Funding calls / opportunities

Supports projects that promote international understanding, cultural exchange, and international cooperation. Deadline: 30 September 2026

Support journalists investigating how artificial intelligence and surveillance technologies affect communities around the world. Deadline: Rolling

Supports the development and production of feature films, long documentaries, and animated films with a meaningful South African and Dutch connection. Deadline: 6 October 2026

Supports exceptionally high-quality New Music projects by institutions and organisations worldwide. Deadline: 1 October 2026

The programme supports short-term international mobility, professional exchange and artistic development across Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union. Deadline: 16 September 2026

The programme focuses on supporting the internationalisation of the festival sector while creating new opportunities for cultural exchange, co-creation, artist mobility and professional collaboration. Deadline: 20 September 2026

South African artists and creative practitioners can submit their creative projects at any stage of development. Deadline: 27 September 2026

Supports collaborations between international performing arts organisations and artists with partners based in Germany. Deadline: 12 October 2026

Supports filmmakers from around the world with funding to bring their short film projects into production.

Supports journalists, content creators, podcasters, vloggers, muralists, and data visualisers with creative ideas that explore connections between climate justice, debt, gender, and fossil fuels in Africa.

Supports youth-led organisations developing innovative solutions to challenges affecting young people and their communities.

The competition welcomes photographic projects that move beyond conventional representations of cities, offering documentary, conceptual, or critical perspectives on urban life and complexity.

The programme supports artistic projects that create opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and the development of sustainable international networks.

The grant supports teams working across visual arts research, criticism, curation, art history and related fields to investigate visual art practices, histories, contexts and ecosystems.

Supports nonprofit and nongovernmental organisations developing innovative, technology-driven solutions to critical social challenges affecting underserved communities.

The programme supports Creators, Builders and Inventors who are deeply connected to the communities they serve and are developing practical solutions with the potential to create meaningful change.

Artists and filmmakers are invited to submit works that bring fresh perspectives to public art, particularly through poetic, experimental, documentary, essayistic, or hybrid storytelling.

Supports projects that empower young people and women, strengthen employability and economic independence, improve the well-being of vulnerable communities, promote social cohesion, and build the long-term capacity of local civil society organisations.

The initiative supports feature film projects in development by connecting selected filmmakers with international producers, financiers, and distributors.

The programme seeks original projects that use sound as the primary artistic medium, exploring the intersections of music, noise, poetry, storytelling, documentary, and listening practices.

The Lucie Foundation recognises outstanding photography books, from traditionally published titles to self-published books, handmade editions, exhibition catalogues, and zines.

The fund provides production and post-production funding, alongside mentorship, industry guidance and access to leading film professionals to help bring outstanding short films to audiences worldwide.

The fund combines financial support, post-production services, mentorship and industry connections to help women and non-binary filmmakers bring ambitious short film projects to life.

The grant supports the strongest applications that demonstrate compelling visual storytelling and reflect on identity, belonging, agency, and representation.

The programme is designed to help visual artists during the first decade of their careers by providing financial support to create or complete ambitious artistic projects.

The programme recognises organisations, social enterprises, and entrepreneurs developing innovative projects that create measurable social impact.

The fund supports compelling feature-length documentaries that explore urgent social issues through powerful cinematic storytelling.

The prize aims to provide professional recognition and create long-term opportunities for emerging photographers through editorial exposure and exhibition platforms.

Provides general support funding to non-profit organisations working to create positive social, economic, and environmental impact in their communities.

The fund is designed to support short films that are ready to move into production or completion, rather than projects still in early development.

The programme is designed to increase public access to local films while encouraging audience development through screenings that celebrate South African stories and filmmaking.

The Build with Gemini XPRIZE 2026 is inviting entrepreneurs, developers, startups, researchers and small organisations from around the world to build AI-powered businesses capable of creating measurable real-world impact.

A multi-stage programme designed to help African organisations strengthen their fundraising capacity, diversify their income, and build long-term financial sustainability.

The programme supports international touring, festival programming, and long-term cultural partnerships that strengthen the visibility and circulation of African artistic work.

The programme seeks scripted short films that demonstrate originality, strong storytelling, and a distinctive creative voice.

The Indie Games Fund Africa supports independent game studios with commercially promising games that are ready to scale.

The fund is supporting ambitious journalism projects that investigate issues related to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The fund celebrates organisers who use music, creativity, and cultural experimentation to build meaningful experiences and new forms of community.

The programme supports young South African creatives with the opportunity to develop market-ready creative enterprises through business incubation, mentorship, and milestone-based funding.

The programme supports innovative business ideas and ventures that contribute to inclusive growth and sustainable development in Africa.

The fund seeks to strengthen local film industries, support culturally significant storytelling, and increase the international visibility of films from underrepresented regions.

The grant supports filmmakers from the Global South developing documentary projects that engage with themes of rights, freedoms, peace, justice, equality, and respect for differences.

The programme supports emerging and promising photographers and filmmakers in bringing new creative projects to life.

The programme supports artists, creative practitioners, cultural professionals, and organisations working across the arts, culture, and creative sectors.

The programme funds initiatives that bring people from diverse backgrounds together to share experiences, build connections, and foster greater understanding across cultural, ethnic, religious, racial, and gender differences.

The programme supports youth-led projects and startups that are already creating positive social or environmental impact in their communities.

Apply for the African World Heritage Fund Conservation Grants 2026. Funding is available for projects supporting the conservation, sustainability, and protection of African World Heritage Sites.

It opens up a shared field in which artists are invited to explore their own languages, strategies, and imaginaries with full artistic freedom

The Foundation welcomes applications from professional visual artists who are painters, sculptors, and artists who work on paper, including printmakers.

Through the prize, participants can showcase their work at international forums and engage with global climate leaders.

ANNA and Latitudes, the awards exist to discover, recognise, and support women artists working in contemporary African art.

The STREETS Awards recognise outstanding social enterprises and initiatives demonstrating measurable social impact within the global hospitality and tourism sector.

The fund is open to all genres, formats, and perspectives, with a particular commitment to supporting filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds and stories that expand the cultural conversation.

This call is looking for fresh, effective approaches that go beyond what is already out there, intending to help creative startups scale up and bring bold, innovative ideas to market.

the competition recognises outstanding photography across ten diverse categories, awarding category winners and up to 15 shortlisted photographers per category.

The fund is committed to elevating diverse voices in media and providing a space for talented storytellers whose work and perspectives are frequently underrepresented in the industry.

An international recognition programme that celebrates and supports individuals, organisations, governments, and private sector actors advancing more inclusive societies.

The programme celebrates and accelerates women-led innovation across all sectors, connecting founders to the networks, resources, and visibility needed to grow.

The Prize is open to the full spectrum of contemporary visual arts, from painting and sculpture to video art, live performance, and interdisciplinary practice.

The Shore Scripts Writer Development Program is a structured support system for emerging screenwriters, designed to help writers refine their work and build the relationships needed to break into the industry.

The Moonshot Awards recognise exceptional young changemakers who are developing bold solutions to the world's most urgent challenges.

The programme aims to sustain the creation of significant literature across a wide range of genres, with particular emphasis on works written in previously marginalised official languages.

It funds the mobility of professionals from Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti to international festivals and markets, to promote networking and increase the visibility of their projects.

The open call welcomes photography, video, and multimedia projects across all genres, including fashion, documentary, portraiture, fine art, and experimental practices, from artists aged 18 and above.

Documentary Fund has opened its latest call for applications, offering nonrecoupable grants to independent filmmakers working on feature-length cinematic documentaries.

Media Monitoring Africa has opened applications for the Isu Elihle Awards, inviting professional and freelance journalists across Africa to submit innovative and unpublished story ideas that highlight child rights and issues affecting children.

develoPPP Ventures specifically funds innovative, early-stage business models that demonstrate high development relevance and scalability, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Primal Still Vodka and Contra.Joburg have launched an open call for visual artists and designers based in Johannesburg to create an artwork or design for the new Primal Still Vodka bottle label.

Programme to recognise and support an emerging filmmaker with a distinct and original creative voice.

The prize offers playwrights the freedom to explore difficult and controversial ideas with full creative integrity, supporting work that challenges assumptions in pursuit of truth, beauty, and meaningful storytelling.

The programme offers several funding tracks designed to support journalists at different stages of their investigations, from early-stage research through to full investigative reporting and follow-up coverage.

The programme recognises women impact entrepreneurs from around the world who are using business as a force for good, while building innovative and financially sustainable enterprises across sectors and industries.

The opportunity challenges young designers to rethink ordinary creative tools and repurpose them into unexpected and innovative pieces across disciplines such as fashion, graphic design, architecture, digital media, fine art, and product design.

The programme invites individual practitioners, registered organisations, and community arts centres working across disciplines such as craft, dance, literature, music, musical theatre, visual arts, and multidisciplinary practices.

The open call welcomes filmmakers from around the world, across all genres, with a focus on originality, strong narrative vision, and creative execution.

The programme is designed to equip African entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and networks needed to refine their ideas and grow globally competitive businesses.

This open, flexible funding opportunity supports in-depth, high-impact journalism on underreported issues worldwide.

The programme recognises organisations and individuals worldwide who are driving meaningful social impact through their work.

The fund takes an evidence-based approach, backing ideas that demonstrate strong potential for impact, cost-effectiveness, and long-term sustainability.

The prize highlights youth-led initiatives that promote civic participation, protect fundamental rights, and support inclusive and accountable governance systems.

A programme supporting collaborative projects that reimagine cultural heritage through contemporary practice.

A global initiative supporting leaders driving bold, systemic social change.

A global open call supporting musicians, collectives, and curators to develop and stream innovative music projects.

The grant supports films that demonstrate strong storytelling and meaningfully contribute to society, with a focus on projects that “touch the heart” and draw attention to underrepresented or little-known subjects.

The fund supports compelling documentary storytelling with a strong artistic vision, focusing on projects that demonstrate originality, engaging narratives, and innovative visual approaches.

The grant is awarded to an individual photojournalist to support the production of a photo-reportage exploring social, economic, political, or cultural issues.

The initiative aims to identify and empower African entrepreneurs building sustainable businesses that address pressing challenges and contribute to inclusive economic growth.

The fund focuses on organisations that place creativity at the centre of their work, using it as a tool to drive inclusion, equity, and long-term transformation within their communities.

The fund supports projects that lead to structural and long-term impact, including policy development, capacity building, and market access for cultural and creative sectors.

The programme supports contemporary and innovative projects that foster intercultural dialogue, co-creation, and equitable partnerships between African and European cultural actors.

This initiative supports collaborative visual arts projects between Sub-Saharan African and European practitioners, fostering intercultural dialogue, peer learning, and co-creation.

The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation has opened applications for its funding programme supporting early-stage social enterprises working to address critical social and environmental challenges

Through financial support and capacity-building, the Intercultural Innovation Hub programme aims to strengthen and scale projects working across cultures and communities.

The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie has launched its 2026 Call for Projects, supporting the writing and (co)production of French-language creative works across publishing, live performance, and cinema-audiovisual production.

The We Are Family Foundation has opened applications for the Youth To The Front Fund – The Creatives, a global funding initiative supporting young cultural leaders using creative practice to drive social and community impact.

The programme encourages European producers to participate as minority co-producers in high-quality documentary projects while strengthening cross-border collaboration within the global documentary sector.

The Eastern Cape Development Corporation has opened applications to the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund, an initiative designed to position the Eastern Cape as a preferred destination for national and international film and television productions.

The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation invites proposals for Sport, Arts and Culture events or festivals seeking funding for the 2026/2027 financial year.

Entries are now open for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, which this year focuses on Documentary Filmmaking. The prize celebrates exceptional Nigerian filmmakers.

Entries are now open for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature, an annual award sponsored by the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) to recognise outstanding literary achievement by Nigerian authors.