Grants For The Implementation Of Cultural Advocacy Projects
The objective of this call is to strengthen the advocacy capacity of cultural organizations, enabling them to influence cultural policies, improve working conditions, and enhance access to resources.
About call
The objective of this call is to strengthen the advocacy capacity of cultural organizations, enabling them to influence cultural policies, improve working conditions, and enhance access to resources. This intervention is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability and recognition of the independent cultural scene, which plays a vital role in promoting cultural diversity, social cohesion, and democratic values in the country.
Decentralization of culture and cross-sectoral cooperation through partnerships between cultural organizations and actors from civil society, research, and other fields are essential for the sustainability of the independent cultural sector, given its fragmentation and weakened position. Collaboration and mutual learning across sectors strengthen cultural and artistic actors, while the exchange of experiences and knowledge provides a key mechanism for building advocacy capacity and advancing collective approaches to policy change.
The Advocacy Grants Scheme is designed to support a maximum of two (2) consortia. Each consortium must be led by a cultural organization and include at least one partner from another sector such as civil society, research, or think tanks, with proven experience in advocacy. The Advocacy Grants provides funding for advocacy initiatives that address immediate policy issues and advance the position of the independent cultural sector.
Each consortium may apply under only one (1) of the following objectives and must clearly indicate which objective it addresses in the application. Proposals attempting to cover both objectives will not be considered eligible.
The Advocacy Grant scheme focuses on two main objectives:
- Improving operational conditions for the independent cultural scene, with a focus on access to space. Supported projects should raise awareness of the urgent infrastructural and spatial needs of the sector and provide concrete advocacy proposals or policy recommendations for affordable, functional, and long-term spaces as a precondition for sustainable cultural work.
- Advocating for better structural support, funding, and resource-sharing. Supported projects should mobilize cultural organizations and communities to advocate for stronger and more transparent public funding for culture, particularly at the municipal level, and propose structural solutions to ensure financial sustainability.
The Advocacy Grants Scheme will provide resources for initiatives such as evidence-based research, public campaigns, awareness-raising activities, partnerships, and dialogue with decision-makers. These interventions are expected to strengthen collaboration within the sector, build advocacy networks, and generate tangible policy proposals, contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive cultural environment in the Republic of North Macedonia.
The Culture for Development Project integrates environmental sustainability, social inclusion, diversity, and decentralization into all aspects of its activities and management. Emphasis is placed on fostering inclusive practices that support youth, women, children and other marginalized groups, while gender equality remains an important driver of creativity and innovation.
Who can apply
Who CAN apply:
- The Advocacy Grants Scheme is open to consortia of at least two organizations.
- Each consortium must be led by a cultural or artistic organization that:
- Has been continuously active in the cultural field for at least three (3) years;
- Demonstrates solid organizational capacity.
Eligible consortium partners may include: - Civil society organizations;
- Research institutes and think tanks;
- Other legal entities active in arts and culture (independent foundations, endowments, limited liability companies, registered entrepreneurs);
- At least one consortium partner must have proven advocacy experience, ensuring the project has strong expertise in influencing policy and mobilizing stakeholders.
*Consortia must include at least 2 organizations, with one designated as the lead organization. While there is no strict maximum, consortia of more than 4 organizations are discouraged due to administrative complexity and the limited total funding available. Lead organizations must not have received previous funding from the Culture for Development Project. Consortium partners that are not the lead may have received previous funding.
Requirements:
- The applicants must be registered as a legal entity with the Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia.
- The applicants must be registered under the laws of the Republic of North Macedonia .
Who CANNOT apply:Â
- The applicant and/or individuals who in any way support or have supported discriminatory, radical, violent, racist, or nationalist behaviors and views.
- The applicant who is not registered in accordance with the laws of the Republic of North Macedonia.
- The applicant who has not settled their legal obligations regarding public contributions, taxes, and fees.
- Political, religious organizations and organizations founded by religious and faith-based organizations.
- Individuals
- Cultural institutions founded by the Republic of North Macedonia or local self-government units.
- Representative offices of foreign organizations registered in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Eligible activities
This call seeks to support projects that strengthen the capacity of cultural organizations to advocate for better cultural policies, improved working conditions, and greater access to resources.
The Culture for Development project aims to foster long-term change, by supporting initiatives that influence cultural policy, address immediate policy issues, and advocate for key sectoral priorities with decision-makers, public institutions, general public, and the independent cultural sector.
Thematic priorities: This call supports projects that undertake meaningful advocacy efforts, raise awareness of critical issues, and engage in collaboration with decision-makers, public cultural institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.
As part of the partnership approach, projects should foster intensive collaboration and exchange among consortium members, particularly between partners with diverse experiences and capacities, from different geographic areas, and working with different target groups. Such diversity is expected to strengthen the legitimacy of advocacy initiatives and broaden their policy impact.
Each consortium may design a project that combines one or more activities to strengthen advocacy for the independent cultural scene in North Macedonia. As part of the application, applicants should include a brief advocacy plan outlining the main steps and methods to be used to promote change. Projects should include at least one public advocacy event where findings and outcomes are shared with stakeholders and the wider community, planned and budgeted as part of the project activities.
Eligible activities include:
- Advocacy for Cultural Policy Improvement: Initiatives aimed at influencing policy changes to improve operational conditions for cultural organizations, including fieldwork, literature, equipment, and researcher compensation. Activities should target decision-makers and public cultural institutions to raise awareness of the independent cultural scene’s needs.
- Ad-Hoc Interventions for Immediate Policy Issues: Targeted initiatives addressing urgent challenges through information campaigns, roundtables, direct actions, or meetings. Support may also include participation in international networks, covering related fees and travel costs.
- Awareness-Raising Campaigns: Activities designed to increase public understanding of critical cultural issues, using media outreach, public events, and strategic communication to highlight the importance of independent culture.
- Educational and Research Initiatives: Projects supporting research to understand the cultural landscape and inform advocacy, as well as educational activities that equip organizations with the tools and knowledge to influence policy effectively.
Geographic area: All activities must take place only in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Important note: the Call will not support and fund organizations that have already been supported through other funding schemes of the Culture for Development Project. This restriction applies in particular to Lead Applicants, who cannot serve as Lead if they are already receiving funds from another Culture for Development grant line.
Projects that promote or support discriminatory, radical, violent, racist, or nationalist behaviors and attitudes will be automatically disqualified from the selection process for the allocation of financial resources.Â
Budget
The total grant amount per organization is up to 3,992,000 MKD which will be disbursed over a period of two years and seven months, in annual installments with a final installment released after the approval of final reports.
Application submission
All required documents must be submitted via [email protected] no later than 17 November 2025 at 11:59 PM.Â
Email subject: Name of the organization – Call Name – Call Reference Number
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Required application documents:
Project proposal (stamped and signed)
Budget proposal (stamped and signed)
Current Status (Tekovna sostojba) for Lead and Partners, not older than 6 months.
Consortium Partnership Statement (stamped and signed)
Note: Submission of the Partnership Statement is mandatory. Consortia may also choose to create an internal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to clarify detailed operational responsibilities among partners. The MoU does not need to be submitted with the proposal.