Spaces of Culture 2025 - Call for Proposals
EUNIC launches Spaces of Culture call for proposals, supporting seven new cultural relations projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Key call information
• Deadline: Sunday, 8 June 2025
• Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
• For: Cultural and civil society organisations, EUNIC members, and EU Delegations looking to start or strengthen Africa-Europe collaboration in the cultural field.
• Partners: A partnership made up of a minimum of three key local cultural and/or civil society partners, three full EUNIC members, and involvement from EU Delegation(s).
• Budget: Up to EUR 50,000 available per project.
• Timeline: Projects to take place between 1 September 2025 – 31 August 2026
Useful documents
• Space of Culture 2025 - Call for proposals
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Examples of previous projects
How to apply?
Applications documents can be downloaded here (Please download the files locally before working on them!)
Your application must include the following documents:
• Application form
• Estimated balanced budget in EUR
• Support letters from all project partners
We invite you to submit your applications in English, by Sunday 8 June 2025 to spacesofculture@eunicglobal.eu. Only complete applications, using the templates provided and sent to the email address above before the deadline will be considered. All applicants will receive confirmation when the application has been received.
What is the purpose of the call?
Spaces of Culture is a new programme focused specifically on Sub-Saharan Africa and modelled on the European Spaces of Culture programme. It prioritises collaboration, dialogue, and mutual learning between European and local partners in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Spaces of Culture launches as part of the wider Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme from the European Commission, which aims to encourage cooperation between African and European artists, creators, and cultural professionals. Read more about EUNIC’s involvement in the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme here.
The purpose of this call is to support cultural relations projects in Sub-Saharan African countries, based on equal partnerships and local ownership, involving local cultural and civil society stakeholders, EUNIC members, and EU Delegations.
Selected projects will demonstrate innovation and relevance to the local context and exemplify both fair partnerships and an elaboration of the ‘Team Europe’ approach in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Who can apply?
Project proposals must include a minimum of three full EUNIC members (with possible exceptions in countries with limited EUNIC presence), three key local cultural and/or civil society partners, and involvement from EU Delegation(s) in the country(ies).
The call aims to broaden the range of local organisations collaborating with European counterparts in Sub-Saharan Africa. The call also supports the involvement of EUNIC members that wish to intensify their collaboration on the continent, particularly where the presence of EU Member States or a EUNIC cluster is limited.
What are we looking for?
Projects should embody the principles of cultural relations and go beyond the promotion of European culture in Sub-Saharan Africa. Project activities should demonstrate a deeper understanding of these principles by practising mutual listening and learning, engaging in dialogue, co-creation, and joint capacity building with all members and partners involved.
The call encourages contemporary and innovative formats, related to the arts, creative industries, digitalisation, education, gender, heritage, human rights, social inclusion, sports, sustainability, tourism, youth, and more. Where relevant, projects will foster spaces of free speech and artistic expression, particularly in fragile contexts. Projects must contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Attention should be given to widening access to culture and cultural collaborations, especially amongst: youth, people with disabilities, communities outside urban areas, communities living in fragile contexts, including environmental and security fragility.
How much funding is available?
Applicants can request up to EUR 50,000. Co-funding of at least 5% of the requested grant amount is required from project partners or third parties (excluding EU Delegations). For example, a EUR 50,000 grant request requires a minimum co-funding of EUR 2,500.
Pre-payment of 80% of the awarded grant will be made before implementation, and the remaining 20% will be paid upon completion.
How are projects evaluated and selected?
An independent jury of four experts from Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe with thorough knowledge of and experience in Africa-Europe cultural relations will collectively evaluate proposals against the selection criteria.
All applications will be evaluated based on objectives, target groups, and proposed activities, including:
• Relevance to local context
• Innovation
• Partnership set-up
• Foreseen impact
• Alignment with UN SDGs
• Feasibility and cost-effectiveness
• Environmental sustainability
What are the next steps?
2025:
• 3 March: Launch of the call for proposals
• March – June: A series of webinars for potential applicants
• 8 June: Deadline for submission of proposals
• 1 July: Selection of proposals by the jury
• July – August: Contracting of beneficiaries
• 1 September: Start of implementation period
2026:
• 31 August: End of implementation period
• September - October: Reporting of projects
