Heritage organisation grants

Creating new narratives around cultural heritage

This programme supports heritage organisations ready to reimagine how their cultural sites and practices connect with contemporary audiences. Working with interdisciplinary groups of artists, you'll develop powerful narratives that make your heritage relevant beyond your local community, creating new pathways for understanding and engagement.

Who can apply: Non-governmental, non-profit organisations that manage heritage sites or are intimately connected to heritage practices across the six Southern African countries. We prioritise lesser-known heritage over sites that already enjoy official recognition, seeking organisations eager to increase their visibility through creative collaboration.

What we support: Your role as cluster leader includes developing calls for artists, coordinating activities over 12 months, organising narrative development retreats, collaborating with artists on co-productions, funding creative work, and presenting results to local communities through high-profile week-long events.

Partnership with artists: Each heritage organisation works with approximately 9 artists and creatives from at least three countries, representing multiple disciplines. These interdisciplinary groups bring fresh perspectives to heritage interpretation, creating 2-3 collaborative productions per cluster that speak to both local and universal human experiences.

Types of heritage: We welcome applications from organisations working with archaeological sites, traditional practices, oral histories, cultural landscapes, sacred sites, craft traditions, performance heritage, and community cultural practices. Your heritage should offer rich potential for storytelling and contemporary interpretation.

What you receive: Grants up to €55,000 support all cluster activities including artist fees, travel, accommodation, materials, production costs, and presentation events. Budget submissions undergo cost-effectiveness assessment, with final amounts based on eligible costs actually incurred.

Community engagement: Strong applications demonstrate commitment to reaching beyond urban centres, engaging with local communities including rural and peri-urban areas, and creating inclusive programming that welcomes women and persons with disabilities. Your events should spark broader dialogue about heritage's contemporary relevance.

How to apply: Applications are assessed on thematic approach, organisational capacity, working facilities for artists, motivation for creative collaboration, quality of proposed outreach activities, and commitment to audience development. We seek organisations ready for meaningful partnership with creative communities.

Launch Date: 18.07.2025
Cut-off Date: 10.09.2025
Implementation Phase: 01.11.2025 - 31.10.2027