The European programme supporting the cultural and audio-visual sectors aims to safeguard, develop and promote European cultural diversity and to strengthen the competitiveness of the European cultural and creative sectors.
The main objectives of the programme are to:
- safeguard, develop and promote European cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage
- increase the competitiveness and economic potential of the cultural and creative sectors, in particular the audiovisual sector
In order to achieve these objectives the programme is divided into three strands:
- Culture to support cooperation projects, literary translation, platforms and networks
- MEDIA to support distribution and online distribution, media literacy, training, festivals, cinema network, co-production funds, audience development, video games
- Cross-sectoral including the Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility managed by the European Investment Fund (EIF) to facilitate access to loans for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the cultural and creative sectors
Who can apply: Open to cultural and creative organisations from EU Member States, as well as non-EU countries. Subject to certain conditions, countries of the European Economic Area, candidate/potential candidate countries and European Neighbourhood Policy countries can also participate in the programme.
EU Budget
€2.44 billion for the 2021-2027 programming period. Financial support is awarded through calls for proposals published annually.
Project example
Limerick City & County Council have used this fund as a means by which to grow a culture of sustainable outdoor arts activity that will in turn build career opportunities for creative talent and develop new audiences. The European Outdoor Art Academy – School of Spectacle is a partnership of creative practitioners who are bringing their expertise to seven small culturally-focused cities and providing ‘training through production’ schools in outdoor arts for local creative talent, followed by participation in small-scale public performance spectacle events. This has provided local practitioners with core skills in outdoor arts management and specialist skills in a selection of complimentary specialist subjects – costume; storytelling; puppetry; 3D; movement; fire techniques; aerial performance; as well as production, sound and lighting – with some possibility to progress into traineeships. For Limerick, the intention is to develop and sustain ambitious, high quality and exciting outdoor arts activities and events grounded in local community involvement as a legacy project arising from the 2020 European Capital of Culture (ECoC) bid.
Contacts in Ireland
Culture and cross-sectoral strands
Creative Europe Desk Ireland, Culture Office, The Arts Council, 70 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Email: cedculture@artscouncil.ie
MEDIA and cross-sectoral strands
Creative Europe Desk Ireland – MEDIA Office, 14-16 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2.
Email: media@creativeeuropeireland.eu
