In November 2024, a jury composed of four colleagues from different EUNIC members met in Brussels for the evaluation meeting of the EUNIC Cluster Fund Call for Proposals 2024. Guided by the EUNIC team, they discussed all 47 proposals submitted this year to arrive at a final selection of projects to be supported and implemented throughout 2025.

Building on EUNIC's continuous commitment to the topic of sustainability, this year's call had an optional thematic focus on the wider concept of sustainability in all its different forms directly through cultural activities, be it through addressing the UN’s SDG framework, climate and environmental action, or projects with a sustainable impact on the local scene.

The projects co-financed under the Cluster Fund 2024 are the following:

Armenia – Green Armenia: Towards Sustainability in Culture
This project aims to evaluate the state of sustainability in Armenia’s culture and arts sector and develop guidelines to foster responsible practices. It will explore sustainability efforts in cultural institutions such as museums, galleries, theatres, and festivals, as well as individual artistic practices. By assessing aspects like resource management, production, touring, inclusivity, and community engagement, the research will highlight strengths and areas for improvement. The project will use surveys and interviews with artists, curators, cultural managers, and policymakers to assess current practices. It will include case studies of successful Armenian and international sustainability efforts and analyse policies and funding mechanisms. Additionally, four online workshops led by experts designated by EUNIC members will be conducted to provide training and raise awareness on sustainability in culture taking into account also the specificity of both the Armenian context and the situation in the European member state.

The final report will give an overview of sustainability in Armenia’s culture and arts sector, identify best practices and challenges, and present actionable guidelines and recommendations for cultural institutions and artists. Tailored toolkits and frameworks will support the sector in adopting sustainable practices, contributing to its resilience and aligning with broader sustainability objectives at national and global levels.

Bangladesh & Kolkata – Sundarbans Across Borders: The Spirit of Cultural Resilience
‘Sundarbans Across Borders’ aims to explore the interplay between culture, living heritage and resilience to climate change in the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh and India. This project aims to examine the different approaches that these two countries take to living and housing in the region, and to decipher shared cultural connections and unique practices that shape life in this ecologically sensitive area. The objectives of the project are:
• Explore the shared heritage and indigenous practices in the Sundarbans.
• Understand the traditional livelihoods to examine the effects of climate change and to capture existing community-oriented solutions.
• Incorporate a European dimension into the project activities by enabling a holistic understanding and exchange with the indigenous knowledge system.

The project focuses on the unique culture of the collectors around the mangrove wild forest honey. Influencing factors such as respect for the forest goddess ‘Bonbibi’, the movement patterns of the harvesting methods or religious and musical reflections in the lifestyle are recorded. On the one hand, it is about appreciating the shared heritage and indigenous practices in the Sundarbans, and on the other, about how this indigenous knowledge can be made useful for the global discourse on environmental protection.

Bulgaria – Transformative Urbanism: Reconnecting people with Yantra River
This project uses the best European and Bulgarian experiences of transformative urbanism to draw attention to the sustainable usage of rivers and riverbanks in Bulgarian towns. “Transformative Urbanism – Reconnecting people with Yantra River” aims to revive the bond between the regional town Veliko Tarnovo and the Yantra River by empowering youth through public art and community engagement. The neglected riverfront in the centre of Veliko Tarnovo will turn into a vibrant cultural hub for one month. The project will involve local youth, European and Bulgarian artists as well as the local community and municipal authorities to create a positive push for a longer-term change.

"Yantra Gallery" – as a central part of the project – will be designed as an outdoor installation featuring artworks exploring the cultural and ecological significance of rivers. The “Yantra Gallery” will become a part of the popular youth and art-related festival “Varusha South” in Veliko Tarnovo. In its emergence, “Yantra Gallery” will invite local youth to take over creative and active roles, facilitated through a series of mentored workshops. Through this project, the EUNIC cluster Bulgaria and Bulgarian local partners – “Collective Foundation” and “TaM” – will inspire ongoing dialogue around river preservation and sustainable development, solidifying the Yantra River as a key element of Veliko Tarnovo’s identity and future.

Cameroon – Njangui, encore ensemble! (Njangui, still together!)
Njangui, encore ensemble! is the continuation of an artistic project in the field of street theatre and artistic intervention of the year 2024, which consists of an encounter and production phase between Cameroonian and European theatre makers, as well as public performances of the resulting performances in public spaces in one or two specific quarters of Yaoundé.

The project deepens the successfully started artistic exchange in 2024 between theatre practitioner from Cameroon and Europe linked to social debates in one or two quarters of Yaounde. Beyond the professional exchange the project focus in 2025 on an interactive approach to a quarter of Yaounde and its population. The goal is to get in conversation with the population on crucial questions of the quarter regarding social, economic, cultural and infrastructural development and discuss and develop solution approaches via participative artistic methods. With the project “Njangui, encore ensemble!” the EUNIC Cluster Cameroon continue its fruitful and constructive collaboration as Team Europe in the field of Arts & Culture and subscribe their collaboration among them and with their Cameroonian cultural partners on a longer perspective.

China (Beijing) – Voices Across Time
"Voices Across Time" is an initiative highlighting the dignity of life at every stage with particular attention to the situation and challenges of elders. Through cultural encounters and artistic formats, the project seeks to create an inclusive environment celebrating age and intergenerational dialogue that provide space for personal expression. The ambition is to empower the elderly by giving them a platform to share their experiences and hopes in ways which can bring individuals and institutions together. The project wants to foster a collaboration between the EU and China which is capable of nurturing exchange and mutually inspire, particularly in the realms of mental health and care, where both cultures can gain insight and learn from each other, how to contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of all members of society.

The Chinese context with its “growing old before growing rich” challenge provides a unique backdrop for the project and accentuates the need for a cultural exchange that can address dignity, build inclusion, and make the elderly feel recognised and valued. This is especially the case in the light of the Confucian concept of filial fidelity which emphasises respect and care for the old. This process-oriented project is developed through a close partnership between EUNIC China, local facilities for elderly care and cultural stakeholders. It will be prepared in the first half of 2025 and take place at various locations in China during autumn.

Côte d'Ivoire – GamesConnect
The African gaming scene is growing rapidly, yet reaching the global stage remains challenging. While cultural institutions already offer hackathons and tournaments, more targeted support is needed to advance the scene sustainably. GamesConnect takes an innovative approach by linking gaming studios with local civil society to develop creative solutions for regional challenges and enhance media literacy. Both regional and cross-continental networking are key to building sustainable exchanges among civil society, developers, and gamers.

Throughout the year, GamesConnect will support at least three game jams across West Africa and host workshops and mentoring programs where curators and studios collaborate. To bolster visibility and engagement, we will award grants to at least five festival curators and involve three or more civil society organisations in the project. Additionally, we will identify about ten gaming studios/developers for mentoring and collaboration, focusing on fostering media literacy and cultural participation, particularly among marginalised groups. At the year’s end, a bilingual networking event will unite developers, curators, and studios to showcase project results. GamesConnect also seeks to reduce mobility barriers, allowing African developers to attend international events and build expertise through cross-border collaboration. This project is a pioneering model for networking and strengthening Africa’s gaming community.

Cyprus – Co-Tailors of Future
It is an ambitious initiative by the EUNIC Cyprus Cluster, leveraging the transformative power of the cultural and creative industries to foster sustainable development and intercultural integration in an increasingly diverse Cypriot society. The project engages emerging young creators from various creative sectors — fashion, jewelry, hairstyling, crafts, and design — both locals and migrants, to catalyse dynamic interactions between culture, creativity, and social inclusion. It aims to equip the creators with the necessary skills and networks to thrive and positively impact the creative and economic landscape of Cyprus and Europe, while countering negative perceptions of diversity.

The project's activities, including online workshops, live mentorship residencies, a hybrid conference, and an intercultural festival, are designed to minimise environmental impacts while maximising social value. Through strategic collaborations with local and international partners such as civil society, organisations and business sectors, it seeks to establish a replicable model of creative resilience and innovation. Aiming to create a long-term platform for continuous cultural exchange, skill transfer, and inclusive growth, this initiative not only aligns with the EUNIC Cyprus Cluster’s strategy to connect local challenges with global cultural narratives but also underscores the role of creative sectors in addressing key societal challenges such as migration, poverty, and sustainability.

Finland – Guarding the Baltic Sea: Activating ocean literacy and regeneration through artistic research and practices
The Baltic Sea and other waters worldwide are threatened by the climate crisis, pollution and biodiversity loss. Many people are aware of the complex ecological challenges and want to save oceans and seas but lack pathways to ocean literacy regenerative action. Artistic practices connecting knowing, caring and acting across disciplines can help make positive marine scenarios and solutions tangible, experiential and actionable. On the Helsinki Archipelago island of Vartiosaari (“Guarding Island”), artists from 5 European countries (Poland, Germany, France, Estonia, Finland) will work in a residency on specific water-related topics.

The artistic outcomes will be discussed in workshops and public panel discussions with different target groups such as students, scientists and experts from diverse disciplines as well as with a broader public. A final exhibition accompanied by a multidisciplinary conference on the ecological challenges facing the oceans and seas, especially the Baltic Sea, will connect theoretical and practice-oriented discourses.

Indonesia - Museum Forward
In 2024 the project 'Museum Forward' was launched with support from the EUNIC Cluster Fund. This forum brought together museum practitioners to explore approaches around innovative and sustainable practices. The enthusiastically received conference inspired local experts to embrace the challenges of the Indonesian museum landscape. As the Director General for Culture of Indonesia stated in his keynote, museums should be transformed 'into spaces where people can learn, share, and actively participate in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future.'

This year's EUNIC initiative builds on this momentum: aiming to enhance the knowledge production, foster dynamic landscape, as well as strengthen the networks, the second edition takes a format of mentorship, production, and presentation.
There will be two open calls addressing:

1. 3 museums in Indonesia with an ongoing project to be implemented. Topics for the project are (a) contextualising collections' narratives, (b) engagement & communication, (c) ecology, diversity, & inclusivity;
2. 3 Indonesian experts that are willing to work collectively on the case/project with the museums.
   With the support of European mentors and equipped with an operational budget, the experts are encouraged to implement the museum projects with a realignment in terms of the principles of shared learning, sharing, and participation. The goal is to develop good practices that serve as examples for transformation processes in the Indonesian museum landscape.

Jordan – Repurpose: Temporary Third Places for Amman
Inspired by likeminded initiatives and best practices in Europe, “REPURPOSE – Temporary Third Places” aims to transform vacant urban spaces in central Amman into temporary cultural hubs and pop-up Third Places, fostering local cultural development as well as sustainable and inclusive practices, especially supporting women in the cultural sector. Amman faces a growing issue of vacant properties, contributing to urban decay. At the same time, emerging cultural actors, especially women, are seeking venues to display their work and engage with the community. With a focus on emerging female practitioners and female-led initiatives, two vacant spaces are chosen to be transformed into pop-up Third Places that serve the community, showcasing, in exemplary form, the potential and strategies toward a sustainable, inclusive, and community-driven revitalisation of Amman’s urban landscape.

With the support of experts and by studying relevant best practice examples from the participating EUNIC members’ countries, the participants will be enabled to develop strategies for rehabilitating premises with minimal resources and physical intervention. They will learn how to open temporary cultural showplaces and showcase pop-up cultural interventions within these spaces. This approach will foster a sustainable foundation for exchange and collaboration between European and Jordanian creatives and experts, ultimately enhancing the local cultural landscape.

Mexico – Ménage à Trois: Bienvenidx al Kabarett
Ménage à Trois – Bienvenidx al Kabarett is a project created by the Goethe-Institut Mexiko, the Centro Cultural de España de México, the Institut Français d’Amérique Latine, the Festival Internacional de Diversidad Sexual (FIDS) and the Jefatura de Gobierno de la Ciudad de México (Mexico City Government). Its aim is to promote the creation of a multidisciplinary and international dialogue based on cabaret as an expression of the culture of trans, queer and LGBTQI+ people in Mexico, through a residency and a national tour of the final work in different venues in Mexico City, with a special focus on forums in the outskirts of the city and throughout other cities and festivals in the country, including its periphery.

The creative team will consist of Mexican, French, German and Spanish artists, who will work collectively to create the performance. Cabaret has historical significance for the LGBTQI community in Mexico and in the participating European countries, as since its beginnings in the early 20th century, it has been a platform for free expression for the queer community. Moreover, Mexican cabaret has, over time, incorporated influences from Spanish, French and German cabaret, making this international collaboration an ideal basis for further artistic dialogue in this discipline.

Moldova – Dialogue between East and West inside the International Festival of Literature and Translation (FILIT) Chisinau 2025
The International Festival of Literature and Translation FILIT in Chișinău, inspired by the FILIT festival in Iasi, Romania, celebrates the power of literature, translation, and intercultural dialogue. It gathers writers, poets, translators, publishers, journalists, cultural managers and readers from across Europe and beyond. It promotes solidarity, cultural understanding, storytelling and literature connecting people and cultures.

A special Eastern Partnership Component (EPC) of the FILIT Chisinau 2025 will underscore the focus on cross-border cultural exchange in the region as Moldova continues its path to the EU accession. The EPC, developed by EUNIC Moldova in collaboration with FILIT Chisinau 2025, will offer to the public a unique opportunity to meet the authors and/or translators from all the EP countries in one of the festival's formats (workshop, professionals meet-up, dialogue with the public). Organised by the KA-TET Foundation, with support from Romanian and Moldovan cultural and education ministries, FILIT's ambition is to become a literary hub that promotes international dialogue and collaboration. The EPC of the festival aims to position Chisinau as a privileged "Meeting Point between East and West" in the context of the war in Ukraine and growing interest for the EU values in the region. EP clusters' presidents participating in the EPC as well as a meeting with EUNIC Moldova members will foster the regional links and create new collaboration opportunities.

Mongolia – Nomad Spirit: Art for Public Awareness of Climate Change
Mongolia is one of the countries most affected by climate change. During the last decades, hundreds of lakes and rivers dried up due to high temperatures. Excessive water consumption in the mining sector and overbreeding of animals have also contributed to the severity of water scarcity. Nomadic people living in the southern areas are bearing the most adverse impacts of climate change, whose cultures and economic activities are in danger.

Nomad Spirit II is a continuation of the first edition of this international art program held in Deren Soum in Sep/Oct, 2024. Initiated with the aim to raise public awareness of climate change through contemporary artistic practices, the program involved over 260 participants, including 8 artists from France, Germany, Austria, Finland, and Mongolia, as well as local schoolchildren and residents. The program ended with great results attracting attention of over million people around the country. Based on the results of the previous edition, project team is planning to organise Nomad Spirit II, druing the first two weeks of July 2025 in Ömnögovi Province, involving again artists from EU countries and Mongolia and moving to another province also affected by desertification. The program will organise inspiring public art programs to engage people with green attitudes and initiatives. Artists will explore the ecological conditions, the culture, and the daily life of the nomadic people and collect materials for their artworks for later presentation.

Namibia – Solarpunk: Stories of Sand and Energy
The project leverages the solarpunk genre - a visionary branch of speculative fiction - as a platform for creating positive visual narratives that imagine Namibia’s future as a leader in sustainable development. Set against the backdrop of Namibia’s exceptional solar and wind resources, the project uses futuristic, utopian architecture exhibits to explore how local cultures and landscapes can intersect with ideas of clean energy and ecological balance. Through a creative exchange between European and Namibian visual artists and designers, the project aims to foster a dialogue on sustainability and community-focused solutions. By using Lüderitz as a model for visionary architecture, the project will present a fictional yet inspiring vision of a green future for Namibia. This utopian narrative, though speculative, serves as a powerful tool for shifting local perceptions of renewable energy from a distant goal to a tangible part of everyday life.

The project will also create opportunities for local engagement, including workshops with architecture students and local professionals. These collaborative efforts will blend local knowledge with global expertise, inspiring the next generation to imagine their own role in shaping a sustainable future. By grounding the vision in local culture and pride, the project aims to build ownership over Namibia’s renewable energy potential and contribute to a broader conversation on positive futures in the context of global climate challenges.

Netherlands – Zoöp Connections: New networks for the living
The EUNIC Netherlands Cluster and the Zoönomic Foundation propose Zoöp Connections, a European knowledge exchange program addressing the cultural dimensions at the root of our current ecological and climate crisis. This initiative centres on the Zoöp model, which advocates for non-human rights and ecological regeneration, redefining cultural practices to support all life forms. Climate change demands urgent cultural engagement to reshape societal values and narratives — an area where cultural institutes play a vital role. Through Zoöp Connections, European artists, changemakers, and activists will connect with Dutch Zoöp organisations, each dedicated to regenerative practices. In immersive, week-long programs, participants will explore how the Zoöp model can be adapted to their cultural practice, linking local environmental efforts to wider European climate and biodiversity goals.

The program is rooted in fair collaboration, mutual learning, and sustained engagement through art & culture. In fall 2025, public events at Nieuwe Instituut and Brakke Grond will share insights from these exchanges, introducing audiences to regenerative practices from a cultural perspective. Zoöp Connections seeks to integrate non-human voices in cultural frameworks, envisioning a sustainable, collaborative future that honours the interconnectedness of all life. The cluster and the wider network as an expert ally in a global struggle against biodiversity loss, soil degradation and ecosystem collapse.

Romania – Regenerating the past: Multi-residency program in post-industrial urban area
In response to the growing interest in sustainable redevelopment and cultural reclamation of post-industrial sites, the interdisciplinary project explores Romania’s post-industrial landscapes, architecture and communities.

The project will connect architects, anthropologists, artists, and environmental historians across Europe in order to examine the legacies of Romania’s post-industrial heritage. The European practitioners, selected through an open call, will immerse themselves in various locations across Romania, after being matched with local organisations to gain insights into the challenges and potential of these spaces. Local partnerships will connect the participants with local communities to grow cultural and civic access and participation. Drawing from themes such as deindustrialisation, environmental recovery, and cultural memory, the multi-residency project will foster a deeper understanding of post-industrial landscapes. The final outcome of the project will be co-created by participants to respond to local needs and reflect the knowledge, good practices and meaningful partnerships generated by the project.

Slovakia – After Industry: Revitalising Lost Utopias: Modernist Legacy and Urban Futures in Trenčín ECoC 2026
With the background of the political developments in Slovakia and with the European Capital of Culture Trencin 2026 ahead, this project presents an urgently needed space for value-based democratic European dialogue. It does so by reflecting on the lost urban utopias based on two cases in the region of Trenčín: Nová Dubnica & Trencianske Teplice. Since 1989 the cities have found themselves in a position of eternal post-industrial liminality: not centres of production anymore but not achieving any new identity either. The region is stuck in a post-phase, with the prospect of future disappearing from its horizons. ECoC 2026 can open new perspectives of regional development.

What role can these two cities play in redesigning urban futures? How can we validate the modernist urbanism and architecture of care, yet without falling into nostalgic narration and by taking a critical approach towards current societal developments? What role can they play in revitalising utopian thinking nowadays? The project brings together local actors, citizens, activists, international experts in architecture and urbanism, artists & artivism to reflect on the revitalisation of utopias – a highly relevant topic, both locally and on European level. It tries to ground the various artistic and expert reflections in two particular localities, valorising the expertise of the local inhabitants as equally important. The project will unfold through residencies in each of the cities, through workshops & a conference.

Slovenia – Strong women, strong voices: Sustainability and Exchange in Culture
Nova Gorica in Slovenia is one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2025, marking the first time the region becomes a cultural hub. This milestone offers new opportunities for collaboration with EUNIC. Feminism, sustainability, and art are all priorities for cultural players and political leaders in Slovenia. Therefore, the cluster and Nova Gorica ECoC organisers (GO! 2025), in close consultation, have developed a project that addresses these three topics, combining the promotion of young female artists with intercultural exchange. As part of this effort, the project will serve as a pre-event to an international women’s rights conference, running from 28 April to 5 May. Key activities will include workshops for local high school and university art students, offering fresh European perspectives, complemented with public lectures, poetry evenings, and an art exhibition. The project also incorporates environmental elements through the creative recycling workshop and the art project using local plants to raise sustainability awareness. The program will close with a EUNIC panel discussion at the mentioned conference.
This project fills a gap in art education programs for young artists in the region and represents the beginning of a broader collaboration between EUNIC and local educational and cultural institutions. While Ljubljana enjoys extensive international partnerships, cities like Nova Gorica are in need of such connections.

Sri Lanka - The Routes We Take: The Island tour of the actors of change
"The Routes We Take: Mapping the Green Creative Industries in Sri Lanka" has shone a light on over 170 creative actors of change Islandwide in 2024. Their diverse forms and fields of creation demonstrate the dynamic nature of the sector as an ecosystem that nourishes the entire country. Creating the map opened new avenues of understanding into the sector and a need to strengthen itself as such, as well as to be recognised by institutions and policy makers. Building on a year of discussions with the creatives while designing the map in 2024, the EUNIC Cluster Sri Lanka now aims to engage more closely with them, in regions, by organising a series of upscaling workshops, panel discussions and visibility platforms, designed for and with the creatives, in different hubs spotted in the country, and backed by strong local partners. These events will provide opportunities for networking and sharing insights, while also addressing important developmental pathways for the sector in terms of mutual understanding and capacity building.

The project will put the team on the road and reach four locations over the year where topics such as “green creatives and eco-tourism: a shared approach”, “opening creative avenues in local craft”, “towards sustainability in the art market”, “developing a regenerative business model in the creative sector”, will be addressed during a 2 or 3 days event each time, along open studios and exhibitions involving the general public.

Venezuela – Pista: Perspectivas institucionales y sociales sobre la trama de archivos (Institutional and social perspectives on the archive network)
PISTA, which means “clue” in Spanish, is a multidisciplinary project around archives and memory that aims to deepen and strengthen research, conservation, promotion and creation from archives based on democratic values in relation to the Culture of Memory.

The project is conceived as a network of public and private organisations dedicated to the safeguarding of archives in Venezuela, which promotes a safe space for the exchange of experiences, the promotion of joint projects and specialised training, as well as a hotbed for artistic projects. In this way, PISTA intends to take a first step in covering the needs of neglected and forgotten archival institutions through training in new management techniques, conservation and activation of archives, which can update experts with experience and introduce young or unaware people in these areas while creating spaces for recognition and networking that can promote a progressive sustainability of the project, on one a hand, and stimulate research and artistic creation from archives, on the other. Thanks to previous projects that have been coordinated by various members of the EUNIC cluster with local actors, we have been able to identify the urgent need that exists in the country to find ways to safeguard memory, proposed as an initiative that ensures the sustainability of History.

Zimbabwe – Elements of Change: Art, Heart and Science
"Elements of Change - Art, Heart and Science" brings together European and Zimbabwean artists within music, photography, fashion and food for collaborations and joint productions between February and July, culminating in a week of workshops and exhibitions in Harare in May 2025. The joint productions highlight local climate challenges and community responses, taking as their starting point the input and story-telling of local experts and affected communities. Artists use their means of expression to translate these lived experiences into art. The voices of the young and marginalised are particularly emphasised with young artists from rural provinces contributing to the project.

The productions will be exhibited to a wide audience at the prestigious National Gallery of Zimbabwe featuring workshops and shows, amplified through community radio broadcasting in local langugages across the nation. The project takes as its starting point that mixing scientific messaging with individual stories and cultural expression to create emotional response is a more impactful way to raise awareness around and inspire action on complex challenges, especially among youth. The project creates a unique and rare platform for artists, experts, media, cultural and civil society organisations to come together with the potential to bring about new collaborations in future, both locally and across borders.