CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS: GRANTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC PROJECTS (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA)

News Culture for Development

The Culture for Development project is announcing the Artistic Grant Scheme Call for project proposals to allocate grants for the implementation of artistic and cultural projects in the Republic of North Macedonia. The objective of this call is to support the development and implementation of socially relevant and culturally enriching contemporary artistic projects that promote diversity in artistic practices and expressions, address critical social issues, and foster community development.

About the Culture for Development Project:

The Culture for Development project is the first comprehensive, long-term intervention in the field of culture and arts in the Republic of North Macedonia. It is initiated and supported by the Swiss Agency for the Development and Cooperation (SDC) and will be implemented by Heartefact from the end of 2024 to the end of 2028. The project aims to contribute to the growth of the arts and the shaping of socio-political norms, recognizing culture as a vital tool for fostering a more open, democratic, and interconnected society.

Who CAN apply?

● Cultural and artistic organizations,

● Artistic collectives and initiatives,

● Civil society organizations that carry out cultural and artistic activities, even if this is not their primary area of activity,

● Other legal entities active in arts and culture (independent foundations, endowments, limited liability companies, and/or entrepreneurs).

The applicant must be registered as a legal entity with the Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Supported Areas

This call is intended for projects that focus on various areas of contemporary cultural and artistic creation: performing arts, visual arts, literature, music, audiovisual arts, comics, photography, design, cultural policy and management. Eligible activities for funding may include: exhibitions, installations, performances, workshops, lectures and/or similar educational programs, public debates and discussions, audiovisual production, artistic and cultural research, festivals, etc.

All activities must take place only in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Grant Amount

The maximum funding available for project implementation is up to 13,000 CHF for a project duration of a maximum of 12 months.

How to Apply?

More information about the call, application process, and required application forms can be found on our website:

MK – Грантови за спроведување културни и уметнички проекти – Heartefact

AL – Grante për zbatimin e projekteve kulturore dhe artistike – Heartefact

Application Deadline

All required application documents must be submitted no later than 06 June 2025 at 5:00 PM.

For any questions, you can contact us at: [email protected].

Information days

City	Venue	Date and Time
Skopje	Jadro	19.05.25 14:00 – 16:00
Gevgelija	Pionerski Dom	20.05.25 11:30 – 13:30
Veles	Europe House	22.05.25 10:30 – 12:30
Kumanovo	Sala na Zanaetchiski dom	23.05.25 10:30 -12:30
Struga	Europe House	26.05.25 11:30 – 13:30
Tetovo	Europe House	27.05.25 10:30 -12:30
Bitola	Europe House	28.05.25 11:30 – 13:30
Shtip	Resource Center	30.05.25 11:00 – 13:00

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The exhibition “There’s Room for Everyone”, part of the campaign of the same name, was officially opened on Thursday, September 4, in the lobby of Heartefact House and will be available to visitors until the end of September. Photographs of various marginalized communities in Serbia, staged inside an elevator, are accompanied by personal testimonies of participants, highlighting that diversity should not be a reason for exclusion, but rather an opportunity for solidarity.

Students from Serbia visited the Short Theatre Festival in Rome within the European project Fabulamundi – New Voices

As part of the final phase of the European project Fabulamundi – New Voices, in which Heartefact and partners from about ten countries have been participating over the past two and a half years, we organized a visit of students from Serbia to the partner festival Short Theatre in Rome. The visit took place from September 5 to 7, during the 20th anniversary edition of this renowned festival.

The project “Culture for Development” announces to the public the names of the projects that received support within the first call!

The grants for cultural and artistic projects are awarded for the development and implementation of socially relevant contemporary art projects that contribute to the enrichment of culture and promote diversity in artistic practices and expressions, address critical social issues, and encourage community development.

Young Artists and Activists from Serbia Visited Festivals in Pristina and Prizren as Part of Heartefact’s Visiting Program

As part of Heartefact’s Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, we organized a visit in early August to festivals in Pristina and Prizren for a group of young artists and activists from Serbia. During the visit, the participants had the opportunity to attend three major cultural events in Kosovo – the 24th edition of the DokuFest International Documentary Film Festival in Prizren, the 6th edition of the Sunny Hill music festival in Pristina, and the 5th edition of the Autostrada Biennale, an international contemporary art festival.

OPEN CALL: GRANTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA)

Public presentation of the play Doughnuts held as part of the New Voices workshop

On Sunday, July 6, a public presentation of the play Doughnuts (Buhtle) was held at Heartefact House, marking the conclusion of the four-day Playground for New Voices workshop. The workshop took place within the European project Fabulamundi: New Voices, which Heartefact implements with partners from nine European countries. It was led by director and playwright Patrik Lazić, in collaboration with emerging playwright Jelena Krdžavac, the acting ensemble, and translator Olja Petronić.

Exploring and developing contemporary drama through process: Doughnuts by Jelena Krdžavac in the spotlight of the Playground workshop

As part of the Fabulamundi project, implemented by Heartefact in collaboration with partners from nine European countries, the Playground workshop is taking place in Belgrade from July 3 to 6. Led by director and playwright Patrik Lazić, the workshop brings together a cast of actors and emerging playwright Jelena Krdžavac to explore and further develop her play Doughnuts (Buhtle), which was shortlisted in last year’s Heartefact Competition for Best Contemporary Socially Engaged Drama.

Culture for Democracy: Supported Projects within the Call for Cultural and Artistic Project Implementation in Serbia

An exceptional response—totaling 273 applications—reflects the critical position of the cultural sector in Serbia in the context of the current political and social climate. Based on the Commission’s evaluation, 22 projects have been selected for support, with a total budget of 21,500,000.00 RSD. Although this amount exceeds the originally planned budget for this call, we believe that, amid the ongoing crisis and with public calls for cultural funding either canceled or indefinitely postponed, such support is more necessary than ever.

Artistic Residency and Public Presentation of Gaelle Axelbrun’s Play Held as Part of the Playground Project

From June 22 to 28, 2025, an artistic residency of French playwright Gaelle Axelbrun took place at Heartefact House in Belgrade, as part of the European project Playground. During this intensive seven-day working period, Gaelle, together with director Tara Manić, translator Olja Petronić, and the acting ensemble—Nevena Kočović, Jana Bjelica, and Andrej Nježić—explored the dramaturgical and performative potential of her play Far from the Mud in Which We Sink into Sleep.

Residency of French Author Gaelle Axelbrun in Belgrade as Part of the Playground Project

From June 22 to 28, 2025, the Heartefact House in Belgrade will host a residency for French playwright Gaelle Axelbrun as part of the European project Playground. This intensive seven-day residency, organized by Heartefact, is part of an international collaboration focused on the development of contemporary dramatic texts by emerging European authors.