📋 Tender Overview
Independent culture & arts are strong drivers for improved social cohesion, tolerance and democratic practice at the local level. Building on this potential CfD will support quality cultural and artistic initiatives, mainly outside of urban centers. Strengthening the resilience and strategic focus of independent cultural actors will open up more spaces for critical thinking and reflection and ultimately contribute to stronger foundations for social cohesion, tolerance and democracy in Serbia.
Country/region Topic Period Budget
Serbia
Culture / development awareness
Governance
Human rights
nothemedefined
Culture & recreation
Democratic participation and civil society
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
01.03.2025 - 31.12.2028
CHF 1’990’000
The project in brief
Background Arts and culture are crucial for fostering greater tolerance and social cohesion, open and inclusive societies. Since the early 2000’s political turbulences have continued to erode the cultural sector's autonomy. Due to insufficient resources and inadequate professional expertise, public institutions are struggling to fulfill their role. At the same time, independent cultural actors continue to face limited access to (public) funding and lack organizational and financial capacities which in turn disables the achievement of their full potential. The cultural scene remains characterized by restricted freedom of expression on topics not in line with the ruling party discourse, limited cultural offer in rural areas and absence of alternative spaces for gatherings. In the given context, the independent cultural sector stays a focal point for enabling, not only the development of the cultural and artistic scene, but also strengthening links between culture and education, democracy, and the overall social development.
Objectives An independent and dynamic cultural sector contributes to improved social cohesion and tolerance at the local level in Serbia.
Target groups Primary target group are independent cultural actors, mostly outside of urban centers, including CSOs, citizens’ associations and self-employed individuals, among which also youth. The general public, in particular the audience in smaller and rural communities, are considered to be final beneficiaries, including vulnerable groups, benefitting from quality cultural and artistic content.
Medium-term outcomes Outcome 1: Enhanced organizational capacities and overall resilience of cultural and artistic actors enable their development and effective achievement of their goals. Outcome 2: Individual cultural and artistic actors’ production triggers critical thinking, social dialogue and awareness raising around topics of immediate relevance for their communities.
Results Expected results: Six larger organizations will be provided longer-term support to enhance their organisational, programmatic, and financial capacities. A capacity building program for smaller organizations is envisaged in two formats: job sh
