Creative Europe is the European Union's programme to support the EU’s cultural and creative sectors, focusing on two main objectives:
_ Safeguarding, developing and promoting Europe's cultural and linguistic heritage and diversity
_ Boosting the competitiveness and economic potential of the cultural and creative sectors, especially the audiovisual sector
In this new programming period, Creative Europe 2021-2027 follows the same structure as in the previous period (2014-2020). However, the budget has been increased by 50%, for investment in actions and initiatives aiming to strengthen cultural diversity and address the needs and challenges of the cultural and creative sectors. The aim is to contribute to their recovery while simultaneously allowing them to step up their efforts to become greener, more digital, more resilient and more inclusive.
Promoting efforts and good practices that contribute to the achievement of the European Commission's main priorities, such as the European Green Deal, inclusion and gender equality, Creative Europe 2021-2027 has the following specific goals:
_ Strengthening artistic and cultural cooperation across the EU;
_ Supporting the creation of European works;
_ Strengthening the economic, social and external dimension of Europe's cultural and creative sectors;
_ Fostering innovation and mobility;
_ Promoting cooperation with regard to innovation, durability, and competitiveness;
_ Disseminating cross-sectoral, innovative, and collaborative actions;
_ Encouraging a diverse, independent and pluralistic media environment and media literacy, thus promoting freedom of artistic expression, intercultural dialogue, and social inclusion.
The Creative Europe Programme is organised into 3 strands, each of which is allocated a portion of the overall budget, which is estimated at 2.44 billion euros:
_ Culture: covers all sectors of culture and creativity (with the exception of the audiovisual and film sectors), allocated 33% of the budget;
_ Media: covers the audiovisual and film sectors, allocated 58% of the budget;
_ Cross-sectoral: promotes collaboration between creative sectors and covers the mass media sector, allocated 9% of the budget.
Each of the strands will have several lines of funding, each focused on different types of projects and with different eligibility and assessment criteria. Application notices are published on the European Commission's Funding and Tenders portal.
The Creative Europe Programme also supports European initiatives:
_ European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL);
_ European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture;
_ European Heritage Label;
_ European Prize for Cultural Heritage (Europa Nostra Awards);
_ European Capitals of Culture;
_ Music Moves Europe Talent Award (formerly known as EBBA);
_ European Heritage Days initiative.
The European Commission is responsible for implementing the programme and deciding on the allocation of EU funds. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is the body responsible for managing the sub-programmes on behalf of and under the guidance and control of the European Commission.
For more information on the Creative Europe Programme and notices for applications to support projects in the cultural and creative sectors, see the Creative Europe Information Centre page.
