# C_2009151EN.01002501.xml

| 3.7.2009 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 151/25 |
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3.7.2009

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 151/25

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Call for proposals — Culture Programme (2007-2013)

Implementation of the programme actions: multiannual cooperation projects; cooperation measures; special action (third countries); and support for bodies active at European level in the field of culture

2009/C 151/08

INTRODUCTION

This call for proposals is based on Decision No 1855/2006/EC (1) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006, establishing the Culture Programme (2007-2013), hereinafter referred to as the ‘Culture Programme’. the detailed conditions of this call for proposals can be found in the programme guide for the Culture programme (2007-2013) published on the Europa website (see point VIII). The programme guide constitutes an integral part of this call for proposals.

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I.   Objectives

Objectives

The Culture programme has been established to enhance the cultural area shared by Europeans, which is based on a common cultural heritage, through the development of cooperation activities among cultural operators from eligible countries (2), with a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship.

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The programme is aimed at three specific objectives:

| — | promotion of the transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector; |
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promotion of the transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector;

| — | support for the transnational circulation of cultural and artistic works and products; |
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support for the transnational circulation of cultural and artistic works and products;

| — | promotion of intercultural dialogue. |
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promotion of intercultural dialogue.

The programme has a flexible, interdisciplinary approach and is focused on the needs expressed by cultural operators during the public consultations leading up to its design.

II.   Strands

Strands

This call covers the following strands of the Culture programme:

1.   Support for cultural projects (strand 1)

Cultural organisations are given support for projects to work together across borders and to create and implement cultural and artistic activities.

The thrust of this strand is to help organisations, such as theatres, museums, professional associations, research centres, universities, cultural institutes and public authorities from different countries participating in the Culture programme to cooperate so that different sectors can work together and extend their cultural and artistic reach across borders.

This strand is divided into four categories, which are detailed below.

Strand 1.1: Multiannual Cooperation Projects (lasting from three to five years)

The first category seeks to foster multiannual, transnational cultural links by encouraging a minimum of six cultural operators from at least six eligible countries to cooperate and work within and across sectors to develop joint cultural activities over a period of three to five years. Funds of between a minimum of EUR 200 000 and a maximum of EUR 500 000 per year are available, but EU support is limited to a maximum of 50 % of the total eligible cost. The funding is intended to help set up or extend the geographical reach of a project and make it sustainable beyond the funding period.

cost

Strand 1.2.1: Cooperation Projects (lasting up to 24 months)

The second category concerns actions shared by at least three cultural operators, working within and across sectors, from at least three eligible countries over a maximum period of two years. Actions that explore means of long-term cooperation are especially targeted. Funds of between EUR 50 000 and EUR 200 000 are available, but EU support is limited to a maximum of 50 % of the total eligible cost.

Strand 1.2.2: Literary Translation Projects (lasting up to 24 months)

The third category concerns support for translation projects. EU support for literary translation is aimed at enhancing knowledge of the literature and literary heritage of fellow Europeans by way of promoting the circulation of literary works between countries. Publishing houses can be awarded grants for translations and publication of works of fiction from one European language into another European language. Funds of between EUR 2 000 and EUR 60 000 are available, but EU support is limited to a maximum of 50 % of the total eligible cost.

Strand 1.3: Cooperation projects with third countries (lasting up to 24 months)

The fourth category seeks to support cultural cooperation projects aimed at cultural exchanges between the countries taking part in the programme and third countries, which have concluded association or cooperation agreements with the EU, provided that the latter contain cultural clauses. Every year one or more third country(ies) is/are selected for that particular year. The country(ies) is/are indicated each year on the website of the Executive Agency in due course before the deadline for submission.

The action must generate a concrete international cooperation dimension. The cooperation projects involve at least three cultural operators, from at least three eligible countries and cultural cooperation with at least one organisation from the selected third country and/or involve cultural activities carried out in the selected third country. Funds of between EUR 50 000 and maximum EUR 200 000 are available, but EU support is limited to maximum 50 % of the total eligible cost.

2.   Support for organisations active at European level in the field of culture (Strand 2)

Cultural organisations working, or wanting to work, at European level in the field of culture can receive support for their operating costs. This strand targets organisations that promote a sense of shared cultural experience with a truly European dimension.

The grant awarded under this strand is a support to operating costs incurred for the permanent activities of beneficiary organisations. This profoundly differs from any other grants, which may be awarded under the other strands of the programme.

Four categories of organisations are eligible under this strand:

| (a) | Ambassadors |
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(a)

Ambassadors

| (b) | Advocacy networks |
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(b)

Advocacy networks

| (c) | Festivals |
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(c)

Festivals

| (d) | Policy support structures for the Culture agenda, further divided into two subcategories:






  (i) | Structured dialogue platforms |
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(d)

Policy support structures for the Culture agenda, further divided into two subcategories:

(i)

Structured dialogue platforms

| (ii) | Policy analysis groupings. |
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(ii)

Policy analysis groupings.

Maximum funds are available, depending on the category applied for, but EU support is limited to maximum 80 % of the total eligible costs.

III.   Eligible actions and applicants

Eligible actions and applicants

The Culture programme supports projects, organisations, promotional activities and research in all branches of culture, except the audiovisual branch for which there is a separate programme named MEDIA (3). Cultural operators, including cultural enterprises, can participate in the Culture programme as long as they are acting in a non-profit-making cultural capacity.

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Eligible applicants must:

| — | be a public (4) or private organisation with legal status, whose principal activity is in the cultural sphere (cultural and creative sectors); and |
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be a public (4) or private organisation with legal status, whose principal activity is in the cultural sphere (cultural and creative sectors); and

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| — | have their registered legal seat in one of the eligible countries. |
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have their registered legal seat in one of the eligible countries.

Natural persons are not eligible to apply for a grant under this programme.

IV.   Eligible countries

Eligible countries

Countries eligible under this programme are:

| — | EU Member States (5); |
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EU Member States (5);

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| — | EEA (6) countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway); |
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EEA (6) countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway);

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| — | Countries candidate to EU membership (Croatia, Turkey and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) plus Serbia. |
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Countries candidate to EU membership (Croatia, Turkey and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) plus Serbia.

The countries of the western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro) could become eligible in the future, subject to the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the participation of each of those countries in the Programme (7).

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V.   Award criteria

Award criteria

| 1. | the extent to which the project can generate real European added value; |
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1.

the extent to which the project can generate real European added value;

European added value

| 2. | the relevance of the activities to the specific objectives of the programme; |
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2.

the relevance of the activities to the specific objectives of the programme;

specific objectives

| 3. | the extent to which the activities proposed are designed and can be carried out successfully with a high level of excellence; |
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3.

the extent to which the activities proposed are designed and can be carried out successfully with a high level of excellence;

level of excellence

| 4. | the quality of partnership (only for strand 1.1, 1.2.1, and 1.3) (0-5 total pts); |
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4.

the quality of partnership (only for strand 1.1, 1.2.1, and 1.3) (0-5 total pts);

quality of partnership

| 5. | the extent to which the activities can produce outputs which achieve the objectives of the Programme; |
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5.

the extent to which the activities can produce outputs which achieve the objectives of the Programme;

outputs

| 6. | the extent to which the results of activities proposed will be appropriately communicated and promoted; |
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6.

the extent to which the results of activities proposed will be appropriately communicated and promoted;

communicated

promoted

| 7. | the long-term impact — sustainability (not for strand 1.2.2); |
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7.

the long-term impact — sustainability (not for strand 1.2.2);

long-term impact — sustainability

| 8. | the International Cooperation Dimension (only for strand 1.3: Cultural cooperation projects with third countries). |
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8.

the International Cooperation Dimension (only for strand 1.3: Cultural cooperation projects with third countries).

International Cooperation Dimension

VI.   Budget

Budget

The programme has a total budget of EUR 400 million (8) for the 2007-2013 period.

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Total yearly appropriations, including for those actions that do not form part of the Programme Guide, may vary from around EUR 43 million to about EUR 58 million, depending on the year.

On a proposal by the Commission the annual budget breakdown per strand (in line with the approximations indicated hereafter) is approved by the programme committee.

Foreseen budget 2010 for the following strands

Foreseen budget 2010 for the following strands

| Strand 1.1 | Multiannual cooperation projects | EUR 18 140 264 |
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| Strand 1.2.1 | Cooperation projects | EUR 17 900 000 |
| Strand 1.2.2 | Literary translation projects | EUR 2 700 000 |
| Strand 1.3 | Cooperation projects with third countries | EUR 2 650 000 |
| Strand 2 | Support for organisations active at European level in the field of culture | EUR 7 700 000 |

Strand 1.1

Multiannual cooperation projects

EUR 18 140 264

Strand 1.2.1

Cooperation projects

EUR 17 900 000

Strand 1.2.2

Literary translation projects

EUR 2 700 000

Strand 1.3

Cooperation projects with third countries

EUR 2 650 000

Strand 2

Support for organisations active at European level in the field of culture

EUR 7 700 000

VII.   Deadlines for applications

Deadlines for applications

| Strands | Deadline for submission |
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| Strand 1 | Support for cultural projects | |
| Strand 1.1 | Multi-annual cooperation projects | 1 October 2009 |
| Strand 1.2.1 | Cooperation projects | 1 October 2009 |
| Strand 1.2.2 | Literary translation projects | 1 February 2010 |
| Strand 1.3 | Cultural cooperation projects with third countries | 1 May 2010 |
| Strand 2 | Support for organisations active at European level in the field of culture | 1 November 2009 |

Strands

Deadline for submission

Strand 1

Support for cultural projects

Strand 1.1

Multi-annual cooperation projects

1 October 2009

Strand 1.2.1

Cooperation projects

1 October 2009

Strand 1.2.2

Literary translation projects

1 February 2010

Strand 1.3

Cultural cooperation projects with third countries

1 May 2010

Strand 2

Support for organisations active at European level in the field of culture

1 November 2009

If the deadline for submission falls on a weekend or public holiday in the applicant's country no extension will be granted and applicants must take this into account when planning their submission.

The deadlines for submission of applications for the following years under the Culture programme will be on the same calendar dates as indicated in the programme guide.

VIII.   Further information

Further information

The detailed conditions for application can be found in the Culture programme guide on the following websites:

Directorate-General for Education and Culture

http://ec.europa.eu/culture/index_en.htm

Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/culture/index_en.htm

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(1)  OJ L 372, 27.12.2006, p. 1.

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(2)  See point IV.

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(3)  http://eacea.eu.europa.eu/media/index_en.htm

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(4)  Public organisation is considered as any organisation, any part of whose costs are financed from the State budget as of right, either by central, regional or local government. That is, these costs are financed from public sector funds raised through taxation or fines or fees regulated by law, without going through an application process which might result in their being unsuccessful in obtaining funds. Organisations that depend on state funding for their existence and receive grants year after year, but for which there exists at least the theoretical possibility that they may fail to receive money in a given year are considered to be private organisations.

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(5)  The 27 EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

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(6)  European Economic Area.

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(7)  Further information on developments concerning these third countries will be announced on the website of the Executive Agency: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu

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(8)  Non-EU eligible countries also contribute to the programme's budget.

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