Creative Europe to support Ukrainian Artists with a new €5 million call

The EU will increase its support to Ukraine’s arts and culture by another €5 million. A new call under the Creative Europe programme that the Commission published on the 30th of October, is a response to the dramatic consequences of Russia’s war of aggression for Ukrainian artists as well as professionals and organisations in the cultural and creative sectors. The call is the second of this kind since September 2022.

Creative Europe will finance three projects with the following objectives, supporting Ukrainian artists and cultural organisations to co-create with their peers and present their art and works in Ukraine and in other countries participating in the Creative Europe programme, fostering Ukrainians’ access to culture and cultural heritage – namely for displaced people, in Ukraine or Creative Europe participating countries – promoting integration, social cohesion or health through culture, preparing the post-war recovery of the Ukrainian cultural and creative sectors and supporting their contribution to societal resilience through capacity building and networking activities

The call aims to address the profound impacts of Russia’s war on Ukraine’s cultural and creative sectors, which has left many Ukrainian artists and cultural organizations unable to operate or engage with audiences both locally and internationally. Additionally, a significant number of Ukrainians, including refugees and displaced individuals, currently lack full access to cultural resources. By fostering collaboration between Ukrainian organizations and those in other Creative Europe countries, this initiative seeks to strengthen ties, integrate Ukraine’s cultural sector within Europe, and promote international cultural relations.

Aligned with the New European Agenda for Culture, the call supports efforts to preserve and revitalize Ukraine's cultural heritage as a means of strengthening social cohesion and resilience. This focus not only assists people in their recovery but also supports Ukraine’s vision for a resilient and inclusive economy and society. Projects selected will be instrumental in helping Ukrainian cultural organizations, artists, and professionals confront the ongoing and future impacts of the war, working closely with European counterparts to rebuild and grow their creative sectors.  It is anticipated to pave the way for future investments in Ukraine’s cultural and creative sector recovery, particularly as the country progresses toward EU candidate status.