First Call for Proposals for Project Grants

Culture Helps Solidarity (first call) provides small project grants of up to €7,000 to support cultural and artistic initiatives that strengthen community connections among people affected by the war in Ukraine, prioritizing displaced persons, refugees, veterans and communities facing social fragmentation. Eligible applicants are individuals (18+) and non-commercial civic, public or private organisations based in Ukraine or any Creative Europe participating country; applications must be submitted in English or Ukrainian via the programme portal. The call offers a total of €105,000 in this round with at least 15 awards, projects may run up to six months and may not start before 1 July 2026. Application deadline: 16 April 2026, 13:00 Brussels time; final project end date for this round is 31 December 2026 with reports due by 31 January 2027.

What it funds

Small-scale cultural and artistic projects that strengthen community connections among people affected by the war in Ukraine, using participatory, community-based, dialogical or experimental cultural practices. Projects should create safe, meaningful encounters that rebuild trust and solidarity.

Who can apply

Individuals (18+) and civic, public or private non-commercial organisations operating in the cultural, creative or civil sector, based in Ukraine or any Creative Europe participating country. Proposals by political parties, strictly humanitarian cash-support requests, or projects already funded by another Creative Europe scheme are excluded.

Grant size and budget rules:Each selected project may receive up to €7,000; co-financing is not mandatory but the grant should ideally cover no more than 80% of the total project budget ¹.

1. 1Deadline: 16 April 2026, 13:00 Brussels time (14:00 Kyiv)
2. 2Project duration: up to 6 months (projects may start no earlier than 1 July 2026)
3. 3Number of awards: at least 15 projects in this first round (minimum 60 across four calls)
4. 4Eligible applicants: individuals and non-commercial organisations in Ukraine or Creative Europe countries

Assessment focuses on thematic relevance to community (dis-)connections, applicant capacity, proposal quality and coherence, innovation in approach, and potential sustainability of impact. Participation in the informational webinar or workshop is encouraged and may positively influence evaluation.

How to apply:Submit the completed application form and budget in English or Ukrainian via the grant platform; guidance and the budget template are available on the call page ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Application and full call documentation: culture-of-solidarity-fund.grantplatform.com.

This is the first thematic open call for small project grants under the EU co-funded programme Culture Helps Solidarity, implemented by the European Cultural Foundation with Insha Osvita, zusa, and the VETERANKA Movement. The call focuses on strengthening community connections among people affected by the war in Ukraine through cultural and artistic practices. It offers up to €7,000 per project for up to 6 months of activities starting no earlier than 1 July 2026.

Official sources:Call notice on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: First Call for Proposals for Project Grants EU F&T Portal call page. Application portal and templates: Culture of Solidarity Fund platform Application portal. Programme reference: CREA-CULT — Fostering Ukrainians’ access to culture and cultural heritage. Implementing project: Culture Helps Solidarity (Grant Agreement 101237762).

Call snapshot

Thematic focus of this first call

Theme:Community (Dis-)Connections: How Culture Helps and Has Its Limits. The call responds to the reshaping of community ties due to displacement, relocation, and return from military service. It supports small-scale cultural and artistic initiatives that create meaningful encounters, rebuild trust, and foster renewed forms of belonging for communities affected by the war in Ukraine, including displaced persons, diaspora communities, and veterans and women veterans.

• Priority communities: displaced persons and refugees; people navigating relocation within Ukraine or abroad; veterans and women veterans; communities facing social fragmentation or emotional strain.
• Preferred approaches: socially engaged art; co-creation and participatory or dialogical practices; collaborative or experimental art; community storytelling; mobile and accessible cultural formats.
• Core expectation: activities must enable genuine connection across differences, strengthen emotional wellbeing in safe and appropriate ways, and demonstrate sensitivity to the dynamics and vulnerabilities of the communities involved.

What is offered and what costs are eligible

• Grant size: up to €7,000 per project.
• Eligible duration: up to 6 months. Activities may not begin before 1 July 2026.
• Eligible cost categories include: production costs; marketing and advertising; rental and running costs for studios and cultural venues; IT, communication and production tools and materials; travel costs; expert fees; artists’ honoraria; legal services; staff and operational costs; and, upon special request and where appropriate (e.g. when lost/destroyed), purchase of other goods, means, or services necessary to implement the project.
• Cost discipline: all costs must be proportionate and justifiable in relation to the proposed activities.

Co-funding guidance:Co-financing is not mandatory. However, it is recommended that the grant covers no more than 80 percent of the total project budget, implying applicants are encouraged to contribute or mobilize additional resources for approximately 20 percent.

Eligibility criteria

• Applications must be submitted in English or Ukrainian and include a complete application form and budget.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Eligible applicants: individuals and civic, public, or private organizations with non-commercial status operating in the cultural, creative, or civil sector.
• Geographic eligibility: applicants based in Ukraine or in any of the Creative Europe participating countries.
• Exclusions: the proposed project must not receive funding from any other Creative Europe scheme; proposals from political parties are ineligible; strictly humanitarian initiatives and individual requests for cost-of-living support are ineligible.

Creative Europe participating countries reference:Beyond EU Member States, Creative Europe participation includes the following non-EU countries: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia (limited to specific strands/actions), Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova (limited to specific strands/actions), Armenia (limited to Culture strand and Creative Europe Desks action), and Tunisia (limited to Culture strand and Creative Europe Desks action). See the official list for Creative Europe participation status EU Grants: List of participating countries (CREA) V10.0, 15.01.2026.

Selection and evaluation

Following an eligibility check, eligible applications are evaluated by internal and external experts from diverse geographic, cultural, and professional backgrounds. At least fifteen projects will be selected for support in this round.

Selection criteria:Relevance to the thematic focus; capacity and competence of the applicant; quality and coherence of the proposal including community understanding and feasibility; authenticity and experimentation in approach; and sustainability of action including potential for continued impact and environmental responsibility.

How to apply and key dates

• Submit applications online via the Culture of Solidarity Fund platform: Application portal.
• Download and complete the required budget template from the application portal.
• Submission deadline: Thursday, 16 April 2026, 13:00 Amsterdam / 14:00 Kyiv.
• Projects may not start before 1 July 2026.

Capacity building and information sessions

• Optional webinar to deepen thematic focus: 5 March 2026, 15:00–18:00 Kyiv / 14:00–17:00 Amsterdam. Language: Ukrainian with English simultaneous translation. Registration link provided in the call text.
• Online info session: 9 March at 14:00 Amsterdam / 15:00 Kyiv, with Q&A on application process and criteria. Registration link provided in the call text. Participation is optional but may positively influence evaluation.

Future thematic calls in this programme

• Call & Workshop No. 2: Memory in Action (June 2026) — Focus on stories of women veterans; themes include trauma-informed storytelling, ethical frameworks for personal archives, and community-led commemoration.
• Call & Workshop No. 3: Community Spaces as Safer Environments (January 2027) — Focus on displacement anchor spaces, safer spaces, intergenerational resilience, working with people with combat experience, destigmatizing mental health.
• Call & Workshop No. 4: Ecologies of Care (May 2027) — Focus on ecological rupture caused by war; themes include living with damaged landscapes, ancestral knowledge, regenerative futures.

Contact

Email for queries:chs@culturalfoundation.eu. Implementing partners: European Cultural Foundation (Amsterdam, NL), Insha Osvita (Kyiv, UA), zusa (Berlin, DE), and the VETERANKA Movement (Kyiv, UA).

Structured categorization and extraction

Eligible Applicant Types:Individual artists and cultural practitioners; nonprofits and NGOs; civic organizations; public bodies; private organizations with non-commercial status; community organizations; cultural and creative sector entities; civil society organizations. Startups or companies with commercial status are not listed as eligible unless they can demonstrate non-commercial status for the proposed action. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Funding Type:Grant provided as cascade funding (financial support to third parties) under the EU Creative Europe programme via Culture Helps Solidarity. Modality: small project grants.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant projects are eligible. A consortium is not required. Teams within an organization or collaborations can be part of a single applicant’s project implementation, but multi-beneficiary consortia are not mandated.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Applicants must be based in Ukraine or in any Creative Europe participating country. This includes all EU Member States and the non-EU participating countries listed in the current Creative Europe participation document. Activities may take place in Ukraine, across Europe, and cross-border, as long as they align with the call’s thematic objectives and the applicant’s eligibility base.

Target Sector:Culture and creative sectors with a strong emphasis on community engagement, social cohesion, inclusion of displaced persons and diaspora, and veteran and women veteran wellbeing. Relevant domains include arts, participatory culture, community storytelling, cultural heritage access, and socially engaged artistic practices.

Mentioned Countries:Ukraine; Netherlands; Germany; Austria; Iceland; Norway; Liechtenstein; Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Georgia; Kosovo; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Serbia; Moldova; Armenia; Tunisia. Regions mentioned: European Union; Creative Europe participating countries.

Project Stage:Short-cycle implementation of small-scale cultural initiatives. The expectation is for practical delivery, facilitation, and demonstration of community-building cultural activities rather than early-stage research. Suitable stages: implementation, pilot/demonstration, community validation.

Funding Amount:Up to €7,000 per project. Total budget for this first call is €105,000. At least 15 awards are planned in this round, with at least 60 project grants expected across the full programme duration.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission via the dedicated online grant platform. Applicants must complete the application form and attach the budget template provided on the platform.

Nature of Support:Financial support in the form of small grants. The broader Culture Helps Solidarity programme also offers non-monetary support such as mentoring, learning, and peer exchange opportunities; however, the core of this specific call is direct financial support to implement projects.

Application Stages:1 stage. Single-stage submission followed by an eligibility check and expert evaluation.

Success Rates:Not specified in the call documentation. The round intends to fund at least 15 projects; actual success rates depend on the total number of eligible applications received.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-financing is not mandatory. It is recommended that the grant covers a maximum of 80 percent of the total project budget, encouraging applicants to secure or contribute approximately 20 percent from other sources.

Evaluation criteria: detailed interpretation

• Relevance to theme: Clear alignment with community connection aims, addressing needs of displaced persons, diaspora, veterans and women veterans, and fostering trust and belonging through cultural practice.
• Capacity and competence: Demonstrated experience working with target communities and appropriate team composition and motivation.
• Quality and coherence: Well-articulated aims, methods, and realistic results; strong contextual understanding of communities involved; feasible timeline and justified budget.
• Authenticity and experimentation: Fresh, distinctive, and suitable participatory or dialogical methodologies for fragmented or vulnerable communities.
• Sustainability of action: Potential for continued impact beyond the grant, with attention to environmental responsibility.

What is not funded or will be deprioritized

• Projects already receiving funding from any other Creative Europe scheme.
• Proposals submitted by political parties.
• Strictly humanitarian initiatives.
• Individual requests for cost-of-living support.
• Projects relying primarily on AI-generated content or concepts may receive lower priority compared to those grounded in human expertise, critical thinking, and professional or artistic judgment.

Templates and application structure

Applicants must complete the online form and upload the required budget template available from the application portal. While exact fields depend on the portal configuration, the call text indicates the following content will be necessary to address the criteria and eligibility. The structure below can be used to prepare materials before filling out the form.

1. 1Applicant details: legal name, type (individual, civic, public, private non-commercial), country of registration/residence, contact information, and confirmation of eligibility (18+, based in Ukraine or Creative Europe country, operating in cultural/creative/civil sector).
2. 2Project summary: title, brief abstract, target communities, geographic scope, and start/end dates within the allowed window (not before 1 July 2026; up to 6 months).
3. 3Thematic alignment: narrative explaining how the project responds to Community (Dis-)Connections, including how it fosters meaningful encounters, trust, and belonging among affected communities.
4. 4Methodology and activities: description of cultural and artistic practices to be used (e.g., co-creation, participatory/dialogical practices, community storytelling), accessibility and mobility strategies, safeguarding and ethical considerations for working with vulnerable groups including veterans and women veterans.
5. 5Community understanding and participation: context analysis, needs of displaced persons/diaspora/veterans, approach to inclusivity, and measures to ensure safe, appropriate engagement.
6. 6Team capacity: roles, previous experience with similar communities, and relevant competencies; if collaboration is foreseen within a single applicant’s project, clarify partner roles and expertise.
7. 7Work plan and timeline: milestones, schedule, and feasibility within the 6-month maximum duration.
8. 8Outcomes and impact: intended outputs, indicators of strengthened connections and emotional wellbeing, potential for continued impact beyond the grant period.
9. 9Environmental responsibility: steps to minimize environmental footprint of activities (e.g., sustainable materials, low-impact mobility).
10. 10Budget: complete the provided template with cost lines such as production, venue rental and running costs, IT/communication/production tools and materials, travel, expert fees, artists’ honoraria, legal services, staff and operational costs, and any special request items for replacement of lost/destroyed goods necessary for implementation. All costs must be proportionate and justified.
11. 11Non-duplication of funding: statement confirming the project does not receive support from any other Creative Europe scheme.
12. 12Language: confirm submission in English or Ukrainian.

Administrative identifiers

Practical notes

• Time zones: The deadline is set in Brussels time. The call text also notes 13:00 Amsterdam and 14:00 Kyiv on the same date.
• Participation in the thematic workshop and info session is optional but may be positively considered during assessment.
• Projects may be cross-border or involve diaspora communities, provided applicant location and sector eligibility are satisfied.
• Plan for reporting: final reports are due by 31 January 2027 for projects ending by 31 December 2026.

Comprehensive summary

The First Call for Project Grants under Culture Helps Solidarity is a targeted, small-scale funding opportunity designed to support cultural and artistic initiatives that rebuild and strengthen community connections among people affected by the war in Ukraine. With grants of up to €7,000 and a project duration of up to six months, the call emphasizes participatory and dialogical cultural practices that foster trust, belonging, and emotional wellbeing across differences. Eligible applicants are individuals and non-commercial organizations based in Ukraine or any Creative Europe participating country, operating in the cultural, creative, or civil sectors. The call applies a single-stage submission via an online portal and evaluates proposals for thematic relevance, applicant capacity, methodological quality and feasibility, authenticity and experimentation, and sustainability and environmental responsibility. Costs can include production, venues, tools and materials, travel, expert and artist fees, legal services, and staff and operational expenses, provided they are proportionate and justified. While co-financing is not required, applicants are encouraged to keep EU support to a maximum of 80 percent of the project budget. At least 15 projects will be funded in this first round, contributing to a total of at least 60 awards across four thematic calls running to 2028. The programme also features mentoring, learning, and peer-exchange components, with optional workshops and information sessions that can positively inform assessments. Overall, this opportunity is well-suited to practitioners and organizations ready to implement community-engaged cultural work that addresses displacement, transition, and return, and that recognizes both the transformative potential and ethical limits of cultural interventions in fragile social contexts.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The Culture Helps Solidarity programme provides grant funding to support small-scale cultural and artistic initiatives that strengthen community connections among people affected by the war in Ukraine. This first call prioritizes projects addressing community (dis)connections through cultural practice, particularly for displaced persons, refugees, veterans, and communities experiencing social fragmentation. The programme is co-funded by the European Union through the Creative Europe programme and implemented by a consortium including the European Cultural Foundation, Insha Osvita, zusa, and VETERANKA Movement.

Grant Amount:Individual projects may receive up to €7,000. At least 15 projects will be supported in this first call, with a total of €105,000 available. The programme anticipates awarding at least 60 project grants across four thematic calls over its duration.

Key Deadlines and Timeline

Who Can Apply

Applicants must be individuals or organizations (civic, public, or private with non-commercial status) based in Ukraine or any Creative Europe programme country, including EU member states and associated countries such as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and others. Individuals must be at least 18 years old. Applicants must work in the cultural, creative, or civil sector. ¹

Eligibility Requirements

• Applications must be submitted in English or Ukrainian with a complete application form and budget template
• Applicants must be above 18 years of age
• Organizations must be based in Ukraine or a Creative Europe programme country
• Proposed projects must not receive funding from any other Creative Europe scheme
• Political parties cannot apply
• Strictly humanitarian initiatives or individual requests for cost-of-living support will not be considered
• Applicants should provide critical thinking and artistic judgment rather than AI-generated content; proposals relying primarily on AI may receive lower priority

Thematic Focus: Community (Dis-)Connections

This first call addresses community connections across Ukraine and within Ukrainian diasporas reshaped by war consequences. Projects should respond to social and emotional complexities arising from forced displacement, relocation, military service, and community fragmentation. Cultural and artistic practices are positioned as mechanisms for reconnection across differences, trust-building, and renewed solidarity. The programme recognizes both the value and limitations of cultural work in addressing trauma and structural barriers.

Priority Target Communities:Displaced persons and refugees, people navigating relocation within Ukraine or abroad, veterans and women veterans who may experience specific vulnerabilities, and communities facing social fragmentation or emotional strain.

Eligible Project Types and Activities

Projects may take diverse cultural forms and employ creative methodologies. Eligible approaches include co-creation processes, participatory and dialogical practices, collaborative or experimental art, community storytelling, and mobile and accessible cultural formats. The core requirement is that projects create genuine possibilities for people to connect across differences and strengthen emotional wellbeing through cultural practice, responding sensitively to the specific dynamics and vulnerabilities of target communities.

Eligible Costs:Production costs, marketing and advertising, rental and running costs for studios and cultural venues, IT and communication tools, production materials, travel costs, expert fees, artists' honoraria, legal services, and staff and operational costs. All amounts must be proportionate and justifiable. Upon special request and where appropriate (for example, when items are lost or destroyed), purchase of goods and means necessary for project implementation may be covered.

Funding Conditions and Co-financing

Although co-financing is not mandatory, it is recommended that the EU grant covers a maximum of 80 percent of the total project budget. Project duration may extend up to 6 months, with activities not permitted to begin before 1 July 2026. Project activities must conclude by 31 December 2026, with final reports due by 31 January 2027. ²

Selection and Evaluation Process

Following an eligibility check, proposals will be assessed by a team of internal and external experts representing diverse geographic, cultural, and professional backgrounds. The evaluation considers five key criteria: relevance to the thematic focus on community connection and addressing vulnerable groups; capacity and competence of the applicant with appropriate experience for target communities; quality and coherence of proposal including feasibility and budget justification; authenticity and experimentation with fresh or distinctive cultural approaches suitable for communities experiencing fragmentation; and sustainability of action with potential for continued impact beyond the grant period.

Evaluation Note:Participation in the thematic workshop on 5 March 2026 is optional but will be taken into account in assessment and may positively influence evaluation outcomes.

Future Funding Opportunities

The Culture Helps Solidarity programme will launch three additional thematic calls over its duration, each paired with a workshop to deepen practice and facilitate peer exchange across Ukraine and Europe. Call 2 (June 2026) will focus on Memory in Action, gathering and sharing stories of women veterans with dignity and care. Call 3 (January 2027) will examine Community Spaces as Safer Environments, focusing on how community spaces serve as anchor points for people in displacement and support integration as a shared responsibility. Call 4 (May 2027) will address Ecologies of Care, inviting cultural initiatives to respond to Ukraine's ecological destruction as a human tragedy and opportunity to reimagine interdependence with the natural world.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official portal at Culture of Solidarity Fund Grant Platform. Applicants are encouraged to review the budget template and application guidelines available on the portal. For technical questions, contact the programme team at chs@culturalfoundation.eu.

Support Resources:A thematic webinar will be held on 5 March 2026 from 15:00-18:00 Kyiv time / 14:00-17:00 Amsterdam time in Ukrainian with English simultaneous translation. An information session will follow on 9 March 2026 at 14:00 Amsterdam time / 15:00 Kyiv time via Zoom with Q&A regarding application process and criteria. Both events provide opportunities to deepen understanding of the thematic focus and connect with programme partners.

Programme Implementation

Culture Helps Solidarity is co-funded by the EU Creative Europe Programme and implemented by a partnership of the European Cultural Foundation (Amsterdam), Insha Osvita (Kyiv), zusa (Berlin), and the VETERANKA Movement (Kyiv). The programme runs until 2028 and combines three grant schemes (individual grants, thematic project grants, and collaboration grants) with mentoring, learning, and peer exchange activities.

Key Applicant Considerations

• Verify your organization or location of residence is eligible under Creative Europe programme rules
• Ensure your project addresses the specific thematic focus on community (dis)connections with clear relevance to vulnerable populations
• Demonstrate understanding of target communities' needs, including specific vulnerabilities of veterans where applicable
• Develop realistic timelines and fully justified budgets proportionate to proposed activities
• Consider sustainability beyond the grant period and potential for continued impact
• Prioritize authentic and creative methodologies over formulaic approaches
• Prepare proposals using human expertise and critical thinking rather than relying on AI-generated content
• Budget co-financing at or above 20 percent of total project cost to strengthen applications
• Submit all required documentation including complete application form and budget template
• Review participation in the 5 March workshop as opportunity to strengthen proposal understanding of thematic focus

Footnotes

1. 1Entities subject to EU restrictive measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union and Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05 are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
2. 2Grant agreement number for this programme is 101237762 under call code CREA-CULT, Fostering Ukrainians' access to culture and cultural heritage.