The Cluster Fund is EUNIC’s primary instrument to financially support colleagues working in EUNIC clusters around the globe in delivering cultural relations activities. It was initiated in 2012 and has up to today financed over 200 cultural relations projects worldwide.

The purpose of this call is to co-finance cluster projects that:
• contribute to the shared commitment to the cultural relations approach and to the implementation of the EUNIC Strategic Framework of 2020-2024 by encouraging people-to-people contacts based on local consultation and co-creation;
• go beyond projection of the diversity of European cultures and rather strengthen cooperation through mutual listening and learning amongst EUNIC cluster members and local partners, engaging them on equal footing;
• deliver local Cluster Strategies;
• are agile to global challenges and their specific manifestations on local communities and civil societies;
• raise the profile of EUNIC through quality and impactful cluster projects worldwide.

The 2024 call

Building on EUNIC's continued commitment to the topic of sustainability, this year's call had an optional thematic focus on the wider concept of sustainability in all its different forms directly through cultural activities, be it through addressing the UN’s SDG framework, climate and environmental action, or projects with a sustainable impact on the local scene.

47 eligible applications were submitted this year. The 21 selected projects involve 22 clusters (8 projects from the EU and wider Europe and 13 outside of Europe), 27 EUNIC members, 14 EU Delegations or European Commission Representations, and over 100 local partners with a total budget of more than 890,000 euros including the co-financing by members of EUNIC clusters and local partners. Projects will be implemented in the course of 2025.

For an application, at least three EUNIC members need to collaborate on a joint proposal and involve relevant local partners. A 40% co-financing rate applies. The call had six selection criteria: relevance to local context, collaboration of EUNIC members, fair partnerships, feasibility and impact, visibility, and sustainability.

Four colleagues representing EUNIC members took part in the evaluation process, guided by the EUNIC office:

• Tamina Bojoancă, British Council Romania, Arts Manager, member of EUNIC Romania;
• Eglė Deltuvaitė, Lithuanian Culture Institute HQ, Senior Advisor;
• Luis Marina Bravo, Instituto Cervantes HQ, Head International Relations Department, former cluster president of EUNIC Buenos Aires;
• Jakob Racek, Goethe-Institut HQ, Head of Department 20/Information, former cluster president of EUNIC Belarus.

Selected projects

The 21 selected projects are from the following clusters:

• Armenia
• Bangladesh & Kolkata
• Beijing
• Bulgaria
• Cameroon
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Cyprus
• Finland
• Indonesia
• Jordan
• Mexico
• Moldova
• Mongolia
• Namibia
• Netherlands
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sri Lanka
• Venezuela
• Zimbabwe

Find out more about the selected projects here.