your first step to cultural funding information

Trans-National funding programme and Structural funds information, including EU funds for third country programmes.

The Trans-National funds support either projects involving partners from (usually) at least three different EU countries or exchanges or visits of individuals or groups between different EU countries. Please note that the EU will only fund part of the costs of a project - between 50-80% depending on the programme- you and your partners will need to find the remaining funds from other sources.

Each section includes links to the relevant EC (European Commission) website and also to the UK Contact Point who will be able to provide further information relevant to potential UK applicants.

Please note that for the culture, education and youth programmes, there is now a separate agency (EACEA - Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency) which manages these programmes. In some cases therefore, you will be taken to an EACEA webpage rather than an EC webpage.

ARTS, CULTURE & RELATED AREAS

CULTURE (2007-2013)

This is the EU's funding programme for arts and heritage, including literary translations. Please note that at present it will only fund co-operation projects involving partner organisations from at least 3 different eligible European countries. The EU will provide up to 50% of the costs of such projects. There is an annual deadline - usually 31 October - for project applications, and two deadlines a year (1 April & 1 October) for literary translation projects.

UK Contact Point (Visiting Arts)

The following may also be useful:

Listing of all EU Cultural Contact Points
CUPID Database of all projects supported by the previous Culture 2000 programme

Also available: directory of all projects with UK partners supported by Culture 2000. This is available to purchase for £15.

Prizes

• European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture
• European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage- EuropaNostra Awards
• Literature Prize
• Music - European Border Breakers Award

These are competitions with an annual deadline.

Media 2007

This is the EU's funding programme for the audiovisual sector- it funds development costs, training programmes, distribution initiatives, etc. There is usually at least one deadline every 3 months for one of the various strands of the programme.

UK Contact Point: Media Desk

Europe for Citizens

The DCMS is the UK contact point for the Europe for Citizens Programme

Action 1: Town Twinning
This covers town twinning citizens' meetings , and the networks of twinned towns.

Action 2: Active Civil Society This covers the following measures:

1. Structural support for think tanks
2. Structural support for civil society organisations at European level
3. Support to projects initiated by civil society organisations (PDF)

Action 3: Together for Europe
This action aims at deepening the concept of active European citizenship and at promoting its understanding all over Europe, therefore contributing to bringing Europe closer to its citizens' through high profile events, studies, and information tools.

Action 4: Active European Remembrance
This action focuses on preserving the sites and archives associated with the deportations, as well as commemorating the victims of Nazism and Stalinism.

Sport

The EU is currently exploring the possibility of developing a funding programme aimed at the sport sector. More information is available on the EU's website.

Tourism

There are no specific trans-national funding programmes for tourism - partly as this sector is very well supported by the Structural Funds. There are however some publications, for example on cultural tourism, that may be of interest.

Languages

EU funding for language-based projects is through the Transversal Programme of the Lifelong Learning programme - see under Education & Training below. However, the EU provides support for European languages through a number of other initiatives, agencies and websites:

• Action Plan for for Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity
• The Languages of Europe
• Regional & Minority Languages
• European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages
• Mercator project
• Mercator Media

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH

LIFELONG LEARNING

Calls for Proposals: via EC / via EACEA

ECOTEC is the UK Contact Point for the following programmes:

Leonardo da Vinci

This focuses on vocational training but this actually means 'fit for employment' so it can include activities based at universities and other HE institutions. The programme supports trans-national projects, placements, exchanges, etc.

Partnerships are projects are about co-operation and exchange of information at a European level. The funding available allows you to work with partners from across Europe to share practice, discuss problems and compare solutions on a particular topic.

Mobility actions allow you to:

• organise work experience for your trainees or employees;
• increase the skills of your staff through a short job shadowing placement;
• help those looking for work gain new skills.

This action aims to improve the skills of the UK's workforce. You can apply to send individuals to another European country. Grants contribute to project management, travel costs and living expenses.

Multilateral Projects (also known as Development of Innovation projects) are large-scale European projects which aim to develop innovative materials for vocational education and training. You will need at least 3 partners in 3 different participating countries (including your own organisation) to be eligible, and you can ask for up to 200,000 euro per year to support up to 2 years of activity.

Networks are large-scale European networks which aim to support the sharing of ideas, information and good practice in adult education. You will need at least 5 partners in 5 different participating countries (including your own organisation) to be eligible, and you can ask for up to 200,000 euro per year to support up to 3 years of activity.

Accompanying Measures aim to promote the objectives and results of Leonardo da Vinci projects - they may cover communication activities, thematic monitoring of projects, and the dissemination and exploitation of project results

The Transfer of Innovation (TOI) action is designed to adapt existing innovative practice to new settings through working with transnational partners. TOI projects aim to:

• adapt innovative content (including from previous projects);
• produce tangible products;
• transfer the results to new contexts (e.g. target groups, sectors, countries);
• integrate the lessons learned into vocational education and training systems at regional, national or European level or into sectoral training systems and practices or into companies.

UK Contact Point

Grundtvig

This focuses on adult education and lifelong learning, and supports trans-national projects, exchanges, and also short 'go and see' visits with grants of up to 1000 euros. It has also specifically prioritized projects linking education with culture.

Grundtvig Partnership projects are about co-operation and exchange of information at a European level. The funding available allows you to work with partners from across Europe to share practice, discuss problems and compare solutions on a particular topic.

Grundtvig Multilateral Projects are large-scale European projects which aim to develop innovative materials for adult education. You will need at least 3 partners in 3 different participating countries (including your own organisation) to be eligible, and you can ask for up to 150,000 euro per year to support up to 2 years of activity.

Grundtvig Networks are large-scale European networks which aim to support the sharing of ideas, information and good practice in adult education. You will need at least 10 partners in 10 different participating countries (including your own organisation) to be eligible, and you can ask for up to 150,000 euro per year to support up to 3 years of activity.

Grundtvig Accompanying Measures are projects which will clearly contribute to achieving the programme's objectives - e.g. awareness raising, conferences, training, training materials, analysis, dissemination activities, cross-programme initiatives, etc.

UK Contact Point

Transveral Prgorammes

The Transversal programme supports education and training organisations in the areas of policy, languages, ICT and dissemination. The UK's learning professionals can benefit from Study Visits offering the chance to exchange expertise in education with European colleagues.

This includes:

• Mobility
• Large Scale Projects
• European Award for Languages

UK Contact Point

Comenius

Comenius Partnership projects are about co-operation and exchange of information at a European level. The funding available allows you to work with partners from across Europe to share practice, discuss problems and compare solutions on a particular topic. Partnerships can be either multilateral (three or more linked schools in different eligible countries) or bilateral (two linked schools in different eligible countries); projects can incorporate development, language elements and/or curricular activities involving pupils into their bilateral or multilateral projects, as well as a cl ass exchange. Projects are defined as either small, medium or large, and this is determined based on the type of project and the number of mobilities (staff and/or pupils travelling) per project.

Comenius Multilateral Projects are undertaken by partnerships working together to improve the initial or in-service training of teachers and other categories of personnel working in schools, to develop strategies or exchange experience to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom.

Comenius Networks encourage the networking of educational establishments and organizations involved in multuilateral projects on subjects of common interest. They are designed to promote European co-operation and innovation in specific thematic areas of particular importance to school education in a European context.

Comenius Accompanying Measures are projects which will clearly contribute to achieving the programme's objectives - e.g. awareness raising, conferences, training, training materials, analysis, dissemination activities, cross-programme initiatives, etc.

UK Contact Point

Erasmus

This focus on higher education, and covers student exchanges and also student placement programmes.

The purpose of Erasmus is to improve the quality of higher education and strengthen its European dimension. It does this by encouraging transnational cooperation between universities, fostering the European mobility of students and teachers, and contributing to improved transparency and academic recognition of qualifications and studies throughout the European Union. Higher education institutions apply for the Erasmus University Charter (EUC) to the European Commission. The awarding of an EUC gives the institution the right to participate in activities supported by the Erasmus programme. Once an institution receives a Charter, it can apply for funding for activities such as Student Mobility and Curriculum Development projects.Check above website for more info.

UK Contact Point

Youth in Action

EC Webpage

EACEA Webpage/ UK Contact Point

There are permanent calls for proposals for the Youth programme for the 2007-2013 period:For projects submitted to a National Agency there are five application deadlines per year:Projects starting between / Application deadline1 May and 30 September / 1 February 1 July and 30 November / 1 April 1 September and 31 January / 1 June 1 December and 30 April / 1 September 1 February and 31 July / 1 November For projects submitted to the Executive Agency there are three application deadlines a year: Projects starting between / Application deadline1 August and 31 December / 1 February 1 December and 30 April / 1 June1 March and 31 July / 1 September

This programme supports a range of activities:

Action 1 - Youth for Europe
Sub-Action 1.1 - Youth Exchanges
Sub-Action 1.2 - Youth Initiatives
Sub-Action 1.3 - Youth Democracy Projects
Thematic Networking

Action 2 - European Voluntary Service
The aim of the European Voluntary Service is to support young people's participation in various forms of voluntary activities, both within and outside the European Union. Under this Action, young people take part individually or in groups in non-profit, unpaid activities.

Action 3 - Youth in the World
Sub-Action 3.1 - Cooperation with the Neighbouring Countries of the European Union
Sub-Action 3.2 - Cooperation with Other Countries of the World

Action 4 - Youth Support Systems
Sub-Action 4.1 - Support to bodies active at European level in the youth field
Sub-Action 4.2 - Support to the European Youth Forum
Sub-Action 4.3 - Training and networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations
Sub-Action 4.4 - Projects encouraging innovation and quality
Sub-Action 4.5 - Information activities for young people and those active in youth work and youth organisations
Sub-Action 4.6 - Partnerships
Sub-Action 4.7 - Support for the structures of the Programme
Sub-Action 4.8 - Adding to the value of the Programme

Action 5 - Support for European cooperation in the youth field
Sub-Action 5.1 - Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy
Sub-Action 5.2 - Support for activities to bring about better knowledge of the youth field
Sub-Action 5.3 - Co-operation with international organisations

YOUTH PORTAL

ENVIRONMENT

LIFE Plus

This is the EU environment programme, and includes support for the natural heritage - which can include landscapes and gardens.

UK Contact Point (DEFRA)

TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Cultural projects have been supported through these programmes in the past, especially in the areas of digitilisation of museum objects, heritage, libraries and archives. There are some links below to databases of previously successful projects which may help you understand the focus of these programmes.

7th Framework Programme

The 7th Framework Programme is the EU's funding programme and gateway to European research and technological development. To view current opportunities, visit Calls and Deadlines

e - Content Plus (2005-2008)

Listing of UK Contact Points
Recommended contact for cultural project ideas: Peter Walters

Websites listing cultural projects supported in the past
6th Framework Programme
5th Framework Programme
Cultivate (information on a key FP5 initiative, now concluded)
DigiCULT Project

Competitiveness & Innovation Framework Programme (CIP)

CIP aims to encourage the competitiveness of European Enterprises through a variety of schemes such as ICT and innovative practices. You may also find it useful to read more about the EU policy framework for the information society and media, visit i2010