Apply now: EU funding for culture, creativity and social change
The calls for proposals for Cluster 2, "Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society," within the EU's Horizon Europe funding program have been launched. Applications are open until October 13, 2026. Funding is available for research and innovation projects addressing societal, cultural, and democratic challenges facing Europe.
The advertised topics are divided into three thematic areas: "Democracy and Governance", "European Cultural Heritage and the Cultural and Creative Industries" , and "Social and Economic Transformations". The content ranges from political violence against committed women and LGBTIQ people to digital democracy competence and media viability, as well as artificial intelligence in the cultural and creative industries and migration and social inclusion.
Cluster 2 primarily supports transnational and interdisciplinary projects, often with partners from the social sciences, humanities, and cultural studies, as well as the cultural and creative industries. The calls for proposals are typically aimed at European consortia and require close collaboration across national and disciplinary boundaries.
Support with the application process is offered by the National Contact Point for Society, which provides individual consultations for interested parties. Furthermore, the event series "Horizon Europe? Ask the NCP!" by creative.nrw, on July 2, 2026, information on how to successfully coordinate an application in Cluster 2 and what challenges need to be overcome on the path to a well-evaluated application. The event will be held online.
Source: creative.nrw
