European Spaces of Culture is EUNIC’s programme for developing innovative models of cultural collaboration between European and local partners in countries outside the EU.

The latest funding cycle is drawing to an official close at the end of February, having supported eight projects implemented between June 2024 and October 2025.

From Indonesia to Colombia, and from Ethiopia to Turkmenistan, these projects pursued a wide range of objectives, from empowering women and gender-diverse people, to exploring post-conflict dialogue through creativity, and addressing the climate emergency.

The evolution of the Spaces model

Originally conceived as a two-year Preparatory Action by the European Parliament in 2019, with six pilot projects launched, the programme has grown from strength to strength. To date, it has supported over 33 projects.

Examples from Cameroon to Brazil show how initiatives that began as Spaces of Culture projects have continued and evolved independently years later, demonstrating the programme’s strong incubator and scaling effect.

As the programme has matured, the overall quality and ambition of the supported projects has also grown and the urgency of projects has been made more explicit. Collaboration lies at the core of the Spaces of Culture model, which has seen more local partners taking ownership of projects.

The European Spaces of Culture project has shown that co-created, locally rooted cultural initiatives can strengthen mutual understanding and generate lasting impact.

Culture Compass chapter on EU external action

The 'Spaces' model is the basis of the Africa-Europe Spaces of Culture programme, launched in 2025, supporting seven projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. This programme will run until 2028 and aims to deepen a shared cultural relations approach to cooperation between Africa and the EU.

The model has also been mentioned explicitly in the Culture Compass for Europe framework as a key instrument for developing Europe's approach to external cultural relations.

Looking to the future

With the proposed launch of a Euro-Med initiative for culture, sport and tourism - outlined in the Culture Compass for Europe - discussions initiated by the European Commission’s DG EAC (Education and Culture) are underway on a future programme with a global scope, outside the EU and excluding Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Creative Europe Work Programme for 2026 already outlines a component for a Spaces model. A future Spaces programme is expected to benefit from reinforced resources and a particular focus on the Southern-Mediterranean region, supporting the implementation of the EU’s Pact for the Mediterranean and allowing for deeper engagement with local partners in the region.

We will remain in close consultation with EUNIC members and partners as preparations for this new phase continue. More information will be announced soon.