Call for Proposals: EUNIC Spaces of Culture Fund 2026

The EUNIC Spaces of Culture Fund 2026 is now open for applications, supporting innovative cultural relations projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme forms part of the wider Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by EUNIC (EU National Institutes for Culture).

The fund aims to strengthen equitable partnerships between African and European cultural actors through collaborative projects that promote intercultural dialogue, mutual learning, co-creation, and shared capacity building.

Projects should address locally relevant challenges and demonstrate innovative approaches to cultural relations while building sustainable partnerships that continue beyond the project period.

Funding Available

Selected projects may receive funding of up to:

EUR 50,000

Applicants must provide a minimum co-funding contribution of 5% of the total project budget.

Programme Information

Programme: Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture – Spaces of Culture

Funding Organisation: EUNIC (EU National Institutes for Culture)

Funded By: European Union

Geographic Focus: Sub-Saharan Africa

Project Implementation Period: 1 September 2026 – 31 August 2027

Focus Areas

Projects may focus on a wide range of themes, including:

• Arts and Culture
• Creative Industries
• Digitalisation
• Education
• Gender Equality
• Heritage
• Human Rights
• Social Inclusion
• Sports
• Sustainability
• Tourism
• Youth Development

The programme encourages innovative, interdisciplinary, digital, and hybrid approaches.

Eligible Activities

Examples of eligible activities include:

• Cultural festivals and events
• Exhibitions
• Artist residencies
• Knowledge-sharing programmes
• Networking initiatives
• Cultural exchange projects
• Capacity-building programmes
• Research and feasibility studies
• Development of cultural infrastructure networks
• Digital cultural initiatives
• Cross-border cultural collaborations

Projects should demonstrate co-creation, dialogue, mutual learning, and equitable partnerships between African and European organisations.

Who Can Apply?

Applications must be submitted through a triangular partnership consisting of:

Local Partners

A minimum of:

• Three local cultural organisations and/or
• Civil society organisations

Public institutions may participate as partners.

EUNIC Partners

A minimum of:

• Three Full EUNIC Members

OR

• Two Full EUNIC Members where no formal EUNIC cluster exists in the country.

EU Delegation

The relevant EU Delegation must:

• Endorse the project
• Participate meaningfully in project development and implementation

Support may include project design, stakeholder engagement, outreach, and facilitation.

Eligible Countries

Projects must take place in one or more Sub-Saharan African countries, including:

• South Africa
• Kenya
• Ghana
• Nigeria
• Rwanda
• Uganda
• Tanzania
• Ethiopia
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Namibia
• Botswana
• Mozambique
• Malawi
• Senegal
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Cameroon
• Angola
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cabo Verde
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Comoros
• Djibouti
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Eswatini
• Gabon
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Niger
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• The Gambia
• Togo

Please note that Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia are not eligible.

Key Requirements

Projects must:

• Be co-created and jointly implemented by all partners
• Demonstrate equal partnership and shared ownership
• Address local challenges and priorities
• Contribute to one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Promote intercultural dialogue and mutual learning
• Demonstrate innovation within the local context
• Build sustainable partnerships beyond the grant period

Additional emphasis is placed on widening participation among:

• Youth
• Persons with disabilities
• Rural communities
• Communities living in fragile contexts

Important Dates

Recommended Partner Engagement Deadline: 30 April 2026

Applicants are encouraged to circulate a one-page project concept to prospective partners before this date.

Application Deadline: 21 June 2026

Project Start Date: 1 September 2026

Project End Date: 31 August 2027

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