FAQs

FAQs

In this section you will find some frequently asked questions about Culture Programme funding. The questions relate mainly to funding and eligibility criteria. You can also find a list of FAQs here on the EACEA website. 

1. Who can apply for EU Culture Programme projects?

Only organisations with legal status and whose work lies in the field of culture can apply.

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2. What are the main sectors covered by the Culture Programme?

The Culture Programme is characterised by a multi-sectoral approach, covering culture in all of its forms, including performing and visual arts, heritage and literary translations. Audio-Visual artforms are covered under the Media Programme.

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3. Which are the eligible countries that can participate in the programme?

The 27 Member States of the European Union, the three EEA/EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechenstein and Norway), countries candidate to EU membership (Croatia, Turkey, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia). Montenegro has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding and now is participating in the Culture Programme.

The other countries of the western Balkans (Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina) could become eligible in the future, subject to the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding concerning their participation in the programme.

Every country that is not part of the above list is to be considered a Third Country.

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4. What actions are funded by the programme?

The programme supports three strands of activities: cultural actions; support to European-level cultural bodies; analysis and dissemination activities.

Strand 1, Cultural actions

This strand accounts for approximately three-quarters of the programme's budget and enables a wide range of cultural organisations coming from various European countries to work collaborate on trans-national culture and artistic projects. This strand has the following sub-categories:

Strand 1.1 - Multi-annual cooperation projects

• Project duration: 3 - 5 years
• Description: Trans-national cooperation project
• Number of partners required: 6 from at least 6 qualifying countries
• Funding: Offered up to a maximum of 50% of the total budget: from between €200,000 to €500,000 per year

Strand 1.2.1 - Cooperation projects

• Project duration: 1 - 2 years
• Description: Trans-national cooperation project
• Number of partners required: 3 from at least 3 qualifying countries
• Funding: Up to a maximum of 50% of the total budget: from between €50,000 - €200,000 per project

Strand 1.2.2 - Literary translation projects

• Project duration: up to 2 years
• Description: Supports the translation of literary works from one European language to another
• Funding: Up to a maximum of 50% of the eligible cost: from between €2,000 - to €60,000 per work

Strand 1.3 - Cooperation projects with Third Countries

• Project duration: 1 - 2 years
• Description: Trans-national cooperation project
• Number of partners required: 3 from at least 3 qualifying European countries and 1 partner from an eligible Third Country (Third countries for each year are posted on the Culture Programme Website)
• Funding: Up to a maximum of 50% of the total budget: from between €50,000 - €200,000 per project

Strand 1.3.6 - Support for European Cultural Festivals

• Project duration: up to 1 year
• Description: To support European cultural festivals with a view to encouraging exchanges of experience through the mobility of European professionals in the cultural field, promoting the circulation of cultural works by giving access to non-national European cultural works to the largest possible audience and promoting intercultural dialogue
• The programming of the previous year and the provisional programming of the year
  for which the support is asked must include works from at least 7countries taking part in the Programme
• Funding: Up to a maximum of 60% of the total eligible costs - up to a max. of €100,000

Special measures, which relate to high-profile actions of considerable scale and scope. The European Capital of Culture event falls under this sub-strand.

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Strand 2, support to European-level cultural bodies

in the form of operating grants and accounts for about 10% of the programme's budget. The strand is divided into four categories: European Cultural Ambassadors; Advocacy Networks; Festivals; Policy Support Structures for the Cultural Agenda.

Strand 3, support for analysis and dissemination of information

Strand 3 supports analysis and dissemination activities and accounts for about 5% of the programme's budget. The activities funded under this strand seek to help raise awareness of the Culture Programme and its activities in different ways. The first focus is on providing support for analyses in the field of cultural co-operation and policy development. The second is by supporting cultural contact points which will ensure the effective grassroots dissemination of practical and targeted information on the programme in all participating countries. The final focus is on supporting the collection and dissemination of information, so that cultural operators can make use of the output and results of projects already funded by the EU.

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5. What is the minimum number of co-organisers in both annual and co-operation projects?

For cooperation projects there is a need of at least 3 co-organisers (including the project leader) from at least 3 participating countries. For multi-annual projects there is a need of a minimum of 6 co-oganisers (including a project leader) from at least 6 participating countries.

Translation projects are an exception: a grant can be awarded to a single publishing house or a group of publishers.

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6. What is the role of the co-organiser in the project and how does it differ from the one of the project leader?

Both the project leader and the co-organisers must have a specific and essential role both in the design and implementation of the project. The mentioned roles must be divided among the different participants. It is essential that all co-organisers and project leader develop the idea into a project together even if the initial idea springs from one co-organiser or project leader. The involvement of all participants must be clearly indicated in the project application.  

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7. How are the projects selected?

Culture is a centralised programme so the project applications have to be submitted directly to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency in Brussels. The evaluation and selection roles fall under the Commission's responsibility.

• The technical checking of the eligibility criteria is done by the Commission. Any application which is not filled in correctly or is missing any items will not be eligible to pass for selection.
• A jury of independent experts, evaluate each project individually through a system of points. Details of the points criteria can be found in the Programme Guide.
• Generally, from the time of submission of the application to the selection/refusal of projects and the issuing of contracts, the process takes around 4 months.

It is important to mention that the CCP does not have any input into the selection of projects.

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8. What is the maximum duration of projects and what is the period of eligibility of expenditure related to the implementation of the project? 

Strand 1.1 must last for a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years and must begin by the specific date mentioned in the call for applications. Generally this date is 1 May in the year following the application.

Strand 1.2.1 must be carried out within a period of 2 years and there is no minimum requirement for its duration. Projects must begin by the specific date mentioned in the call for applications. Generally this date is 1 May in the year following the application.

With regards to the period of eligibility of expenditure of the project, this lasts from the date of the signing of both parties of the contract awarded. No income or expenditure incurred before the official start date of the project is eligible to be included in the project budget.

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9. Can a project make a profit?

No, it cannot. If in any case there will be a source of revenue from activities taking place as part of the project, then there should be an estimated amount of that income included as part of the budget proposal contribution of the project.

If during the course of the project the actual total cost incurred is less than the total estimated cost, the Commission will reduce its contribution proportionally. If a project makes a financial profit, the funds awarded by the Commission must be repaid to the level of the profit realised.

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10. Are there any specific criteria with regards to administrative staff costs of the projects?

The administrative staff costs of the project must not exceed 20% of the total amount of all direct expenditure. You can use the costs of staff already employed by your organisation only if:

• these costs are incurred exclusively in implementing the project;
• the accounting and payroll systems of the relevant co-organisers can clearly isolate and demonstrate the percentage of staff time, and relevant amounts, devoted to the implementation of the project.

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11. Is it possible to apply for several different projects?

Yes, it is possible for an applicant to be a lead organizer or co-organizer in more than one project at the same time, but only if such projects are dissimilar and about completely different activities. Any one project can receive only one EU grant, so it has to be absolutely avoided any overlapping regarding the match funding.

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12. What costs are eligible?

Eligible costs are incurred costs by beneficiary or co-beneficiary which meet the following criteria:

• They are incurred during the duration of the project / activities with the exception of costs relating to final reports and certificates on the action's financial statements and underlying account s
• They are connected with the subject of agreement and are necessary for the implementation of the action which is subject of the grant
• There are two types of eligible costs, those classed as eligible direct costs and those classed as eligible indirect costs

Eligible direct costs include:

• The cost of staff assigned to the action, including salaries - important to note that this is only the percentage of the allocated time to the project , up to a maximum of 20%
• Travel and subsistence
• Costs arising directly from requirements imposed by the implementation of the action (dissemination of information, specific evaluation of the action, audits, translations, reproductions, etc)
• Rental or purchase of durable equipment
• Cost of consumables and supplies
• Cost arising from contracts awarded for the purpose of carrying out the action

Eligible Indirect costs include:

General administrative/operating costs incurred which can be regarded as chargeable to the action, a flat rate amount, not exceeding 7% of the eligible direct costs.

Ineligible costs

• Contributions in kind
• Return on capital
• Debt and debt service charges
• Provisions for losses or potential future liabilities
• Interest owed
• Doubtful debts
• Exchange rate (accounting rate) losses
• VAT, unless the beneficiary shows it cannot be recovered
• Costs declared and covered in connection with another action or work programme receiving a EU grant
• Excessive or reckless expenditure

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13. What is the eligibility period?

The eligibility for expenditure will be specified in the grant agreement / grant decision, however no grant may be awarded retrospectively for actions already completed

A grant may be awarded for an action, which has already begun only if the applicant can demonstrate the need to start the action before the decision / agreement has been signed

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14. How much funding does the European Commission contribute and how much must the participants contribute?

•  For Strand 1, cooperation projects, the Commission will contribute a maximum of 50% towards the budget.
• For Strand 2, operating grants, the Commission will contribute up to 80%.

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15. How can I raise the 50% co- funding required for cooperation projects?

• Requesting grants from other organisations (local, regional or national authorities, foundations etc)
• Fund-raising activities
• Sponsorship
• Own resources

The budget must be balanced, i.e. the total expenditure must equal exactly the total income. Proof of co-financing must be included in final report.

Note: there is no double funding from the EU under either the culture programme or any other programme offered.

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16. Are co-organisers requested to provide a minimum contribution to the project's income?

There is no longer any precise minimum contribution requested from the co-organisers. However, the quality of the partnership is one of the award criteria and implies a financial commitment from each co-organiser

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17. What is the role of the co-organiser in the project and how does it differ from the one of the project leader?

Both the project leader and the co-organisers must have a specific and essential role both in the design and implementation of the project. The mentioned roles must be divided among the different participants. It is essential that all co-organisers and project leader develop the idea into a project together even if the initial idea springs from one co-organiser or project leader. The involvement of all participants must be clearly indicated in the project application

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18. What is the role of the project leader?

The project leader acts as the legal co-signatory of the project and the beneficiary. The project leader has also a coordinating role. Moreover, on completion of a project, the project leader must submit an activity report on the results to the European Commission, including final accounts. For multi-annual projects, the project leader must submit an interim report, including interim accounts. 

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19. What is an associated partner?

A cultural operator from a eligible country or from a Third Country, who participates in the implementation of the proposed activities of a project, but not to the extent and level of participation of a co-organiser. Costs incurred by associated partners are not eligible, unless they are directly paid or refunded by the coordinator and/or co-organisers.

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20. Who is the beneficiary?

The organisation legally responsible for the implementation of the action for projects related and recipient of the grant.
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21. What is the role of the coordinator (beneficiary)? ?

A cultural operator from an eligible country, who undertakes a coordinating role during the implementation of the project.

This role is translated into an overall responsibility for carrying out the activities in accordance with the Grant Agreement/Grant Decision, as well as a concrete and essential involvement in the design, implementation and financing of the project. The coordinator acts as the legal co-signatory of the Grant Agreement.

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22. What is a co-beneficiary?

Coorganisers under strand 1.1 Multi-annual Cooperation projects, strand 1.2.1 Cooperation projects and strand 1.3 Cooperation projects with Third Countries, are co-beneficiaries. This means that their costs related to the project are also eligible. Conclusion of the agreement and payment of the grant will however always be solely to the coordinator.

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23. What is a mandate?

The co-organisers must sign a mandate by which the signatory grants power of attorney to the co-ordinator to act in his name and for his account during the implementation of the project and undertakes to provide a particular financial contribution to the project. The mandates signed by all the co-organisers are attached to the application and, if the project is selected, annexed to the Grant Agreement.

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