Grant for Initiatives to Promote Multicultural Heritage

The REHERIT 2.0 "Shared Responsibility for Shared Heritage" grant programme supports community initiatives that explore, reinterpret, preserve, and promote multicultural heritage as a resource for mutual understanding and long-term resilience.

The programme focuses on:

• reinterpreting the role of local multicultural heritage as a shared community asset;
• strengthening local identity and residents' sense of belonging;
• supporting education, culture, creative practices, and community engagement;
• reinforcing local institutions and creating conditions for social and economic development.

Particular attention is given to initiatives that work with multicultural heritage, community memory, and the responsible interpretation of shared heritage, combining memory and heritage work with a realistic long-term vision of their value for local communities.

Applicants working in the fields of cultural heritage, culture, local history, museum studies, creative practices, urban studies, local development, education, research, advocacy, or related fields relevant to the competition’s theme are invited to participate.

The programme accepts applications from different categories of organisations that meet the programme requirements and have relevant project implementation experience.

Eligible applicants include:

• public associations, public unions, charitable organisations, and other non-profit organisations registered under the legislation of Ukraine;
• individual entrepreneurs (sole proprietors) with proven experience in implementing projects or providing services related to cultural heritage, culture, creative industries, communications, local development, or related fields;
• other legal entities, including cultural, educational, research, and creative institutions, whose activities are aligned with the objectives of the competition.

Commercial organisations and sole proprietors may apply only if the proposed project serves a public, cultural, educational, or community purpose and is not intended to generate profit.

Applications may be submitted individually or in partnership. The involvement of a relevant implementation partner is considered an advantage during the evaluation process but is not a mandatory eligibility requirement.

For partnership projects, the application must clearly describe the role, contribution, and expected participation of each partner. Partners may include civil society organisations, cultural institutions, museums, archives, educational institutions, research organisations, local businesses, independent experts, and other relevant stakeholders.

Local self-government bodies, state institutions, and municipal organisations may participate as project partners; however, they cannot be the primary recipients of grant funding.

The programme is expected to support approximately 10 projects across two funding lots. The organisers reserve the right to adjust the number of supported projects in each lot depending on the quality of applications, the available budget, and their alignment with the programme objectives.

Key funding conditions include:

• grant amount ranging from EUR 10,000 to EUR 30,000;
• the programme may cover up to 100% of the project budget;
• co-financing is not mandatory, but is encouraged. Applicants may provide financial or in-kind contributions;
• the grant agreement defines the payment mechanism, the number of instalments, and the conditions for interim and final payments;
• project duration is 9 months (approximately from 1 January to 30 September 2027), with the reporting period scheduled for October–November 2027.

The programme does not finance, among other things:

• political, party, or election-related activities;
• direct material assistance to individuals or organisations;
• personal rewards or products without clear public value within the project;
• costs not directly related to project implementation;
• expenses incurred before the grant agreement is signed or after the project has been completed.

At the same time, personnel costs and payments to engaged specialists may be included in the project budget if they are necessary for project implementation and supported by appropriate documentation.

The grant programme supports projects aimed at strengthening the development potential of cultural heritage as a resource for community development, local identity, education, culture, and socio-economic growth.

Funding is provided through two thematic lots:

Lot 1. "Research, Interpretation and Promotion of Heritage"

• research, documentation, and preservation of multicultural cultural heritage;
• development of digital tools for heritage promotion, including websites, interactive maps, mobile applications, and 3D modelling;
• artistic interpretation of heritage through exhibitions, documentary films, archival work, and audiovisual practices;
• local advocacy campaigns promoting inclusive approaches to cultural heritage.

Lot 2. "Heritage Preservation, Management and Development"

• pre-project studies and preparation of project documentation;
• development of investment and project concepts;
• restoration or conservation of small cultural heritage sites or their components;
• creation of registers and databases of cultural heritage assets;
• development of heritage management strategies and preservation programmes;
• preparation of local policies and advocacy initiatives related to cultural heritage management.

Each applicant may submit up to two applications—one under each lot—but only one project may receive funding.

The grant programme is implemented through several consecutive stages, from the launch of the open call to the completion of funded projects and submission of final reports.

Key milestones include:

• June 2026 — launch of the open call and opening of the concept submission period.
• August 2026 — deadline for submitting concept notes (the exact date will be announced in the official call).
• September 2026 — announcement of the shortlist of 20 concepts and provision of feedback to applicants.
• October 2026 — deadline for submitting full applications.
• November 2026 — announcement of the selected projects.
• December 2026 – January 2027 — signing of sub-grant agreements and launch of sub-granted projects.
• October – November 2027 — submission of final reports and completion of the programme.

The application process consists of two stages.

Stage 1. Concept Note Submission

• Applicants submit a project concept using an online Google Form.
• The concept should include:
  • general information about the applicant and partner (if applicable);
  • a brief description of the problem, project idea (up to 300 words), and its relevance;
  • justification of the proposed project duration;
  • the estimated grant amount and own contribution (if applicable);
  • information on partnership arrangements (if applicable).
• Concept notes submitted after the deadline or by any method other than the Google Form will not be considered.

Stage 2. Full Application Submission

• Only applicants whose concepts are shortlisted are invited to submit a full application.
• The full application is submitted electronically in response to the organisers' invitation.
• It should include, among other things:
  • a detailed project description;
  • the project budget;
  • information on the organisation's and team's experience;
  • an implementation timeline;
  • letters of support or partnership confirmations (if applicable);
  • documents confirming the applicant's eligibility and capacity to implement the project.

An invitation to the second stage does not guarantee funding. Final funding decisions are made after the evaluation of full applications.

Projects are assessed using four evaluation criteria blocks, with a maximum score of 100 points.

The selection process consists of two stages:

• during the first stage, the competition committee evaluates concept notes using a simplified set of criteria;
• only concepts that receive at least 75 out of 100 points may be invited to the second stage. The committee prepares a shortlist of up to 20 concepts and reserves the right to invite fewer applications.

During the second stage, full applications are evaluated using the same scoring scale, with additional consideration given to the quality of the implementation plan, budget justification, realism of expected results, sustainability, communication approach, and anticipated impact.

The main evaluation criteria include:

• relevance — alignment with the programme objectives, innovation, realistic results, and long-term value of the initiative;
• sustainability — relevance to the community, target audience reach, and long-term impact;
• capacity — effective use of resources, applicant experience, ability to engage partners, experts, or communities, and the relevance of the proposed approach to multicultural heritage;
• communication — availability of a basic communication strategy and a clear understanding of project communication activities.

Where applications receive equal or similar scores, preference is given to projects demonstrating stronger sustainability, closer links to the local context, greater relevance to multicultural heritage, and stronger potential for long-term impact.

The application process consists of two stages, and the required documentation depends on the stage of the competition.

During Stage 1, applicants submit a project concept note through an online Google Form. The concept should include:

• general information about the applicant organisation and partner (if applicable);
• a brief description of the problem and project idea (up to 300 words);
• justification of the proposed project duration;
• the estimated grant amount and own contribution (if applicable);
• the project duration;
• information about the partnership (if applicable).

During Stage 2 (for shortlisted applicants only), a full application must be submitted, including:

• a detailed description of the project, its objectives, activities, and expected results;
• the project budget;
• information on the organisation's and team's experience;
• evidence of previous experience (portfolio, links, etc.);
• the implementation timeline;
• a description of the project team and team roles;
• letters of support or partnership confirmations (if applicable);
• documents confirming the feasibility of implementing the project (where applicable);
• documents confirming the applicant's legal status (the exact list will be specified in the competition announcement).

The organisers may request additional documents or clarify the required application package depending on the project type, funding lot, applicant category, and programme administration requirements.

Upon completion of the project, grant recipients are required to submit a final analytical (narrative) report and a financial report.

Key requirement:

• the final reports must be submitted no later than 20 working days after the completion of the project implementation.

Projects must be implemented in accordance with the programme requirements and the terms of the grant agreement. Where a project involves work on cultural heritage sites or public space improvements, the applicant must demonstrate the legal grounds required to carry out such activities.

Key requirements include:

• where applicable, full applications may require letters of support or approvals from the property owner, asset holder, local authority, or another responsible institution;
• obtaining all necessary permits, approvals, and technical documentation is the responsibility of the grant recipient;
• all public materials produced under the project must acknowledge REHERIT 2.0 and the financial support of the European Union in accordance with the programme's communication requirements;
• project outputs must be available for non-commercial educational, research, communication, or promotional use with proper attribution;
• the grant agreement determines the payment mechanism, number of instalments, supporting documentation, and funding conditions;
• the grant recipient is responsible for meeting tax obligations, paying bank charges, and covering other related expenses in accordance with Ukrainian legislation.