Strategies and policies
EU countries are responsible for their own culture-sector policies. The role of the European Commission is to help them address challenges they all face: the impact of the digital shift, changing models of cultural governance and the need to promote innovation in the cultural and creative sectors.
Context - Culture in cities and EU policies
Context - Strategic framework for EU's cultural policy
European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018
Communication: European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage (2018)
Council conclusions: Work Plan for Culture 2019 - 2022 (2018)
Communication: New European Agenda for Culture (2018)
Communication: Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations (2016)
Communication: Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe (2014)
Communication: Promoting cultural and creative sectors for growth and jobs in the EU (2012)
European Agenda for Culture (2007)
Urban data and studies
EU Statistics in the field of culture
Voices of Culture – The role of culture in non-urban areas
Voices of Culture – Culture and Sustainable Development Goals: challenges and opportunities
Voices of Culture – Status and working conditions of artists and cultural & creative professionals
Report - From social inclusion to social cohesion: the role of cultural policy
Report - Sustainable cultural tourism
Report - Participatory governance of cultural heritage
Report - Promoting access to culture via digital means
Report – Towards gender equality in the cultural and creative sectors
The Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor
Funding opportunities and advice
Programmes and funding opportunities
European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)
European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF)
European Investment Project Portal (EIPP)
For more information and other funding opportunities, please visit our dedicated funding page.
Advice and technical assistance
Urbis is a new dedicated urban investment advisory platform within the European Investment Advisory Hub. It is set up to provide advisory support to urban authorities to facilitate, accelerate and unlock urban investment projects, programmes and platforms.
Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions (JASPERS)
JASPERS is the 'Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions', free of charge for local authorities and promotors, which advices cities and regions on strategic planning in a wide range of sectors. It supports the preparation of projects in areas benefiting from EU funds so they meet all the necessary standards.
fi-Compass is a platform for advisory services on financial instruments and is designed to support European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) managing authorities, Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) microfinance providers and other interested parties, by providing practical know-how and learning tools on financial instruments.
References
Beginner's Guide to EU Funding
Accessing regional-policy funds
Networking
Creative Europe Networks supported in 2017-2021
European Creative Hubs Network
Creatives Unite COVID-19 Resource Platform
Voices of Culture - European Commission's structured dialogue with the civil society
URBACT programme for European exchange and learning
Awards
European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture
Young Talent Architecture Award (YTAA)
European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards
Music Moves Europe Talent Awards
Project examples
Creative Europe Project Results Platform
Cultural Heritage in Action (2020 - 2023)
Cultural and Creative Spaces and Cities (2018 - 2021)
Creative FLIP - Finance, Learning, Innovation and Patenting in CCIs (2019 - 2021)
Culture for Cities and Regions (2015 - 2017)
Crowdfunding 4 Culture (2015 - 2017)
ACCESS Culture for all (URBACT 2019-2022)
C-Change: Arts and culture leading climate action in cities (URBACT 2018-2021)