Please always check the original links for full, up-to-date details and how to apply. 

A good place to start is the overview of open calls maintained by the European Commission:
https://culture.ec.europa.eu/funding/calls

Tip: Many EU programmes require international partnerships, so organisations considering applying should start exploring potential partners and project ideas well ahead of the deadlines.

Call for expressions of interest to establish a pool of experts to the Panel for the European Capital of Culture Action

Deadline 30 September 2027.

More information: https://culture.ec.europa.eu/funding/calls/call-for-expressions-of-interest-to-establish-a-pool-of-experts-to-the-panel-for-the-european-capital-of-culture-action-0 

Research and Innovation Projects (Horizon Europe)

The EU research programme Horizon Europe regularly publishes calls under Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society.

These calls often support research and pilot projects on themes such as:

• participatory heritage and cultural engagement
• digital transformation of heritage
• social inclusion through culture

More information:

https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en

AgoraEU – Up to 10.7 billion Euros will be available for projects during 2028-2034

This new integrated EU funding stream will merge the Creative Europe and CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights & Values) programmes. 

It will be organised around three pillars:

• Creative Europe – Culture: Supports cross-border cultural creation, artistic freedom, and the international circulation of cultural and creative works
• MEDIA+: Boosts the competitiveness of Europe’s audiovisual and video game industries while actively funding and safeguarding independent journalism and news media diversity
• CERV+: Promotes fundamental rights, equality, active civic participation, and strengthens democratic engagement and the rule of law

The programme aims to:

• Defend against AI
• Fight disinformation
• Simplify access

Updates will be posted on the Culture Action Europe website:

https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en

To cite this article: IE News Team (2026), Funding opportunities, Interpret Europe Newsletter – Summer 2026, p. 32. Available online: IE newsletter 2026-2 summer

The following calls may interest organisations working in heritage interpretation, museums, and cultural heritage. Please always check the original links for full, up-to-date details and how to apply. 

A good place to start is the overview of open calls maintained by the European Commission:
https://culture.ec.europa.eu/funding/calls

European Cooperation Projects (Creative Europe)

Under the Creative Europe Programme, the European Cooperation Projects call supports cross-border cultural collaboration.
Deadline: 5 May 2026
https://culture.ec.europa.eu/news/2026-creative-europe-call-for-european-cooperation-projects-open
Projects may focus on:

• transnational cooperation between cultural organisations
• innovative cultural practices
• audience development and participation
• sustainability and inclusion in cultural work

Projects must involve multiple partners from different European countries, making them well suited for networks of heritage sites, museums, and interpretation organisations.

Creative Innovation Lab

Also part of Creative Europe’s cross-sectoral strand, this call supports experimentation and innovation across cultural sectors.
Deadline: 23 April 2026
https://creativeeurope.in.ua/en/call/crea_cross_2026_innovlab
Topics include:

• digital tools and new cultural business models
• AI and immersive technologies
• cross-sector collaboration (e.g. heritage, audiovisual, gaming.

This may be relevant for projects exploring digital interpretation means, virtual exhibitions, and similar

Research and Innovation Projects (Horizon Europe)

The EU research programme Horizon Europe regularly publishes calls under Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society.
These calls often support research and pilot projects on themes such as:

• participatory heritage and cultural engagement
• digital transformation of heritage
• social inclusion through culture
  
  https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en

Cultural initiatives linked to the New European Bauhaus

Projects combining culture, sustainability, and community engagement may also find opportunities linked to the New European Bauhaus. https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu

Tip: Many EU programmes require international partnerships, so organisations considering applying should start exploring potential partners and project ideas well ahead of the deadlines.
EU funding opportunities for the natural heritage sector

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme is the EU’s main funding instrument for nature conservation, biodiversity protection, and environmental action. It supports projects implemented by NGOs, public authorities, universities, and other organisations.
Typical projects range from €1–5 million and run for 3–5 years.

2026 Calls
Expected publication: 21 April 2026
LIFE Info Days: 28–30 April 2026
https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/life-calls-proposals-2026_en
Key sub-programmes include:

• Nature and Biodiversity – habitat restoration, species protection, Natura 2000 management
• Circular Economy and Quality of Life – pollution reduction, environmental solutions
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
• Clean Energy Transition

This programme is particularly relevant for natural heritage organisations, including projects focused on:

• biodiversity conservation
• ecosystem restoration
• nature interpretation and visitor engagement in protected areas
• community participation in nature protection

Horizon Europe – Cluster 6

The EU research programme Horizon Europe funds research and innovation on biodiversity and ecosystems.
Upcoming call (2026) opening: 17 April 2026
https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/cluster-6-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-environment_en
These calls are best suited to research institutes, universities, and large partnerships, but NGOs and heritage organisations can participate as partners.

To cite this article: IE News Team (2026) “Funding opportunities”, Interpret Europe Newsletter Spring 2026, p. 30–31.
Available online: Interpret Europe Newsletter Spring 2026.

IE’s Office Manager recently participated as a grantee in the Culture Moves Europe programme — an excellent opportunity for creative practitioners, museologists, artists, and professionals working in the cultural sector.

Through this funding, a study visit was organised to the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Sweden — the country’s largest art museum and one of the oldest in Europe, originally founded in 1792. The museum houses an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, and applied arts from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century.

The focus of the visit was to learn more about the museum’s educational programmes, including:

• Adult workshops – Workshops centered on artworks from the permanent collection, offered both in-person and through digital formats to enhance accessibility;
• Accessibility initiatives – Programmes designed to involve people with dementia, and individuals who are deaf or visually impaired, through adapted guides and tailored activities;
• Collaboration with schools – A day spent alongside teachers from various schools provided insight into how the museum engages pupils and integrates museum resources into education.

The visit also included participation in Kulturnatt Stockholm (‘Culture Night’), a major citywide event during which museums remained open until midnight, offering free admission and a diverse array of activities for visitors.

The experience offered a deeper understanding of the educational, accessibility, and community engagement programmes run by one of Europe’s most prestigious museums.

Culture Moves Europe supports the mobility of artists and cultural professionals across all 40 Creative Europe countries. It covers the sectors of architecture, cultural heritage, design and fashion design, literature, music, performing arts, and visual arts. With a budget of €21 million for its first phase (2022–2025), it is the largest European mobility scheme for the cultural sector to-date. It is funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union and implemented by the Goethe-Institut.

The next phase of Culture Moves Europe is expected to launch in mid-2025. More information will be available on the European Commission website: 

https://culture.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe/creative-europe-culture-strand/culture-moves-europe

To cite this article: IE Office Team  (2025)  ‘Creative Europe Programme‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 1-2025, pg.24.
Available online: PDF Newsletter Spring 2025 

To cite this article: IE News Team (2024) ‘Creative Europe Programme‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2024, pg.20. Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Newsletter-2024_4.pdf

To cite this article: IE News Team (2024) ‘Culture Moves Europe‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2024, pg.24.
Available online: PDF-Newsletter_2024_3.pdf

IE has secured financial support for its activities, which so far largely depended on membership fees, and will allow us to operate on another level. We have received a considerable financial boost from the Creative Europe Networks programme, which is an activity-based grant to sole beneficiaries, and this amounts to 800,000 euros over four years. While this doesn’t seem a lot for an international organisation which has already achieved considerable recognition and developed a cutting-edge training programme, it is nothing less than 400% of our previous annual budget!
The aforementioned international recognition and all the past achievements provided an excellent basis for building a winning proposal. Out of more than 100 applications, 38 received funding. IE proved that heritage interpretation is very much relevant for EU heritage policies, challenges and solutions in the 21st century, and we will use the grant to deliver our core aims through the HI-People project.
What is the HI-People project about?
It is built around four main areas: Training, networking, advocacy and policy. We needed to fulfil the call priorities: International collaboration, culture that involves people, fostering climate action, and sustainable digitalisation. While these were only general requirements, we were keen on enhancing our existing activities as well as including some of the ones from our ‘wish list’.
What can members expect in the next four years?
We’ll organise several international courses in English language and particular groups of members will be eligible for a scholarship; a mentoring scheme will support interpreters that sell their services on the open market; a new module on digital interpretation will be developed; a new cycle of the Learning landscape initiative will involve regions that are keen on developing interpretation holistically. Published guidelines will showcase good practice and establish clear standards for interpreting sustainability and implementing meaningful digital interpretation.
IE will also work with international organisations and involve members in discussions about the guidelines and principles of value-based and people-centred heritage interpretation, a code of ethics and other policy documents that will pave the way to a more recognised profession, better working standards for freelancers and recognition of the importance of interpreters in collaboration projects.
Members will be able to securely connect with each other through a platform that will be built to meet their networking needs, and we’ll continue providing interesting career-supportive content through webinars, publications, conferences, podcasts and much more.
Another project that was approved in parallel is EMPATHS, an Erasmus+ funded collaboration project in which IE as a lead partner will, in partnership with five other organisations, further develop the training for interpretive agents. This training is now being pilot tested within the Learning landscape initiative, supported by UNESCO, and will train interpreters that are keen on promoting heritage interpretation to decision makers and launch participative processes that involve communities in the planning of interpretive strategies.
Members can count on lively engagement and timely communication about all future opportunities. We are excited to start this next chapter of IE and are ready to move up a gear. We look forward to our journey together!

To cite this article: IE Management (2024) ‘We are shifting into fifth gear‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2024, pg.5.
Available online: PDF-Newsletter_2024_3.pdf

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe, with an estimated budget of €26.2 billion. The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.Keep an eye on the website for suitable opportunities that could support your projects and strategic partnership collaborations with other colleagues:

https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/funding

https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-organisations

To cite this article: IE News Team  (2024) ‘Erasmus+‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 1-2024, pg.24.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PDF-Newsletter_2024_1-spring.pdf

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe, with an estimated budget of €26.2 billion.
The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.
New Erasmus+ calls are due out in the spring and so now is a good time to start getting ready to apply – either mobilising your individual projects or building strategic partnerships for innovations.

Keep an eye on the website for the new calls: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/funding 

Opportunities for organisations: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-organisations 

Five things you need to know about the new calls: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/news/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-erasmus-call-2024 

You could also use this funding source to help organise international IE training courses in your area. If you and your organisation seek capacity building opportunities for heritage interpretation and you would like to organise an IE course in your institution, why not tap into Erasmus+ mobility grants. 

Our members from Poland  and Croatia have already organised a simple training project before. You can read their article here (https://interpret-europe.net/ie-activities/2023/interpreting-our-museums/), get inspired for something similar and don’t hesitate to get in touch for further advice.

To cite this article: IE News Team (2023) ‘Erasmus+ for projects and training‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.18.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

The European Union should endeavour to use its cultural and creative assets to better assert its influence around the world. The arts can play an important role on building the contemporary image of the EU by increasing the visibility of the European identity, cultural heritage and the promotion of its values. In addition to the cultural benefits, the increased visibility of European arts and culture abroad can foster a sustainable and inclusive local, regional and national development and growth, including the growth of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs), while influencing countries outside the EU on important societal issues, such as the protection of the environment, peace and security, migration, gender equality, justice, or freedom of expression.

Funding is available for projects contributing to the following expected outcomes:

• Further increase the visibility of and access to European arts and culture internationally.
• Develop and test pilot solutions based on a model that will allow cooperation between local, national and European level and establish strategic alliances between art and cultural sectors and with other sectors.
• Assess the effectiveness of good practices, programmes and policies that promote the EU priorities, culture and fundamental values abroad.
• Strengthen the CCIs presence worldwide by promoting the European arts internationally.

Find out more here:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl2-2024-heritage-01-04;callCode=null;freeTextSearchKeyword=;matchWholeText=true;typeCodes=1;statusCodes=31094501;programmePeriod=2021%20-%202027;programCcm2Id=43108390;programDivisionCode=43118846;focusAreaCode=null;destinationGroup=45355259;missionGroup=null;geographicalZonesCode=null;programmeDivisionProspect=null;startDateLte=null;startDateGte=null;crossCuttingPriorityCode=null;cpvCode=null;performanceOfDelivery=null;sortQuery=sortStatus;orderBy=asc;onlyTenders=false;topicListKey=topicSearchTablePageState

and here:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-search?tenders=false&callIdentifier=HORIZON-CL2-2024-HERITAGE-01

To cite this article: IE News Team (2023) ‘Horizon Europe Framework Programme ‘in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2023, pg. 22.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/PDF-Newsletter-2023_3-autumn.pdf

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe, with an estimated budget of €26.2 billion.
The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.
New Erasmus+ calls are due out in the spring and so now is a good time to start getting ready to apply – either mobilising your individual projects or building strategic partnerships for innovations.

Keep an eye on the website:

https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/funding
https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-organisations

There are some changes announced in the Creative Europe funding programme for 2024. You can look for what is going to be financed in 2024 here:

https://culture.ec.europa.eu/news/what-to-expect-from-creative-europe-in-2024

The focus of the programme is still the support of the sectors after the COVID-19 crisis and the repercussions of the war in Ukraine. Transitioning the sectors towards sustainability and inclusiveness is also a priority.

To cite this article: IE News Team (2023) ‘Erasmus+  ‘in Interpret Europe Newsletter 3-2023, pg. 22.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/PDF-Newsletter-2023_3-autumn.pdf