EEA and Norway Grants Culture programme in Poland: arts projects and community participation in culture (Outcome 2)
Verified by the editorial team 28 October 2026
Added to the catalogue Added to the catalogue from the 20 October GetGrant export, terms verified on the call page and the Culture programme news page on eeagrants.org
Summary
EUR 100,000 to 500,000 for cultural and artistic projects in Poland that widen community participation in cultural life. Lead applicants are Polish organisations, while Ukrainian NGOs, cultural institutions and hromadas can join as partners. Applications are accepted until 10 November 2026.
About the call
This is the first call under Outcome 2 of the Culture programme, funded in Poland by the EEA Financial Mechanism, the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and the Polish state budget. The goal is more people taking part in a diverse local cultural scene: a broader cultural offer, access to the arts, audience engagement and professionalisation of the sector, including support for young artists and cultural workers. Projects on intercultural understanding, participation in cultural life and the working conditions of Ukrainian artists and cultural workers are named explicitly.
The call budget is EUR 3,500,000, with at least 30% reserved for projects led by NGOs. A single project receives EUR 100,000 to 500,000 and may last up to 36 months; the donor covers up to 95% of costs for NGOs and up to 85% for other applicants. A partnership with an entity from a Donor State (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) is mandatory, and legal entities from Poland, Ukraine and other EEA Beneficiary States can also be partners. Priority goes to projects in towns losing socio-economic functions.
For Ukrainian cultural organisations this is a way into a long international project with a Polish lead and a Norwegian or Icelandic partner. Depending on the partnership agreement, part of the activities can take place in Ukraine. Decisions will be announced at the turn of the first and second quarters of 2027, and further calls under this outcome are planned for 2027 and 2028, so partnerships are worth building now.
Who can apply
- Lead applicants: Polish public cultural institutions, local government units on behalf of their cultural institutions, art schools and art universities
- Lead applicants: Polish NGOs and SMEs operating in the cultural sector
- Partners from Ukraine: cultural institutions, local government units on behalf of cultural institutions, art schools, NGOs and companies in the cultural sector - as legal persons
- Mandatory partner from a Donor State: Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
Who cannot apply
- Ukrainian organisations as lead applicants
- Natural persons (except those legally resident in Liechtenstein, as partners)
- Projects without a Donor State partner
What the funds are for
- Cultural and artistic projects with local community involvement and an inclusive approach
- Professionalisation of the cultural sector and support for young artists and cultural workers
- Projects on freedom of artistic expression, intercultural dialogue and countering disinformation
- Tackling social isolation and strengthening cohesion through culture
- Music, performing and visual arts, film festivals, cultural education, literature and translation
What is not funded
- Film production and distribution
- Computer game production
- Book publishing (translations can be part of a project)
Documents required
Forms and templates are on the call page
- Application form from the call templates, signed electronically
- Budget template from the call
- Letter of intent from the partner
- Partnership Agreement based on the template
- Declaration on securing funds for ineligible costs and VAT eligibility statement
- State aid tests and, if relevant, an estimate of unpaid volunteer work
How to apply
- 1Find a Polish lead applicant and the mandatory partner from Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
- 2Download the call announcement, applicant guidelines and templates from the call page
- 3Send questions to the operator by 9 November 2026
- 4Submit the electronically signed application via the Polish e-Doręczenia system by 10 November 2026 (submitted by the Polish applicant)
- 5Expect a decision at the turn of the first and second quarters of 2027
Timeline
Questions and answers
- Can a Ukrainian NGO apply to this Culture programme call?
- Only as a partner. The lead applicant is a Polish organisation or cultural institution, and a Ukrainian legal entity from the cultural sector joins the project under a partnership agreement.
- Is a partner from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein mandatory?
- Yes. Outcome 2 projects must be carried out in partnership with an entity from a Donor State, and Ukrainian and other partners can be added on top.
Change history
- Added: Added to the catalogue from the 20 October GetGrant export, terms verified on the call page and the Culture programme news page on eeagrants.org
Donor contacts
Phone: +48 22 829 33 57
