Creative Europe is the European Union's flagship program dedicated to supporting the cultural, creative, and audiovisual sectors. Running from 2021 to 2027, it has a budget of €2.44 billion, which is aimed at fostering cultural diversity, promoting cross-border cooperation, and enhancing the competitiveness of these sectors.

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Objectives

• Promote Cultural Diversity and Heritage: Support the richness of Europe's cultural heritage and diversity, and ensure that cultural and creative content reaches audiences across Europe and beyond.

• Strengthen the Competitiveness of the Creative Sectors: Enhance the capacity of cultural and creative organizations, including the audiovisual industry, to operate internationally.

• Encourage Cross-Border Collaboration: Foster international collaboration among artists, cultural professionals, and organizations to create and distribute innovative content.

 

Structure

Creative Europe is divided into three main strands:

• Culture Strand

  • Cooperation Projects: Supports collaborative projects that involve cultural and creative organizations from different countries working together.

  • European Networks: Provides funding for networks that help strengthen the capacity of the cultural and creative sectors.

  • European Platforms: Supports platforms that promote emerging artists and foster the visibility of European cultural and creative works.

  • Literary Translation: Provides grants for the translation of literary works to increase the circulation of European literature.

• MEDIA Strand

  • Development and Distribution of Audiovisual Content: Supports the development, production, and distribution of European films, television programs, and other audiovisual works.

  • Promotion and Access to Markets: Helps audiovisual professionals promote their works, find new audiences, and access international markets.

  • Training and Talent Development: Offers training programs for professionals in the audiovisual sector to enhance their skills and adapt to new market conditions.

  • Cinema Networks: Supports networks of cinemas that screen a significant proportion of non-national European films.

• Cross-Sectoral Strand

  • Innovative Approaches and Collaboration: Encourages cross-sectoral innovation and collaboration between the cultural, creative, and audiovisual sectors.

  • Support for News Media: Aims to enhance media literacy, promote cross-border cooperation among news media organizations, and support a healthy news media environment in Europe.

  • Creative Innovation Labs: Funds projects that bring together stakeholders from different sectors to develop new solutions and business models.

 

Eligibility and Participation

• Who Can Apply: A wide range of organizations including cultural and creative enterprises, NGOs, non-profit organizations, public authorities, and media companies can apply for funding.

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• Geographical Scope: The program is open to EU Member States and also to non-EU countries that have agreements with the EU, such as EFTA/EEA countries, candidate countries, and potential candidate countries.

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Key Priorities

• Digital Transformation: Emphasizing the role of digital technologies in the creation, distribution, and promotion of cultural and creative works.

• Environmental Sustainability: Encouraging projects that contribute to environmental sustainability, such as by reducing the carbon footprint of cultural and creative activities.

• Inclusion and Gender Equality: Promoting projects that support inclusion, gender equality, and access to culture for marginalized and underrepresented groups.

 

Impact

Creative Europe aims to help cultural and creative sectors reach new audiences, develop new business models, and ensure that Europe's cultural and creative output thrives in a globalized digital environment. The program also seeks to reinforce the contribution of these sectors to Europe's social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

By providing support across the cultural and creative sectors, Creative Europe helps to ensure that Europe’s cultural heritage and creative industries continue to play a vital role in shaping the continent’s future.