, and an in person networking meeting, and participation in these activities is compulsory because they are part of the grant package.[2][11] The call also offers a matchmaking platform and an online info and networking event for organisations seeking partners.[2][11]

How to apply and contact information

Applications and budget forms are available through the Culture of Solidarity Fund grant platform.[11] The call also provides an online matchmaking and Q and A session on 15 September 2026 at 14:00 Amsterdam time and 15:00 Kyiv time, and applicants can contact chs@culturalfoundation.eu for further questions.[11]

Footnotes

1. 1Official call information and related pages are available on the Culture Helps Solidarity website and call pages, including the collaboration grants page and the calls overview.[2][11]
2. 2The opportunity is identified in the EU Funding and Tenders Portal as project acronym Culture Helps S, grant agreement number 101237762, with the related call identifier CREA-CULT.[2]