UNESCO-Aschberg Programme for Artists and Cultural Professionals

UNESCO-Aschberg Programme: what you get

This is a funding programme for organisations wishing to improve working conditions and artistic freedom for artists. There are two types of funding. Civil society organisations can receive up to approximately 43,000 EUR (USD 50,000) per project for a period of 12 to 18 months. Governments and public bodies, on the other hand, receive non-financial expert advice, such as support in drafting legislation and guidelines, in data collection and in peer-to-peer exchanges. They also receive up to approximately 26,000 EUR (USD 30,000) to implement the project. The programme is administered by UNESCO and funded primarily by Norway. Please note: Individual artists and students cannot apply; only organisations may do so.

Who can apply

• You are an organisation, not a person: Individual artists and students cannot apply directly.
• Two applicant types: either a state or public body of a UNESCO Member State (for example, a Ministry of Culture, a national arts council or parliament) or a non-profit civil society organisation (a non-governmental organisation, an artists’ network or artists’ union, a cultural association, a foundation or an academic or research centre).
• For civil-society applicants: Your organisation has been in existence as a registered legal entity for at least 2 years and has carried out at least one cultural or creative project in the last 2 years, as evidenced by reports and financial records.
• Project theme: Your work is aimed at protecting or promoting the status of artists and artistic freedom, for example in relation to fair pay, social security, mobility, freedom of expression, challenges in the digital sphere and in connection with artificial intelligence, or emergency support for artists in crisis situations.
• Priority groups: You will be given priority if your organisation has not yet received any funding, if your project benefits artists from developing countries and the Global South, or if it aligns with one of UNESCO’s priority areas (Africa, gender equality, small island states, youth).
• Any nationality: The programme is open to organisations in all UNESCO Member States worldwide.

How to apply

Download the application form (there are different forms for government bodies and civil society organisations) and complete it in English or French. Enclose the required supporting documents and submit the signed application by email by the deadline on 23 February. An independent panel of experts will then review the applications and make recommendations as to which projects UNESCO should fund.

How realistic are your chances?

UNESCO receives a high number of applications; this is therefore a competitive, global call for proposals, in which only a limited number of projects are funded in each round. Your organisation stands the best chance if it clearly falls within one of the priority areas (Africa, the Global South, gender equality, small island states or youth) and has not previously received funding. A concrete, well-justified project with strong partnerships and co-funding stands out more than a proposal couched in general terms.