Call for Proposals: Goethe-Institut Grants for Co-Creation of New Heritage Narratives 2026 (up to €55,000) – YOA

Deadline: February 13, 2026

Proposals are invited for the Goethe-Institut Grants for Co-Creation of New Heritage Narratives 2026. The Goethe-Institut invites non-revenue, non-governmental organisations in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to apply for grants underneath the “Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture: Southern Africa” challenge.

This initiative, funded by the European Union, goals to strengthen cultural cooperation inside Southern Africa in addition to between Southern Africa and Europe, to improve regional cultural manufacturing capacities, and promote intercultural dialogue by means of the co-creation of new narratives round tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

This Call for Proposals seeks to choose at the very least 8 organisations to lead “Narrative Clusters,” collaborating with interdisciplinary teams of artists/creatives to develop progressive tales that improve the visibility and modern relevance of their heritage.

Financial Support

• grant Amount: Up to €55,000 per chosen organisation, based mostly on an in depth funds submitted with the application. Budget template will probably be supplied on GAP. No different template will probably be accepted.
• Number of Grants: At least 8 grants will probably be awarded throughout the six challenge nations.
• Payment Structure: Grants will probably be disbursed in instalments, topic to milestone-based mostly progress and monetary evaluations to guarantee compliance with challenge aims.
• Eligible Costs: Staff prices, occasion organisation (narrative growth retreats, native shows), co-manufacturing funding (supplies, tools rent, and many others.), journey, lodging, outreach actions, and prices associated to accessibility (e.g., variations for individuals with disabilities) and environmental sustainability.

Eligibility

To be eligible, candidates should meet the next standards:

• The applicant have to be a non-revenue, non-governmental authorized entity registered in a single of the six challenge nations (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe).
• The organisation have to be legally registered and operational in a single of the challenge nations for at the very least two years, with a demonstrated monitor report of heritage-associated actions.
• The organisation should handle a tangible heritage website (e.g., archaeological website, historic constructing) or an intangible heritage observe (e.g., folklore, music, conventional crafts) of one of the six challenge nations (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe).
• Preference will probably be given to organisations representing lesser-recognized heritage websites or practices (with specific relevance and significance for native communities and with restricted geographical attain.), notably these exterior main city centres.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will probably be evaluated based mostly on the next standards:

• Thematic Approach: Relevance and readability of the proposed heritage matters, themes, or tales, and their potential to resonate with modern audiences in southern Africa and past. (30%)
• Organisational Capacity: Ability to handle a Narrative Cluster, together with administrative, monetary, and logistical capability to coordinate artists/creatives and occasions. (15%)
• Working Facilities: Access to enough services (e.g., areas for retreats, workshops, or shows) to help artists/creatives in creating co-productions. (Heritage organisations don’t essentially want to personal the services.) (20%)
• Motivation and Collaboration: Clarity of motivation and dedication to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary, worldwide artists/creatives. (20%)
• Outreach Commitment: Quality and feasibility of proposed native outreach actions to interact communities, alongside a dedication to broader dissemination of co-productions/viewers growth. (15%)

Application

Click here to apply

For extra info, go to Goethe-Institut Grants.