Preparatory action - Bottom-up Policy Development for Culture and Well-being in the EU

A new call for proposals is accepting applications until 14 May 2021

Having adopted the Annual work programme for the implementation of Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions in the areas of education, youth, sport and culture on 4 March 2020, the European Commission now accepts project proposals for the following preparatory action: “Bottom-up Policy Development for Culture & Well-being in the EU’”.

The action shall allow mapping of the most relevant existing practices in this regard, including those that are financed by European programmes, and building up the capacity of local actors to effectively benefit from culture as a means to increase wellbeing and health, with a special focus on mental health.

The action will also carry out small-scale pilot work on the ground on ways of cooperating across sectors in order to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities.

Aims and objectives, eligible candidates

With this call for proposals, the Commission aims to:

• facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experience and success stories within the European Union (EU) related to the role of culture for well-being and health
• map the most relevant existing practices in this regard, including those that are financed by European programmes
• improve the capacity of local actors to effectively benefit from culture as a means to increase well-being and health, with a special focus on mental health
• carry out small-scale pilot work on the ground concerning means of cooperating across sectors to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities
• establish and explore synergies between existing policies and programmes, as well as past, ongoing and planned actions – in particular those at the EU level – but also local, (macro-)regional and national initiatives.

The call is open to individual entities and consortia of partners, including public or private organisations. The grant will be allocated to one single project.

The total budget is estimated at €500,000, while the indicative duration of the action is 18 months.

Background information

One of the three strategic objectives of the New European Agenda for Culture is to harness the power of culture and cultural diversity for social cohesion and well-being. This will be achieved by promoting cultural participation, by encouraging the mobility of artists and by protecting and promoting Europe’s cultural heritage.

Cohesion and well-being is also one of the six priorities of the 2019–2022 Council Work Plan for Culture adopted in November 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose an unprecedented challenge to collective well-being. Its socio-economic consequences will likely be felt long after the crisis.

More information on the call, including guidelines, is available on the website of the European Commission.