Culture programme (2007–2013)

Support for cultural actions

Strand 1.1 multi-annual cooperation projects

Strand 1.2.1 cooperation measures (1)

Conditional call for proposals

EACEA No 9/2006

(2006/C 270/06)

Precautionary clause

The European Commission's proposal regarding the culture programme (2007–2013) has not yet been formally adopted by the EU legislature. Nonetheless, the Commission has decided to publish this call for proposals now to enable prompt implementation of this programme after the adoption of its legal basis by the EU legislature, which should take place soon, and to enable potential beneficiaries of Community grants to prepare their proposals as soon as possible.

This call for proposals does not legally bind the Commission. It may be cancelled and calls for proposals with different specifications may be issued, with appropriate time limits for response, should the legal basis be substantially altered by the EU legislature.

Furthermore, the implementation of calls for proposals in 2007 is subject to the following conditions being met, over which the Commission has no control:

1.   Legal basis

This call for proposals is based on the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a single multi-annual programme for Community measures in the field of culture for the period 2007–2013 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the programme’).

The programme is based on Article 151 of the Treaty establishing the European Community which provides that the Community shall contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore.

2.   Objectives and description

The programme is intended to help enhance the cultural area shared by Europeans, the foundations for which lie in their common cultural heritage, through the development of cultural cooperation between artists, cultural stakeholders and cultural institutions in the countries participating in the programme (2) with a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship through transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector, transnational circulation of artistic and cultural works and products, and an intercultural dialogue.

The new programme goes beyond the purely sectoral approach (as practised in previous generations of cultural programmes) by adopting an inter-disciplinary approach. This move away from sectoral compartmentalisation is intended to foster greater cooperation between cultural operators by encouraging cross-sector cooperation projects. The programme is open to all non audiovisual cultural operators and sectors, including cultural enterprises, where they are acting in a non-profit-making cultural capacity.

3.   Purpose of the call for proposals

This call for proposals aims to award Community grants, following a selection process, to two types of actions from any artistic or cultural field:

The intention is to strengthen European cultural cooperation through funding for approximately 136 applications (around 16 multi-annual cooperation projects and some 120 cooperation measures).

In general, particular attention will be paid to actions promoting intercultural dialogue with the intention of introducing some or all of the activities in 2008, the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. (4)

(Strand 1.1) multi-annual cooperation projects

Funding will be provided for cultural cooperation projects aiming to achieve sustainable and structured cooperation between cultural operators from countries participating in the programme. This funding is intended to support these projects during their launch and structuring phase or during their geographical expansion phase to enable them to develop over the long-term and achieve financial independence.

At least six cultural operators from at least six of the countries participating in the programme should be involved in these projects, and the projects must run for between three and five years.

(Strand 1.2.1) cooperation measures

Funding will be provided for cultural cooperation actions of a sectoral or multi-sectoral nature. Priority will be given to measures that target creativity and innovation and look into ways of encouraging long-term cooperation.

At least three cultural operators from at least three of the countries participating in the programme should be involved in these measures. The measures cannot run for more than 24 months.

All actions financed under the two strands must begin before 15 November 2007.

4.   Available budget

Grants will be awarded under item 15.04.44 of the general budget of the European Union. In total, the budget allocated for this call for proposals comes to approximately EUR 15 500 000 for strand 1.1 (multi-annual cooperation projects) and EUR 12 000 000 for strand 1.2.1 (cooperation measures).

Community funding for the multi-annual cooperation projects (strand 1.1) cannot exceed 50 % of the total budget for the action being funded and is calculated according to a sliding scale. It cannot be more than EUR 500 000 per year.

Community funding for the cooperation measures (strand 1.2.1) cannot exceed 50 % of the budget for the action being funded and the amount must be between EUR 50 000 and EUR 200 000.

5.   Eligibility criteria

Only applicants who meet the following criteria will be subject to an in-depth assessment.

5.1.   Establishment/body/type of applicant eligible

Grant applications made by applicants who have the following characteristics will be examined: a public or private body with legal status whose principal activity is in the cultural field and whose registered office is located in one of the countries participating in the programme and which has the financial and operational capacity needed to complete the action proposed.

5.2.   Eligible countries

Cultural operators whose registered office is located in one of the countries participating in the programme are eligible:

6.   Deadline for submitting applications

Application packages must be sent by 28 February 2007 at the latest.

7.   Additional information

The specifications for this call for proposals, the application file and all the forms required can be found at the following web addresses:

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/

http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/index_en.html

Applications must comply with the requirements laid down in the specifications and must be submitted using the application forms provided for this purpose.

(1)  Actions covering literary translation (Strand 1.2.2) are the subject of a separate call for proposals

(2)  Cf. Paragraph 5.2.

(3)  Actions covering literary translation are the subject of a separate call for proposals.

(4)  Subject to the adoption of the relevant decision by the EU institutions.

(5)  The 25 Member States of the European Union (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom); Bulgaria and Romania have been accepted for membership and should become Member States on 1 January 2007.

(6)  Cultural operators are requested to contact the Agency for further information on developments concerning these countries.