The joint project “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans” (CC4WBs) implemented by UNESCO, the British Council and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), aims to improve the performance of the cultural and creative sectors in order to enhance skills, knowledge, and access to financial aid to increase competitiveness and sustain co-production and circulation of goods and services in the Western Balkans. This systemic and people-centred approach to development is intended to deeply embed progress across the sector, while ensuring ownership and engagement as key requirements for local sustainability.

In the scope of the CC4WBs project, we are announcing an Open Call for Creative Leaders Exchange Grants.

Are you a cultural leader who shapes trends, inspires innovation, and drives the cultural conversation within the Western Balkans? Are you looking for an opportunity to exchange experience and test your idea/s with peers working in different countries or cultural contexts of Europe?

You may apply for a grant of up to 10,000.00 EUR 

Objective 

Creative Leaders Exchange Grants for Individuals are designed to support peer-to-peer exchange, including networking and potential direct collaborations between cultural leaders from the Western Balkans (WBs) and host organisations/institutions from Europe through study and research visits.

The primary goal of the Creative Leaders Exchange Grants is to promote innovative approaches, methods, and formats in the arts and culture. They will create opportunities for sharing perspectives, knowledge, and fostering collaboration between grant recipients from the Western Balkans and their host counterparts in Europe. 

This initiative will enhance the capacities and expand the professional networks of both the grantee and the host by:

• Facilitating international exchange of experience between the grantee and the host through study/research, collaboration or other initiative
• Broadening professional perspectives through a fresh, forward-thinking approach to specific areas within the cultural sector
• Encouraging the development of new ideas, with plans for their realization, and fostering innovative artistic practices
• Expanding professional networks on a broader European scale
• Promoting the diversity of cultural expressions from the Western Balkans

Your application should provide us with the following information: 

1. About yourself (CV in English to be annexed)
2. Purpose of the visit and idea behind it
3. Hosting organisation and arrangement details
4. Duration in days, place and timing of the visit. The grant implementation is estimated to start not earlier than March 2025 and should be completed not later than 31 December 2025
5. Signed letter from a host confirming its interest and availability within the expected duration of the visit

This Open Call for Applications is open until 10 January 2025 by 23:59 (CET).

More info HERE.