Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture
This fund works to strengthen relations across the Western Balkans and the region’s relations with Europe.
Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture (BIFC) Grants supports collaborative artistic and cultural projects conceived by organisations within, or cooperating with, the countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro and Serbia).
In doing so, long-term partnerships of equal exchange are (re-)built across the region and with the rest of Europe. The average award given is €15,000 with a maximum of €30,000. These grants were previously awarded through ECF's Collaboration grants scheme.
In 2011, we awarded 11 grants - to know more - download the full list of BIFC grants awarded in 2009, 2010, 2011 and projects awarded so far in 2012.
Need advice on applying? Contact the BIFC Regional HUB.
The BIFC Grant scheme comes backed by the BIFC Regional Hub which advises potential participants on the application process and can help to find partner organisations. Based in Ljubljana and run by Asociacija, the BIFC Hub also acts as an information centre on all BIFC supported projects.
Where we fund
The lead applicant/cultural organisation must be based in one of the following European countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (FYROM), Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
However, within this grants scheme we prefer projects with lead applicants from the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro or Serbia. If the lead applicant is based outside of the Western Balkans, then the lead applicant must collaborate with partners from the Western Balkans.
Partnering applicants can also be based in one of the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Syria and Tunisia. We encourage cooperation with this region, as long as the content of the project clearly relates to cross-border cooperation with/in Western Balkans.
Supported by BIFC Grants
ECF funded The Museum of Broken Relationships when it started up as “a travelling exhibition revolving around the concept of failed relationships and their ruins”. Conceptualized in Croatia by Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić, the Museum has since toured internationally, amassing an amazing collection from different communities with different histories and personal experiences – all covering the same subject – what happens after love?
Museum of Broken Relationships
The touring exhibition was so successful they have now taken up a permanent space in Zagreb. And they won an award - the museum received the Kenneth Hudson Award Award during the European Museum of the Year Award 2011. The Award was created in 1977 under the auspices of the Council of Europe and is highly celebrated.
How to apply, application form and deadlines
Not sure if you are eligible? Try out our eligiblity wizard to find out whether you should apply!
You can apply at any time in the year. Applications are reviewed with advisers and the entire process takes up to a maximum four months. For more information on how to apply and to access the “how to apply” pdf and application form, click here.
BIFC receives support from the Open Society Foundations, in particular by the Open Society Arts and Culture Program and the national foundations in the region. The BIFC Hub is funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia through the Platform for South Eastern Europe initiative.
