Second Contest of the “Cultural Horizons” Program by the UCF

The European Local Culture competition is implemented by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation under the Cultural Horizons programme. It supports international cultural cooperation between Ukrainian communities and partners from EU Member States. The competition supports projects promoting cultural exchange, local cultural heritage, new cultural products, stronger international cooperation, and community engagement in cultural activities.

Applications may be submitted by the following categories of applicants:

• local self-government authorities of settlements (excluding regional centres and the city of Kyiv) registered in Ukraine (excluding temporarily occupied territories). No minimum registration period is required for this category; however, applicants must have relevant experience in the cultural sector;
• legal entities of all forms of ownership and individual entrepreneurs (sole proprietors) registered in Ukraine (excluding temporarily occupied territories, regional centres, and the city of Kyiv) for at least one year before the start of the competition and with relevant experience in the cultural sector.

The involvement of an international partner is encouraged, but it is not a mandatory requirement for participation in the competition.

The total budget of the competition is UAH 9,554,000 (€200,000). Under the programme, applicants may receive grants from UAH 155,000 (€3,000) to UAH 400,000 (€8,000).

Co-financing is not mandatory for participation in the competition. However, projects providing co-financing of at least 5% of the total project budget may receive priority when applications have the same score. If several co-financed projects receive equal evaluation results, priority is given to the project with the higher overall expert score.

Co-financing may be provided by the applicant, partner, or other legal entities and individuals. It may be contributed in cash or in the form of other resources, excluding the Fund's grant financing allocated for the implementation of the project.

The competition supports projects aimed at strengthening local culture, promoting regional identity, and integrating modern approaches into cultural initiatives.

Eligible projects may include activities focused on:

• creating new local cultural products and promoting both tangible and intangible cultural heritage;
• developing the cultural capacity of communities and increasing their ability to produce competitive cultural products;
• integrating innovative practices and technologies into local cultural initiatives;
• promoting cultural diversity and supporting the cultures of national minorities and communities;
• fostering the cultural integration of internally displaced persons through participation in local cultural processes.

The programme supports a variety of project types, including:

• public art installations, exhibitions, performances, and exhibition projects;
• guided tour products and virtual tour experiences;
• interactive maps and digital mapping of cultural heritage;
• creative spaces, art exhibitions, and artist residencies;
• digital cultural products, including 3D models, AR/VR/MR solutions, multimedia installations, digital archives, and catalogues;
• mobile cultural initiatives.

The programme also allows combining several sectors within a single cross-sectoral project concept.

To participate in the competition, applicants should complete the following steps:

1. Review the competition guidelines, which include the competition timeline, application procedure, and answers to frequently asked questions.
2. Register as an applicant on the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation website.
3. Select the "Cultural Horizons" programme, the "European Local Culture" lot, choose the appropriate competition type, complete the application form, and sign it using a qualified electronic signature (QES).
4. Follow the "How to Submit an Application?" step-by-step guide available via the provided link.
5. If the application does not pass the technical review, consult the guidance on the next steps available through the dedicated reference link.

After successfully passing the technical review, each application package is submitted to the relevant Fund expert council for evaluation. The assessment is carried out in accordance with the expert council regulations, the Expert Evaluation Methodology, and the requirements of the competition programme.

Only applications that meet the technical eligibility criteria are forwarded for expert evaluation. These include timely submission, complete documentation, compliance with the objectives of the competition programme, preparation in Ukrainian (except where otherwise specified), and fulfilment of all established requirements.

Each project is evaluated independently by three experts of the relevant expert council. The maximum score awarded by one expert is 100 points, while the highest possible overall project score is 300 points.

After the evaluation process, applicants can access the experts' comments and their final score through their personal online account. Once all applications have been assessed, an overall ranking list is prepared and published on the Fund's official website.

During the expert evaluation process, applicants are prohibited from contacting experts or attempting to influence their decisions. Projects are selected for the negotiation stage based on the final ranking and within the limits of the available programme budget.

Applicants are required to prepare and submit the following documents as part of the application package:

• Project application form, completed electronically through the Fund's online system.
• Project work plan using the prescribed Excel template.
• Project budget prepared in the official Excel budget template provided by the Fund.
• For the applicant, an extract from the Unified State Register (USR) issued no earlier than the opening date of the competition and no later than the application deadline.
• For an international partner (if applicable), documents confirming the partner organization's legal registration under the legislation of its country, together with a letter of intent for cooperation.

All documents must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the competition requirements and in the prescribed formats.

Project Monitoring, Control and Reporting

During project implementation, the Fund carries out continuous monitoring of the beneficiary's compliance with the grant agreement and project implementation. Monitoring may include visits to project activities or written requests for up-to-date information.

As part of the monitoring process, the Fund reviews:

• implementation of the project in accordance with the approved plan;
• efficient use of human, technical, financial and other resources;
• achievement of the planned objectives and results;
• compliance with the requirements for the use of logos, disclaimers, and acknowledgement of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation's support in communication materials.

Following the monitoring process, an internal monitoring report is prepared. If violations are identified, the Fund's Directorate may terminate the grant agreement, discontinue funding, and require the beneficiary to return the grant funds.

Final Reporting

Upon completion of the project, the beneficiary must submit a final report, including:

• a narrative project implementation report;
• a report on the receipt and use of grant funds;
• supporting materials confirming project implementation;
• an independent auditor's report together with its annex.

The required documentation must be submitted through the applicant's online account and in paper form in accordance with the established requirements. The beneficiary is responsible for the accuracy of all information provided in the final report.

The competition programme is implemented in accordance with the legal and regulatory framework of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and the applicable legislation of Ukraine.

The key documents governing the competition include:

• the Law of Ukraine "On the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation";
• the Regulations on the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation;
• the Procedure for the Competitive Selection of Projects Supported by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and the Monitoring of Their Implementation;
• the Regulations on the Expert Councils of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation;
• the Expert Evaluation Methodology;
• the Procedure for Reporting Conflicts of Interest during the competition and project funding process;
• the Procedure for Monitoring Compliance with Obligations by entities receiving funding from the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation;
• guidance on the most common mistakes made by applicants and grant recipients when preparing competition documentation.