Briefly
Program description
The Residencies call is part of the Cultural Horizons programme and is administered by Cultural Vistas gGmbH (Germany). It is open to non-profit organisations registered in EU Member States that wish to implement residency projects involving Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals in 2027. The call aims to strengthen professional networks, support the development of skills and competencies of Ukrainian artists and cultural practitioners, and reinforce intercultural communication, mentoring and leadership. Projects must address the EU cross-cutting priorities of digital transformation, sustainability and environmental responsibility, inclusion and gender equality. The Cultural Horizons programme is implemented by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation together with Cultural Vistas, co-funded by the European Union, and combines grant support, mentoring and professional exchange between Ukraine and EU countries.
Main Information
Eligibility
The programme is open to organisations that meet the eligibility requirements and are able to implement residency or cooperation projects for Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals.
Key requirements include:
- applicants must be artistic or cultural organisations or initiatives registered in the EU; consortium applications must designate one lead organisation;
- applicants must demonstrate their capacity to host Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals in 2027 and complete projects between January and August 2027;
- organisations must confirm the absence of ties with the Russian Federation, comply with EU sanctions, and refrain from any glorification of Russian imperialism;
- applicants are expected to demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and provide a respectful and inclusive working environment;
- priority is given to NGOs and public sector institutions working with displaced and vulnerable groups.
The programme specifically supports:
- Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals across a wide range of disciplines;
- vulnerable groups in Ukraine, including internally displaced persons, young artists, and communities in frontline and conflict-affected areas;
- cultural organisations in Ukraine, particularly local initiatives, independent cultural spaces, and civil society organisations.
Residency project requirements include:
- the final beneficiaries must be Ukrainian cultural and artistic professionals;
- projects should promote mutual learning between Ukrainian partners and host organisations;
- in-person residencies are preferred, while virtual formats may be used where appropriate;
- Ukrainian cultural professionals may be based either in Ukraine or in the EU.
Financing
The programme provides subgrants ranging from EUR 5,000 to EUR 20,000, with at least 20 subgrants to be awarded.
Eligible budget categories include:
- personnel costs;
- accommodation for the resident artist or cultural professional;
- workspace-related costs;
- production and material costs;
- travel expenses;
- per diems or a monthly artist stipend;
- project promotion, press activities, and public event costs.
Examples of ineligible costs include:
- expenses unrelated to the project's objectives;
- debts or liabilities not connected with project implementation or incurred outside the subgrant period;
- costs financed by other funding sources;
- profit-generating projects;
- institutional maintenance costs;
- acquisition of land, movable or immovable property, and office furniture;
- major repairs, construction works, and budget estimate documentation;
- application preparation costs and exchange-rate losses.
Applicants are required to use the official budget template and submit it together with their application. The template is available on the Cultural Horizons Residencies programme page.
Supported Activities
The programme supports initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation between Ukraine and Europe, enhancing the professional capacity of Ukrainian cultural actors, and fostering Ukraine’s cultural resilience.
Supported project types include:
- residency projects;
- residency-based educational projects.
Key areas of support include:
- developing and expanding professional relationships between European and Ukrainian cultural institutions and actors;
- supporting the capacity building of Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals;
- expanding access to high-quality cultural and artistic practices for Ukrainians affected by the war;
- strengthening skills in cross-cultural communication, mentorship, and leadership;
- enhancing mutual understanding of cultural and artistic practices;
- supporting cultural heritage preservation and Ukraine’s cultural recovery and resilience.
The primary beneficiaries of supported projects are Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals, representatives of vulnerable groups, as well as Ukrainian cultural organisations, local initiatives, independent cultural spaces, and civil society organisations.
Roadmap
The grant programme follows a structured timeline, from the application stage through project implementation and final reporting.
Key milestones include:
- application period: 29 June – 30 September 2026;
- evaluation and selection process: October – November 2026;
- announcement of selection results: November 2026;
- implementation of subgrant projects: 1 January – 30 July 2027;
- minimum project duration: 3 months;
- maximum project duration: 8 months;
- upon project completion, subgrant recipients must submit their final report and project documentation to Cultural Vistas within one month of project completion, and no later than 15 August 2027.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to complete several steps to submit an application to the programme.
The application process includes:
- confirming compliance with the eligibility criteria;
- preparing the residency project and budget;
- completing the application form;
- attaching the official Budget Template;
- providing documents confirming the legal status of the organisation;
- submitting the application before the application deadline through the online application form.
After the application period closes, Cultural Vistas reviews applications for eligibility and conducts a preliminary selection of projects.
Evaluation Criteria
The provided materials do not include a numerical scoring system. Instead, they describe the application review process and the evaluation criteria used during the selection.
Key points include:
- after the application period closes, Cultural Vistas reviews all applications for eligibility and conducts a pre-selection of eligible residency projects;
- the final selection of subgrant recipients is made by a jury of experienced artistic and cultural professionals from Europe and Ukraine;
- each application is reviewed by three to five experts, depending on its budget;
- the evaluation follows a double-blind review process: applicants do not know which experts are assessing their proposals, and experts do not know who else is evaluating the same application;
- experts assess applications in accordance with the principles of legality, professionalism, ethics, impartiality, validity of decisions, confidentiality, and non-disclosure of information;
- applications are evaluated based on:
- feasibility and relevance;
- sustainability and scalability;
- level of impact.
Required Documents
- Official registration certificate, registry extract or equivalent document.
- Registration number or unique identifier, where applicable.
- Legal name and registered address of the entity.
- Documentation identifying the authorised representative(s).
- Official Budget Template.
Reporting and Compliance
Key requirements include:
- a final report and project documentation must be submitted to Cultural Vistas after the project is completed;
- the required documents must be submitted within one month of project completion;
- the final deadline for submitting the final report and project documentation is no later than 15 August 2027.
Legal Terms
Applicants must be legally established and authorised to enter legally binding agreements and receive grant funding. Applicants must confirm the absence of ties with the Russian Federation, no partnerships with Russian organisations, no visits to occupied territories after 2014, commitment not to glorify Russian imperialism and compliance with the EU sanctions regime.