Subsidies and calls for projects for CCI entrepreneurs

Discover the range of grants and calls for projects available to Brussels entrepreneurs, so that you can launch your project, finance investments or fund an innovative project.

The key role of grants

Starting a cultural entrepreneurship project can be both exciting and daunting. One of the major challenges is often securing the necessary funds to launch and sustain the project. This is where grants come in.

Grants are non-repayable funds provided by governments, private foundations or other organisations. They are designed to support specific initiatives that align with the objectives of the granting body. In the field of cultural entrepreneurship, these grants can be used to fund a variety of projects, from art exhibitions and music festivals to theatre and dance projects.

To obtain a grant, it is usually necessary to submit a detailed proposal that describes the project, explains how it will contribute to local or national culture and presents a sound financial plan. It is important to demonstrate creativity and innovation in the proposal, while showing a clear understanding of the granting body's requirements and expectations.

It's also crucial to understand that obtaining a grant is only the first step. Once the funds are received, they must be managed responsibly and transparently. Granting bodies often require regular reports on the use of funds and the progress of the project.

In conclusion, grants can play a key role in launching a cultural entrepreneurship project. They can provide the financial resources needed to transform a creative idea into a tangible reality. However, it's essential to approach the grant application process with preparation, professionalism and a passion for culture.

European funding 

How european funding works

Call for projects

European grants start with calls for projects. These are invitations to submit project proposals aimed at funding activities that contribute to achieving EU policy objectives. The EU operates on seven-year programmes that set the general principles for which the EU intends to provide funding. Each year, new annual programmes outline the annual policy directions, publication dates and deadlines for the calls. 

To find the relevant funding sources and calls that best meet your needs, you can refer to the CulturEU tool, which lists a total of 75 funding opportunities from 21 different European programmes, ranging from Creative Europe and Horizon Europe to Structural Funds and InvestEU.

This tool also presents programmes that are not immediately associated with the cultural and creative sectors and which are sometimes overlooked.

Searching for partners

If you have found a suitable call for proposals under a European programme and think you have a chance, the first step is to take inspiration from projects previously funded under that programme.

This helps you to understand what projects are appreciated by the evaluators and gives you an idea of the European sector and the organisations already active in it. They might apply for EU funding again and could become potential cooperation partners.

Many funding programmes require you to submit an application with multiple organisations from different countries. If your organisation is not yet working internationally, it might be wise to join an existing project rather than immediately starting a new partnership as the lead applicant.

National information services have been set up for almost all programmes. These share information about European funding options. For instance, there is a Creative Europe Desk Flanders for the Creative Europe programme and for the Erasmus+ programmes you can contact Jint and Epos.

The main cultural programs

Creative Europe

• Creative Europe supports international cooperation in the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors.
• The Creative Europe programme (2021-2027) is open to companies, private and public organisations and (for certain calls) governmental organisations active in the cultural and creative sectors.
• For some grants, clear cooperation is expected between parties from different countries participating in Creative Europe.

Other programmes

• Erasmus+ is the European grant programme for education, youth and sport.
• Horizon Europe is the European funding programme for research and innovation for the 2021-2027 period. Support within Horizon Europe is available to start-ups, SMEs, large companies, governments, universities, research institutes and technology dissemination bodies. The entire programme encourages interaction between science, technology, social sciences and the humanities, including contributions from the cultural and creative sectors. At first glance, Horizon Europe may not seem very accessible to cultural projects. However, since Horizon Europe not only supports academic and research organisations, but also provides funding to a wide range of public and private institutions, it is also open to cultural and creative institutions and industries. An overview of open calls is available on the European Commission's website.

Calls for projects in the Brussels-Capital Region

Companies in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) sector are eligible for generic calls for projects not specifically dedicated to CCIs, such as:

• Open Soon, 
• Be Circular
• Women in Business

Grants in the Brussels-Capital Region

The Brussels-Capital Region offers various grants for entrepreneurs, such as:

• the compliance grant to help businesses to comply with standards or permits
• the accessibility grant to facilitate access to your business for people with reduced mobility, the elderly or those with prams.
• the digitalisation grant to improve your company's visibility on the Internet

To find out more about all the aid available, please refer to the guide on subsidies.

Search for a subsidy or financial aid

However, if you would like to find out about regional, federal or European support measures, use our search engine for subsidies and financial aid.