Collaboration Grants

Collaboration Grants support independent cultural organisations working together across borders and disciplines.

Collaboration Grants fund transnational, cross-sectoral activities by independent cultural and artistic organisations working together or with organisations from other sectors.

Collaboration Grants are awarded to cultural organisations working together across different countries of wider Europe (the 47 countries of the Council of Europe plus Kosovo) and/or with Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Syria and Tunisia, on multidisciplinary artistic projects. Partner applicants can work in sectors outside the cultural field.

ECF regards the ideal ‘collaboration’ as one that brings a renewed understanding of Europe to people of all backgrounds, and inspires them to regard the world’s future as a shared enterprise. The average award funded is €15,000 with the maximum being €30,000.

We have funded a vast array of projects, bringing unexpected narratives, new ideas and inspired visions to diverse audiences across Europe. In 2011, we awarded 21 Collaboration grants - to know more - download the full list of Collaboration Grants awarded in 2009, 2010 and in 2011.

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.

Partnering applicants can be based in one of the above-mentioned European countries and/or 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 European cross-border cooperation.)

Supported by Collaboration Grants

Heavy Mental is a short film that deals with the complicated subject of mental illness.

Heavy Mental animation


Funded by ECF, the film is a collaboration between animators, graphic artists, film-makers, actors and musicians from Slovakia, Germany, Poland, Hungary and Italy. It focuses on the problems and dreams of today’s teenagers – individualism, friendship and the search for identity. The story centres around Xenia, Max and Gustav, who are ‘normal’ – except for their neurotic compulsions and eating disorders. And Gustav is, in fact, a sheep! Ring-tones, psychiatrists and depressed mothers abound as the action unfolds!

ECF supported Heavy Mental to encourage new ways of treating the complicated subject of mental illness in an entertaining and creative format. There are now plans to turn the film into a series too.

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 online. This has several benefits: it makes sure your application is complete, the budget is balanced and you will receive an instant confirmation that we have received your proposal. Applications are reviewed with advisers and the entire process takes up to a maximum two months.

For more on how to apply, to access the ‘how to apply’ PDF booklet and the application form, click here. The Collaboration Grant scheme will only have one round in 2012. The application round for Collaboration Grants 2012 will be open from 09.30 (CET) 20 February to 17.00 (CET) 2 May 2012. Applicants will be notified in the first week of July.


Collaboration grants fund transnational, cross-sectoral activities by independent cultural and artistic organisations working together or with independent organisations from other sectors. 

 

Background

We have long supported projects and people working collaboratively across Europe. Our Collaboration grants currently support projects that bring a renewed understanding of Europe to people of all backgrounds.

The ECF is grateful for the support from the De BankGiro Loterij, De Lotto and De Nationale Instant Loterij<!-- [if !supportAnnotations] -->[V1]<!-- [endif] -->  received through the Prince Bernhard Cultural Foundation. 

Previously awarded Collaboration projects

Collaboration grants have funded a vast array of projects, bringing unexpected narratives, new ideas and inspired visions to diverse audiences across Europe. In 2009, we received 423 applications and awarded 26 grants. Two such projects are highlighted below. Click here<!-- [if !supportAnnotations] -->[N2]<!-- [endif] -->  to see the full list of collaboration grants awarded in 2009 and the first round of Collaboration grants summaries from 2010, here.<!-- [if !supportAnnotations] -->[N3]<!-- [endif] -->  

Migrating frontiers

Frontiers is a computer game that gives players a taste of what it’s really like attempting to migrate from one place to another.

A beautiful, gritty, ground-breaking gaming project available as a free download, Frontiers is accompanied by a detailed website containing info on migration and integration issues.

Roma digital stories

Vide_o_drom launched a series of new media communications training with young Roma people in Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. Guided by local experts, 40 young people created personal digital stories that were shown online and offline, with the help of a touring Roma bus<!-- [if !supportAnnotations] -->[N4]<!-- [endif] --> .

The project was awarded the Erasmus EurMedia Sponsorship Award in 2009. Check out their myspace page to see the video stories.

© Photograph: Piet Six

How to apply, application form and deadlines

The ‘how to apply’ PDF booklet explains exactly what you need to do to make an eligible application. It is very important that you read the eligibility criteria before applying. When you do apply, you must use our application form to write about the activity you want us to fund. The form can be accessed through the ‘how to apply’ PDF booklet, available here.

Next deadline for applications: 6 September 2010. The selection process will be finalised in the week of 25 October 2010. 

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