Cultural organisations in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe are invited to apply for co-production funding under the Connect and Create – Creative Tandems programme. The call supports partnerships between one African and one European organisation working in the fields of music or the performing arts.
This opportunity is part of the Connect and Create – Cultural Partnership programme, a European Union-funded initiative implemented by the Goethe-Institut and Expertise France, in collaboration with the Institut Français and the EUNIC network. The overall programme has a budget of €8 million and seeks to strengthen equitable and sustainable cultural collaboration between Africa and Europe.
The current call specifically targets creative tandems with funding of €20,000 to €60,000 per project, drawn from a total budget envelope of €600,000 for this round. Each selected project must be co-designed and implemented by a pair of organisations – one based in sub-Saharan Africa and one in the European Union. The African organisation is required to submit the application and will be the recipient of the grant funds. Projects may be implemented in either region, or both, over a period of 18 to 24 months, beginning in March 2026 and ending by March 2028.
The funding covers up to 50% of the total project cost, and applicants are expected to secure the remaining 50% through other sources, either in cash or in-kind contributions. Disbursements will be made in two tranches – 80% upon signing the contract, and 20% upon project completion, subject to final reporting.
Eligible activities include:
Artistic collaborations involving co-creation or co-production,
Artistic or research residencies,
Workshops, training, exchange schemes, or peer-learning initiatives.
Eligibility criteria require both partners to be registered legal entities, with at least two years of legal existence, capable of receiving international transfers, and operating in the performing arts or music sectors. Activities must be non-profit in nature. The African partner must also provide a letter of commitment from the European partner.
The programme will give priority to:
Existing tandems with a track record of collaboration,
Projects involving young artists and emerging scenes,
Proposals that adopt eco-responsible practices,
Projects addressing inclusion, including gender and disability considerations.
Timeline and deadlines:
Applications open: 17 September 2025
Application deadline: 14 December 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CET
Administrative eligibility feedback: 18 December 2025
Results announcement: From 9 February 2026
Submissions must be made online through the Institut Français platform. All projects must also budget for two international air tickets (one for each partner) to attend a networking event in sub-Saharan Africa, with other costs covered by the organisers.
Your funding experts
Cultural organisations in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe are invited to apply for co-production funding under the Connect and Create – Creative Tandems programme. The call supports partnerships between one African and one European organisation working in the fields of music or the performing arts.