The European Commission launched a call for proposals aimed at generating and delivering an added value to the activities carried out by festivals in Europe, which contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Europe For Festivals – Festivals For Europe

The Commission found the pilot project “Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe” (EFFE), which finished at the end of 2015, very satisfactory. With more than 760 labelled festivals from 31 countries and 12 festivals awarded, the pilot project established a network of 24 hubs in 21 Member States, whose role was to act as contact points for artists, festivals, businesses, policy-makers and local audiences.

As a result, the European Parliament approved a budget for a Preparatory Action as a continuation of the pilot project EFFE.

This Preparatory Action will allow EFFE to increase its reach to festivals and audiences, building on the award and the label EFFE already established, to carry out a truly European initiative covering all culture festivals across Europe and rewarding the innovation endeavours made by these festivals.

This call for proposals wants then to build on the work of the pilot project EFFE, in order to achieve the following expected results:

• the establishment of a solid, credible and transparent mechanism for the selection of European festivals to receive a label and/or award during a high quality and visible awards ceremony;
• the development of a branding strategy in the continuity of the pilot project, for a recognisable and valuable label and award;
• high visibility for the award and label, the winners and the values that labelled festivals promote, engaging different target groups for the label and awards;
• a strong network with a view to ensuring the sustainable impact of the label and awards.

Budget, Deadline and Eligibility

The total budget allocated for co-financing this project for the 2017 edition of the EFFE scheme is estimated at 350,000 EUR, which will also be the maximum amount granted.

Due to the specific and unique nature of the scheme, only one project will be supported under this Preparatory Action.

This amount will cover the work plan for the 2017 edition of the EFFE scheme. The budgets for the two subsequent years (of an estimated similar amount as for the first year) will be confirmed by the Commission on an annual basis, subject to the preparatory action being renewed, and the budget being voted, by the European Parliament.

However, the Commission reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available.

Applicants must be active in the cultural and creative sectors. They must have had a legal personality for at least 2 years on the date of the deadline for submission of applications and must be able to demonstrate their existence as a legal person.

Deadline for submission of the proposal is  21 June 2016 at 16.00 (Brussels time). 

More information and all official documents are available on the Commission website.