Requirements and Information for Applicants

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Who Can Apply to the Creative Europe Programme?

The Creative Europe Programme is open to a wide range of cultural and creative sectors, including performing arts, photography, dance, theatre, music, cultural heritage, architecture, design, festivals, crafts, fashion, literature, education, and cross-sectoral projects. Both public and private organizations are eligible to apply. The following general eligibility criteria apply to all funding opportunities:

• Organizations must be legally registered in an EU Member State or one of the countries participating in the Creative Europe Programme.

• Individuals (e.g., artists or translators) cannot apply for funding under the Creative Europe Programme, with the exception of the Culture Moves Europe mobility scheme.

• Projects with a primarily audiovisual focus (such as films, television, or video games) are not eligible under the Culture strand of the Creative Europe Programme. These types of projects should be applied for through the MEDIA strand, which Armenia does not currently participate in.

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What is the difference between being a partner and a coordinator/lead partner in a Creative Europe project?

The lead partner or project coordinator is responsible for the overall administrative management of the project. This means that the lead partner is the one who receives the grant and handles the related responsibilities. The lead partner is in charge of:

• Submitting the electronic application form (eForm);

• Collecting all necessary texts and documents from the partners;

• Communicating and reporting to the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), which manages the grant;

• Taking financial responsibility for the project’s co-funding;

• Managing the grant funds, if the project is selected for funding.

In many cases, the coordinator is also responsible for the overall management of the project.

As a partner, you can participate in various ways. From an administrative perspective, being a partner may involve fewer responsibilities. However, it is usually the coordinator who receives the largest share of Creative Europe funding, due to the heavy workload related to reporting, project management, and risk management.

All partners must be actively involved in the development and implementation of the project. As a partner, you are also expected to contribute to the project’s co-financing.

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I am an artist. Can I apply for funding?

In general, no individual cannot apply for funding under the Creative Europe Programme, with the exception of the Culture Moves Europe mobility scheme.

Within Culture Moves Europe, individual artists and cultural professionals can receive grants to support professional mobility, such as international travel for artistic creation, collaboration, residencies, or networking.

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About the Creative Europe Programme and its Funding Opportunities

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What is the Creative Europe Programme?
Creative Europe is a European Union programme that supports the cultural, creative, and audiovisual sectors. The programme runs from 2021 to 2027 and brings together a variety of actions aimed at strengthening and promoting these sectors across Europe.

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The Creative Europe Programme consists of three main strands:

• Culture Strand: Supports and promotes artistic and cultural cooperation at the European level. It covers all cultural and creative sectors (excluding the audiovisual and film sectors).

• MEDIA Strand: Focuses on actions and initiatives that enhance the competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability of the European audiovisual sector (including film and television).

• Cross-sectoral Strand: Encourages innovative approaches and collaboration across the cultural and audiovisual sectors.

Currently, Armenia fully participates in the Culture Strand and partially in the Cross-sectoral Strand, under which the Creative Europe Armenia Desk operates. Armenia does not participate in the MEDIA Strand.

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What is the Culture Strand of the Creative Europe Programme?

The Culture Strand of the Creative Europe Programme co-finances projects implemented in the cultural and creative sectors, covering all forms of artistic expression. The only exception is projects that are exclusively audiovisual or cinematographic in nature, which are supported under the MEDIA strand.

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Main funding areas include:

• European Cooperation Projects

• Support to European Networks

• Support to European Platforms

• Circulation of European Literary Works

• Pan-European Cultural Entities

• Culture Moves Europe – Mobility scheme for artists and cultural professionals

READ MORE: Learn more about the Culture Strand of Creative Europe on the European Commission’s website.

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What types of projects does the Culture Strand of Creative Europe support?

The Culture Strand of the Creative Europe Programme supports European cultural projects, meaning initiatives that foster collaboration between organizations based in different countries. The programme supports a wide variety of projects, including:

• Projects focused on the creation and dissemination of artistic and cultural content, such as exhibitions, performances, cultural events, and more;

• Projects that contribute to capacity building and networking, for example, through conferences, exchange of best practices, and the development of professional networks across countries;

• Projects that address specific sectoral challenges and propose innovative solutions, such as organizing international tours for emerging artists, developing new approaches to copyright management in the digital age, creating tools for audience development, and more.

If you need inspiration or additional information about the kinds of projects that can receive support, you can explore the database of funded projects here.

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What should a Creative Europe application include?

An application submitted to the Creative Europe programme consists of three parts and annexes: Part A, Part B, and Part C. Parts A and C include general information about the project and data on the participating partners. These sections are completed online.

Part B is the main application form - a Word document containing a series of questions and sections. This is the most substantial part of the application and includes a detailed description of the project.

In addition, the budget is a mandatory part of the application and must be completed using a specific budget template.

Other annexes may also be required, depending on the nature of the project and specific requirements. These can include, for example, a summary of the organization’s main activities, CVs of the project team, and more. The full list of required annexes and documents is always specified in the Call Document of the respective funding call.

It is highly recommended that project teams begin working from the correct application and budget templates from the outset, as this will significantly save time and resources during the process.

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When is the next application deadline?

Each funding strand under the Creative Europe programme has its own specific deadlines. For example, European Cooperation Projects and Circulation of European Literary Works usually have annual calls, with deadlines set each year. In contrast, calls for networks and platforms may follow different schedules and are not necessarily annual.

In general, Creative Europe calls remain open for 2 to 3 months from the date of publication.
An exception is the individual mobility scheme (Culture Moves Europe), which has multiple deadlines throughout the year, depending on the type of mobility.

It is highly recommended to regularly check official announcements and updates to stay informed about the exact opening and closing dates of each call.

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How is a Creative Europe project application evaluated?

Applications for Creative Europe funding are submitted directly to the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) via the EU’s electronic platform. EACEA first checks whether the application meets all formal requirements and then forwards it to two independent experts from the relevant field (e.g., performing arts, architecture, etc.). These experts are required to agree on a final assessment score for the submitted project.

When awarding funding, Creative Europe places strong emphasis on the strengths of a project based on the following four key areas:

• European relevance

• Quality of content and activities

• Communication and dissemination of results

• Project management and partnership cooperation

The weight of each criterion may vary depending on the specific call and project objectives.

After the evaluation process, regardless of whether the project is selected for funding or not—the applicant organization receives detailed feedback from the experts. The evaluation process typically takes around six months from the date of submission until a decision is communicated.

IMPORTANT:
Creative Europe is designed to support the cultural policy of the European Commission. This means that all submitted projects should be considered as a means to help implement EU cultural and political objectives. Funding is provided to those proposals that clearly contribute to these broader goals. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the EU’s cultural policy priorities and ensure that their project aligns with them before submitting an application.

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Does the Creative Europe Programme cover the costs of writing the application?

No. Any costs incurred during the preparation of the application, such as staff time or fees paid to external consultants - are considered your own expenses and cannot be included in the project budget.

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Which countries can participate in the Creative Europe Programme?

In addition to the 27 Member States of the European Union, Armenia and several other countries are also eligible to participate in the Creative Europe Programme.
The full list of participating countries is available here. 

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How to apply for funding?
Applications for all project calls must be submitted through the European Union’s Funding and Tenders Portal.
More details are available here.

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About the Creative Europe Desk Armenia

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How can the Creative Europe Desk Armenia support you?

If you are considering applying for funding under the Creative Europe programme, the Armenian Desk can assist you at the initial stage by:

• Providing a professional assessment of your project idea,

• Supporting you in finding suitable international partners,

• Sharing information on additional national and international funding opportunities,

• Offering tailored guidance and consultations on project development and the application process.

You can contact the Desk by emailing info@creativeeurope.am or calling +374 77 16 29 57.

We also recommend subscribing to the Desk’s newsletter to stay informed about programme updates, open calls, events, and other important announcements.

All services provided by the Creative Europe Desk Armenia are free of charge.

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Who can you contact regarding questions about the application process?

For questions, details, and support related to your application, you can contact the Creative Europe Desk Armenia.

For technical issues, please consult the Online Manual and the FAQs section on the Funding and Tenders Portal. You may also reach out to the IT Helpdesk via the portal for further assistance.

Resources related to Culture Moves Europe individual mobility (such as info sessions, recordings, guides, etc.) are available here.