Welcome!

Welcome to the new-look Newsletter from the Cultural Contact Point in the UK. Over the next weeks, discover exciting new changes and a new experience to the culturefund.eu website, new and updated info-sheets on the Culture Programme and updated publications.

Calls and Deadlines

Strand 2 - Operating Grants for networks and ambassadors - 15 September
Strand 1.1 - Multi annual cooperation projects (projects lasting 3-5 years) - 1 October
Strand 1.2.1 - Cooperation measures (projects lasting 1-2 years) - 1 October
Strand 1.3.6 - Festivals - 15 November

Culture Programme Guide 2007-2013

Since May 6^th, the new version of the Culture Programme Guide 2007-2013 is available.

It includes some changes concerning European Cultural Festivals.

Changes to support for Festivals

As part of the European Commission's ongoing efforts to adapt the support offered by the Culture Programme to the special needs and specificities of European cultural festivals, the 'Festivals' strand has been moved from Strand 2 to become Strand 1.3.6 (Support for Cultural Actions).

There is also a new submission deadline, 15 November 2010, which will be for both one-year grants, and also for a special three-year grant. This will be the only deadline for the three-year grant, but there will be a deadline for one-year grants in 2011 and 2012.

See all the details in the new Programme Guide (see below) and keep your eyes open for new free downloadable Info-sheets that the UK CCP will make available on its website by late June.

Results now online for Literary Translation call for projects 2010

502 works of fiction are to be translated from one European language into another and financed by the Culture Programme!

UK Results: While it is interesting to note that English is a strong source language (100 books translated from English), it is regrettable that the UK had only a small number of applications (6) and limited success (only 1 project) in this strand. The UK Cultural Contact Point is looking at ways to improve awareness and applications to the literary translation strand, for example with information sessions on translation funding applications in the summer and the autumn. Watch this space!

Funding Calls and Deadlines: Other Trans-National Funds

Imminent deadlines (to end July 2010) are listed below:
For further deadlines, see http://deadline.culture.info

Media 2007
Distribution - VOD / DCD: 21 June 2010
Other initiatives - Pilot Project: 14 June 2010
Producer's support - TV Broadcasting: 28 June
Promotion - Access to Markets: 30 June

Europe for Citizens
Active Citizens for Europe
Measure 1.1 Town Twinning citizens meetings: Final deadline submission: 1 September 2010
Measure 1.2 Thematic Networking of Twinned Towns: Final deadline submission 1 September 2010
As there is currently no UK Contact Point for this programme, you may wish to visit the following website for more information: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.php

Lifelong Learning: Leonardo da Vinci Programme (vocational training)
Apply to ECOTEC in the UK for the following:
Mobility & Placements / Preparatory Visits:
Submit your funding application at least 8 weeks before the activity start date, final deadline for 2010 applications is 10 December 2010.
Small Co-operation Placements: Further 2010 deadlines not yet announced
Larger Transfer of Innovation Projects: Further 2010 deadlines not yet announced
Apply to the EACEA in Brussels for the following:
Multilateral Projects, Networks, Accompanying Measures: Further 2010 deadlines not yet announced

Lifelong Learning: Grundtvig Programme (adult education)
Apply to ECOTEC in the UK for the following:
Preparatory visits: Submit your funding application at least 8 weeks before the activity start date, final deadline for 2010 applications is 10 December 2010.
Visits & Exchanges: Submit your funding application at least 8 weeks before the activity start date, final deadline for 2010 applications is 17 December 2010
Apply to the EACEA in Brussels for the following:
Multilateral Projects, Networks, Accompanying Measures: Further 2010 deadlines not yet announced

Lifelong Learning: Transversal Programme
To participate in a Study Visit for Education and Vocational Training Specialists in the 2010-2011 academic year: for visits taking place between March 2011 and June 2011, final deadline will be 15 October 2010. The application form is not yet available but more information will be updated in July 2010.

Life+ Programme (for the environment, including "natural heritage")
New UK Contact Point: Beta Technology
The fourth LIFE+ call for proposals was published on 04 May 2010 (Deadline for the submission of proposals: 01 September 2010)

7^th Framework Programme
calls for co-operation projects in the socio-economic sciences and humanities theme have now closed. Further calls for 2010 have yet to be announced.

Funding Calls and Deadlines: Third Country Funds

Delegation of the European Union to Syria: Call for proposals on local and regional cultural activities
Deadline: 15 June
The European Delegation welcomes projects with innovative approaches as well as visible results, which aim at encouraging dialogue among peoples and cultures, promoting better access to cultural life and enhancing capacity building of cultural promoters in Syria.

Priority will be given to long term projects that strengthen active contribution to society by Syrian citizens, in particular young people and initiatives that target marginal and underprivileged populations, enhancing capacity building of cultural promoters as well as of media (i.e. young journalists, communication experts).

The funds will be provided for:

• Local cultural activities involving Syrian organisations and organisations at least from two EU Member States, or one EU Member State and either a Candidate country (Turkey, Croatia, and F.Y.R of Macedonia) or one from the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein).
• Regional cultural activities involving Syrian organisations and organisations at least from one country of the European Neighbourhood Policy and two EU Member States, or one EU Member State and either a Candidate country or one from the European Economic Area.

The grant won't exceed 80% of the project's total budget. Each project can apply for an amount between 25 000 and maximum 40 000 Euros, and over a twelve month period, beginning in 2011 (some projects could begin in 2010).

Eastern Partnership Culture Programme: call for Tenders for Capacity Building Programmes
Deadline: 24 June
ENPI East countries are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia.

This is a call for tenders for organisations who are interested in undertaking training and development projects in these countries to help them provide information services, training and other programmes to encourage participation in the Eastern Partnership programme; to help Ministries of Culture and local authorities develop policies and frameworks for cultural development; to help these countries identify and address skills shortages in their cultural sectors; to help organise culture policy exchanges, seminars and workshops; to help support projects selected through the Eastern Partnership programme, and to enable local agencies to evaluate their progress and impact.

EuropeAid: Cultural Activities programme: Call for proposals - Occupied Palestinian Territory: West Bank and Gaza Strip
Deadline: 24 June
The European Union is seeking proposals for cultural actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory with financial assistance from the Cultural Activities programme 2010. The programme's objectives are:

• The protection and promotion of Palestinian cultural heritage and cultural life and creation of awareness both locally and internationally.
• The promotion of intercultural cooperation between the EU and the Mediterranean partners
• The promotion of the visibility of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 390,000 and any grant awarded under this Call for Proposals must fall between minimum 20 000 Euros and maximum 50 000 Euros.

A grant would be between 50 % and 80 % of the total eligible costs of the action. Under certain conditions, the grant may cover the entire costs of the action.

The initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 5 months nor exceed 12 months and the action may not begin before 01/01/2011.

All applicants must be legal persons, non profit making and non-governmental organisations or private organisation. They have to be nationals of a Member State of the European Union or of the Mediterranean Partner Countries. Applicants may act individually or with partner organisations.

EuropeAid: Call for cultural cooperation with Turkey
Deadline: 16 July
The call's main aim is to set up long term cooperation and partnerships between European and Turkish museums or any organisations linked to that sector. More specifically, this exchange of best practice and knowledge will aim at strengthening the potential of Turkish museums.

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is 1.447.368 € and any grant awarded under this Call for Proposals must fall between 50 000 and 120 000 Euros. A grant would be between 50 % and 80 % of the total eligible costs of the action. The planned duration of an action must be between 10 and 12 months.

All applicants must be nationals of a Member State of the European Union or Turkey or Beneficiary Country of IPA Regulation or Beneficiary of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument or a Member state of European Economic Area. As a pre-condition, applicants from Turkey should have at least one eligible partner from EU Member States and applicants from EU Member States should have at least one eligible partner from Turkey in order to foster EU-Turkey Civil Society Dialogue.

Funding Calls and Deadlines: Interreg IV Funds

Different parts of the UK are eligible to apply for certain strands of the Interreg IV programme. Below is a summary of some of the imminent deadlines for some of these strands.

Interreg IV Strand A:
Cross border programme Ireland-Wales: fourth call, priority 2: 11 June

Interreg IV Strand B:
North West Europe Programme (whole of UK) Seventh Call: Open between 7 and 24 September 2010
North Sea Region Programme (east side of England & Scotland) None at present

Northern Periphery (Scotland and N Ireland) None at present

Interreg IV Strand C (all of UK) None at present

Funding Calls and Deadlines: Other

EU Commission Representation in the UK
Deadline: 18 June

"The European Commission (EC) Representation in the UK recognises the value of cultural engagement to create understanding and awareness of its current policy issues, especially among groups which tend not to engage with the political process. Through its past activities in the cultural sphere it has sought to bring an awareness of common issues as they are discussed at European and national level to the local community. It has also sought to highlight the UK's position within Europe as a cultural rather than a political entity."

The Commission Representation in the UK has therefore launched a call for proposals targeted specifically at UK cultural operators/organisations which are invited to draw on their policy expertise and experience in staging events to promote the following themes:

• Ageing population;
• Bio-diversity;
• Climate change and the environment;
• Combating poverty and social exclusion;
• Migrants;
• Sustaining growth, jobs and solidarity, and
• Raising the profile of the EC Representation in the UK.

The maximum grant available is EUR 25,000 and the maximum contribution would be 70% of the total project budget. For more information click here

Culture Programme Info Day

Missed the Culture programme Info Day? Follow the Info Day presentations with recordings of the sessions, which are now available on the Info Day 2010 site. The Infoday had 500 participants from across Europe, with many more following the presentations and discussions, which were streamed across the internet, a first for the Infoday.

Culture Programme 2009 Activity Report is out!

Did you know, for instance, that there was a 34% success rate across all strands in the programme? Or that 43 million euros helped finance cultural projects from all across Europe? What about Montenegro becoming the 34th country to fully participate?
You can read about this and much more in the 2009 edition of the Activity Report

A Digital Agenda for Europe

This is the first of the seven flagship initiatives launched for the Europe 2020 Strategy, the European Commission's programme for 'smart, sustainable and inclusive growth'

See 'EU - Publications' below for the official EU Commission communication

Become an expert for the EU!

Have you ever wondered who the experts are who take part in the decision-making process in which projects are selected for funding from the Culture or other EU programmes such as Lifelong Learning or Media?

The Executive Agency, which manages the application and selection process, has an open call for experts. If you are an 'expert' in your field, why not apply?

See the Executive Agency's website for more information.

Media & Learning 2010

25-26 November

Brussels, Belgium

The European Commission's Directorate General is organising, in partnership with the Flemish Ministry for education, a conference on the latest developments, services and uses of media in education and training. Aimed at both policy-makers and practitioners, the purpose of the event is to identify policies and initiatives that promote digital and media competence at all levels of education and training as well as to promote best-practice in the take-up and application of media in education and training. This conference will discuss:

• the urgency of embedding digital and media literacy skills amongst the European workforce
• how best to convince stakeholders about the importance of embedding digital and media skills amongst learning professionals and learners at all levels of education and training

OPEN DAYS: European Week of Regions and Cities

Since 2003, OPEN DAYS has become an annual key event at which cities and regions to showcase their capacity for creating growth and jobs, implementing European Union cohesion policy, and proof the importance of the local level for good European governance.

The OPEN DAYS will be held for the eighth time in Brussels between 4 and 7 October 2010. Again, around 100 seminars, workshops or debates plus exhibitions and networking opportunities will be take place, organised in partnership with regions and cities from all over Europe, and including contributions by companies, banks and international associations and academic organisations.

Registration begins on 5 July via the OPEN DAYS website. The complete OPEN DAYS programme, including descriptions of the seminars and workshops plus details of speakers, dates and venues, will be published here in June 2010.

Call for Submissions of Concepts for Regional Cooperation Projects in the Fields of Art and Culture

Information session on the EU Culture Programme at the Edinburgh Festival
10 August 2010, 2-4pm
Fringe Central, Edinburgh

As UK Cultural Contact Point, Visiting Arts is running a free seminar to outline the EU funding opportunities available to arts and cultural projects. Presented by the UK's official Contact Point for the Culture Programme, this seminar will provide a brief summary of the Culture programme and other EU funding opportunities available to arts and cultural organisations. If you are planning a project or collaboration, or if you want to know about the EU funding opportunities available, you can book a place at this seminar by emailing rsvp@visitingarts.org.uk

CulturEuro Seminars - helping you access EU funds…

75% of UK applications to the last call for the EU Culture programme were successful! (see Alert #2 for 2010) To find out how you can apply to this and other EU funding opportunities, come along to one of EUCLID's popular and informative CulturEuro seminars:

• Norwich, The Garage, 3 June

• Leeds, Leeds West Yorkshire Playhouse, 8 June

• Coventry, Institute for Creative Enterprise, 9 June

• Liverpool, Blackburne House, 10 June

• Belfast, Arts Council Northern Ireland, 15 June

• Newcastle, Civic Centre, 22 June

• Nottingham, Holiday Inn Express, 24 June

• London, UCL (Tottenham Court Rd), 6 July

Seminars will run from 1.30 to 4.30 pm, and the cost is £78 (no VAT). Delegates will receive a comprehensive information pack. Full information and booking details can be found at www.cultureuro.info.

Call for Submissions of Concepts for Regional Cooperation Projects in the Fields of Art and Culture

Deadline: 15 June

The Swiss Cultural Programme in the Western Balkans (SCP) supports regional cooperation projects in the fields of culture and arts in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia.

The initiative invites cultural organisations, initiatives, networks and/or associations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia, both from the non-governmental and governmental sector, for submission of concepts for Regional Cooperation Projects.

After Lisbon: The Future of European Law & Policy

24-25 June 2010
University of Birmingham

A conference/course organised by the Institute of European Law, focusing on:

• the Constitution of the EU (institutions, decision making …),

• the EU and the individual (citizenship, human rights, …),

• the EU and the economy (internal market, competition, …),

• and the EU and the outside world (external relations, enlargement, ESDP, …).

Conference participation fees apply.

Taking Part - arts, culture and civil society

29-30 October 2010

London, UK

It is claimed that participation in the arts is a powerful catalyst for civic engagement - could the arts be making an even more dynamic contribution to the development of our civil society. Could the arts and culture be working together with third sector organisations to tackle inequalities, create stronger alternative voices and invite different people to the table? And if they could, should they consider this part of their role? How might research support third sector organisations, enabling them to develop and evaluate the most effective ways of working with the arts? This conference will share research findings, it will hear about the wide range of UK and European and international arts practice engaging directly with the community, it will create new contexts for debate and animating the dialogue in challenging an d exciting ways.

Send your ideas for presentations or contributions to m.dumas@gold.ac.uk by 19 June 2010.