EUNIC Spaces of Culture Grant 2026 – Fund Your Cultural Project in Sub-Saharan Africa | Eligibility & How to Apply

The EUNIC Spaces of Culture grant is a funded opportunity for cultural organisations and civil society groups to develop collaborative projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. Part of the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme and funded by the European Union, it provides up to EUR 50,000 per project to support partnerships that put dialogue, co-creation and mutual learning at the centre of cultural work. This is not a scholarship for individual students. It is a project funding call designed for organisations that are already working in the cultural and creative space and want to build something meaningful with partners across continents.

This call is for cultural organisations, civil society groups, artists, creative industry professionals, educational institutions and community-based organisations that are ready to work in genuine partnership. It is designed for groups that can bring together at least three local partners from Sub-Saharan Africa, at least three full EUNIC member institutions, and the involvement of an EU Delegation. The emphasis throughout is on equal, collaborative relationships where no single partner dominates the project.

This post covers everything you need to know about the 2026 Spaces of Culture call: who can apply, what the funding covers, how to structure your partnership, what documents you need and how to submit your application before the 21 June 2026 deadline.

Scholarship Overview

Eligibility

This call has specific structural requirements for the partnerships that can apply. Individual organisations cannot apply alone.

Partnership structure:

• Projects must be co-developed and implemented by a triangular partnership involving African partners, European cultural institute members, and an EU Delegation.
• At least three key local cultural and/or civil society partners from Sub-Saharan Africa must be involved.
• At least three full EUNIC members must be part of the partnership. Where no EUNIC cluster is present in the country of implementation, a minimum of two EUNIC members is accepted.
• An EU Delegation must be engaged in the partnership.

Project focus:

• Projects must be contemporary and innovative.
• They must reflect the principles of cultural relations: co-creation, dialogue, mutual listening, and joint capacity building.
• Proposals must demonstrate local ownership, social impact and the potential for long-term collaboration beyond the project duration.

Co-funding:

• A minimum of 5% co-funding is required from the project partners. This must come from within the partnership and can be in-kind or financial.

Language:

• Applications must be submitted in English. Proposals are judged on content, not grammar or language accuracy.

Eligible Countries

The call is open to projects taking place in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The information provided does not include a full country-by-country list, so the full list of eligible countries should be verified against the official call documents and the list of EUNIC members present in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is available on the EUNIC website.

Africa (Sub-Saharan region): Countries across Sub-Saharan Africa are eligible.

Europe (EUNIC member institutions): EUNIC full members from European countries are eligible to participate as partnership members. A full list of EUNIC members is available on the EUNIC website.

Eligible Fields of Study

This is not an academic scholarship tied to a field of study. Instead, the grant supports projects across a wide range of thematic areas. Eligible themes include:

• Arts and creative industries
• Digitalisation
• Education
• Gender
• Heritage
• Human rights
• Social inclusion
• Sports
• Sustainability
• Tourism
• Youth

Projects that fall outside these themes but align with the broader principles of cultural relations and Africa-Europe partnership may also be considered. 

Benefits

The Spaces of Culture grant provides direct project funding rather than personal stipends or tuition support. Here is what the funding covers:

• Project funding: Up to EUR 50,000 per approved project to cover implementation costs.
• Project duration: Funded activities can run between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027.
• Co-funding requirement: Partners are expected to contribute at least 5% of the total project cost from their own resources. This contribution can be financial or in-kind.

Specific budget line allocations (such as travel, personnel, equipment or event costs) are determined by the project partners and must be detailed in the estimated budget submitted with the application. Refer to the budget template in the official call folder for guidance on eligible expenditure.

Required Documents

Applications must be submitted using the templates provided by EUNIC. Download all documents from the official call folder before working on them.

1. Completed application form (use the official EUNIC template)
2. Estimated budget in EUR (use the official EUNIC budget template)
3. Support letters from all key partners
4. Concept note (this should be shared with partners before the application is submitted)

Note: Applications must be submitted as a complete package. Incomplete submissions may not be considered.

How to Apply

Step 1: Download the full call for proposals document and all supporting materials from the EUNIC call folder. Read everything carefully before taking any further steps.

Step 2: Identify your potential partners. You will need at least three local cultural or civil society organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa, at least three full EUNIC members (or two where no cluster is present), and the engagement of an EU Delegation.

Step 3: Begin conversations with your potential partners well before the 30 April 2026 internal deadline. This is the date by which you should share a one-page concept idea with all partners so everyone is aligned on the project direction before significant development work begins.

Step 4: Develop your concept note collaboratively with all partners. The project proposal must be jointly defined and co-developed. A concept note produced by one partner alone and sent to others for signature is unlikely to meet the co-creation principles the call requires.

Step 5: Prepare your application using the official templates. Complete the application form, build your estimated budget in EUR and ensure all partner support letters are collected and ready.

Step 6: Review your application against the selection criteria in the call document. The independent jury will assess your proposal on its objectives, target groups and proposed activities. Make sure these are clearly articulated.

Step 7: Send your concept note to all partners for review and final agreement before submitting the formal application.

Step 8: Submit your completed application by email to spacesofculture@eunicglobal.eu no later than 21 June 2026 at 23:59 CAT. Attach all required documents including the completed application form, budget and support letters.

Step 9: Wait for a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your application. If you do not receive confirmation within a reasonable time, follow up with the EUNIC team to verify your submission was received.

Step 10: Attend any information webinars offered between April and June 2026. These are specifically designed to help applicants develop strong proposals and are a practical resource worth using.

Key Dates and Timeline

Application Deadline

The deadline for submitting your application is 21 June 2026 at 23:59 CAT (Central Africa Time).

Applications must be emailed to spacesofculture@eunicglobal.eu before this time with all required documents attached.

Applications submitted after this time will NOT be accepted.

Note that an internal milestone falls much earlier: you are expected to share your one-page concept idea with partners by 30 April 2026. Missing this internal date makes it significantly harder to develop a strong co-created proposal in time for the June deadline.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by an independent jury of cultural relations experts from both Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. The jury will assess applications based on:

• Alignment with the call’s objectives: Projects must clearly support cultural relations through co-creation, dialogue, mutual listening and joint capacity building.
• Quality of the partnership: The jury will look for genuine, equal partnerships where all parties have contributed to the design of the project and have a clear role in its implementation.
• Local ownership and relevance: Projects should demonstrate that local partners in Sub-Saharan Africa are central to the project, not just recipients of European-led initiatives.
• Social impact: There should be a clear articulation of the change the project will create for target communities and how that impact will last beyond the funded period.
• Target groups and activities: The jury will assess whether the proposed activities are appropriate for the stated target groups and whether the objectives are realistic within the available budget and timeline.
• Co-funding commitment: Demonstrating a genuine financial or in-kind contribution from partners signals commitment and adds weight to the proposal.

Important Tips

1. Start partnership conversations immediately. The 30 April concept-sharing deadline is not just a formality. Building a genuine triangular partnership takes time, and projects that feel like they were assembled at the last minute are unlikely to score well on co-creation principles.
2. Read the cultural relations principles carefully and use the language. The jury is looking for proposals that demonstrate dialogue, mutual listening and joint capacity building. Your application should reflect these values explicitly, not just in passing.
3. Make sure your EU Delegation is genuinely engaged. Listing a Delegation as a partner without their active involvement in the proposal will likely be visible to an experienced jury. Reach out to the relevant EU Delegation early and involve them in the concept development stage.
4. Download all templates before working on any documents. The call folder contains specific forms that must be used. Creating your own version of the budget or application form is likely to result in your application being deemed non-compliant.
5. Attend at least one of the information webinars. EUNIC is running multiple webinars between April and June specifically to support applicants. These sessions often include guidance on common mistakes, which is information that does not always appear in the written call documents.
6. Be precise about your budget. EUR 50,000 is a meaningful but not unlimited amount for a twelve-month cross-continental project. Your estimated budget needs to be realistic and clearly linked to the activities described in your application. Vague budget lines raise questions about project planning.
7. Write for the jury, not for your own organisation. Proposals sometimes read as internal planning documents rather than as a clear pitch to an independent evaluator. Make sure a reader who knows nothing about your organisation can quickly understand what you are proposing, why it matters and what it will achieve.
8. Plan for the period beyond the project. The call explicitly values long-term collaboration. Include a brief but credible explanation of how the partnerships and outcomes you build will continue after August 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a single organisation apply without forming a partnership?

No. The Spaces of Culture call requires a triangular partnership as a minimum condition for eligibility. This must include at least three local cultural or civil society partners from Sub-Saharan Africa, at least three full EUNIC members, and an EU Delegation. Solo applications are not accepted.

What counts as a EUNIC member for the purposes of this call?

Full EUNIC members are national cultural institutes from European countries, such as the British Council, Goethe-Institut, Institut Français and similar organisations. A full list of EUNIC members is available on the EUNIC website. Associate members may not qualify as full members for the purposes of meeting the minimum requirement. 

Does the 5% co-funding have to be in cash?

The call states that a minimum of 5% co-funding is required from project partners but does not specify that it must be a cash contribution in the provided information. In-kind contributions are commonly accepted in EU-funded cultural programmes, but this should be confirmed against the official call document and templates. 

Can projects take place in multiple Sub-Saharan African countries?

The call is open to projects taking place in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and does not appear to restrict projects to a single country. Multi-country projects may be possible, but applicants should verify this against the official call document and consider the budget implications carefully.

Do all documents need to be submitted in English? 

Yes. Applications must be in English. However, EUNIC has stated that proposals will be judged on content only and not on grammar or language accuracy, which is an encouraging signal for applicants whose first language is not English.

What happens after the application deadline?

Following the 21 June deadline, an independent jury will evaluate all proposals in mid-July 2026. Contracting for selected projects will take place between July and August 2026, with project implementation beginning on 1 September 2026.

Who should I contact if I have questions about the call before applying?

The official email address for submitting applications is spacesofculture@eunicglobal.eu. For pre-application questions, check the Frequently Asked Questions document in the call folder and attend one of the information webinars scheduled between April and June 2026.

What makes a proposal stand out to the jury?

Based on the stated selection criteria, proposals that demonstrate genuine co-creation between African and European partners, strong local ownership, a clear social impact and a realistic plan for continuation beyond the funded period are likely to score well. The jury is experienced in cultural relations and will recognise proposals where the partnership is authentic rather than assembled for the purposes of the application.

Official Link

Submit your application to: spacesofculture@eunicglobal.eu

For the official call documents, templates and supporting resources, visit the EUNIC website:

https://eunic.eu/news/spaces-of-culture-2026

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