Arts and culture encourage sustainable development and play a crucial role in promoting peace, justice and inclusiveness. They have the capacity to protect freedom of expression, support integration and social inclusion, provide platforms for debate, and transform social realities through intercultural dialogue and exchange of ideas.
Recognising culture as essential to societal change, Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been supporting the independent cultural scene in North Macedonia since 2017. By launching a new call for proposals, Switzerland aims to support local cultural endeavours and further strengthen the capacities of the cultural sector.
The applicants are free to develop project ideas on various topics. Project applications that foresee to thematise societal issues and challenges related for example to citizen voice, good governance, universal and democratic values, women rights, gender-based violence, youth perspectives, identity-diversity and sense of community, or climate change/environment are particularly welcome. Cultural organisations can apply for grants of up to CHF 50.000 to implement their proposed project.
Eligibility criteria to apply for grants:
- Not-for-profit organisation registered in North Macedonia, active in the fields of art/culture/creative industries/cultural tourism;
- Adequate organisational structures, sound financial record, and references of projects completed or under implementation if applicable;
- Planned project activities taking place mostly in North Macedonia;
- Readiness to provide financial or in-kind contribution of at least 20% of the total budget of the project;
- Cost-effective budget;
- Duration of project of maximum 18 months.
Applicants need to apply in two steps:
1st Step: Pre-selection based on a concept paper.
By 12 March 2023, applicants need to submit a 2-page description of the proposed project, including description of goal, target audience, key activities, total budget estimate, and expected dates of start and end of the project. The Embassy will review the concept papers received and inform applicants whether they are pre-selected to submit a full proposal. The 2-page concept paper can be submitted in Macedonian, Albanian, or English.
2nd Step: Final selection based on a detailed project proposal.
Based on a review of all concept papers received, the Embassy of Switzerland will pre-select applicants and request the submission within 3 weeks of detailed project proposals. The detailed proposals will need to be submitted in English. The Embassy of Switzerland will make its final selection based on the detailed project proposals.
As part of the 1st step of the application process, interested organisations are invited to send electronic copies of their 2-page concept paper until 12 March 2023 to skopje@eda.admin.ch with the subject ‘Application for cultural project grant".
