Calls for applications for ESF+ funding to strengthen skills in the arts, culture and creative sectors open until 31 March 2025

The goal is to respond to the skills needs in the creative fields caused by changes in working and business life. Funded projects are meant to bring new skills to working life.

Funding is available, for example, for projects that strengthen the expertise of actors in the arts, culture or creative sector in developing earning opportunities, business activities, new services, innovations or networks.

The new funding round supports the implementation of the cultural policy report and the growth strategy for the creative sector and promotes the use of R&D funding targeted at the creative sector.

The first call for applications was in spring 2023, when a total of more than 20 million euros of funding was applied for. In the first round of applications, nine projects were funded, which were awarded a total of 4.9 million euros. The total amount of funding for the Creative and Cultural Innovation Expertise theme during the 2021–2027 programme period is 13.6 million euros. If enough high-quality applications are received in the new call for applications, the remaining funding within the theme will also be awarded.

Two calls for applications

There will be two calls for applications in the upcoming application round. The call for applications for traditional development projects covers wide-ranging expertise and innovation projects that meet the needs of the arts, culture and creative sector. 

The second call for applications is new and is aimed at pilot projects, funding for which will be paid as a lump sum. Total project costs may not exceed 200,000 euros. These projects can be more one-off experiments that respond to the development needs of the creative sector. The funding may also be paid in instalments if the results of the project can be divided into smaller parts. 

Funding can be applied for by institutions of public law and legal persons governed by private law, such as various communities, companies, associations, municipalities, learning institutes and cooperatives. Funding is not available to working groups, private traders or individuals.

Funded projects must meet the general selection criteria based on EU and national legislation. In addition, special selection criteria are taken into consideration, compliance with which will place the applications in priority order. The selection criteria can be found in the call for applications.

In addition, as part of the same call for applications, an extended call for applications for the coordination project of the theme will open from 2026 onwards. At the moment, the Creative Net of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) serves as the coordination project. 

Decisions on funded projects are made by the ELY Centre for Häme. 

Creative Net offers support for applicants 

The Creative Net team supports and spars actors in the arts, culture and creative sector participating in the application rounds. Sparring is available for clarifying the project idea, working on the application, networking and finding partners. The Creative Net team is disqualified from sparring with applicants in the extension period of the coordination project.

Find out more about our info briefings, events and materials: 

• Recording: Creative Net info briefing, 4 December 2024
  Minna Taipale, Financing Specialist at the ELY Centre for Häme, talk about ESF+ funding within the Creative and Cultural Innovation Expertise theme. Watch the recording and see the materials (in Finnish).
   
• ELY Centre for Häme info briefing, 14 January 2025, 9am–12pm, Teams
  Register for the info briefing. This event will not be recorded, but the materials will be published afterwards on the Structural Funds website. 
   
• Creative Net funding coffee meetings, 16 January – 27 March 2025
  At our morning coffee meetings, you can hear about the implementation plans for the cultural policy report and the ongoing growth strategy work for the creative sector. We will also discuss with project applicants, and participants can present their own questions to the funding body.
  
  These morning coffee meetings will be held throughout the application period every other Tuesday from 9am to 10am. The dates are 16 January, 30 January, 13 February, 27 February, 13 March and 27 March. See the themes and register to participate (in Finnish).
   

• Creative Net sparring
  Idea sparring in January: 22 and 23 January, Teams
  Idea sparring offers perspectives on whether your project idea is suitable for ESF+ funding or in which direction your idea should be further developed. The time reserved for each sparring session is 20 minutes per applicant. Register to participate (in Finnish).

  Application sparring in February: 26, 27 and 28 February, Teams
  Application sparring in March: 17, 18, 20 and 21 March, Teams
  Application sparring provides feedback on project applications. You can participate in sparring if you fill in an ESF+ project application and send it as complete as possible to the Creative Net team one week before the sparring session. The time reserved for each sparring session is 45 minutes per applicant.  Registration for application sparring sessions opens two weeks in advance.
   

Further information

Minna Taipale, Financing Specialist, ELY Centre for Häme,
[email protected]

Sofia-Charlotta Kakko, Project Manager, Creative Net, Taike
[email protected]

Press release (in Finnish): Creative and Cultural Innovation Expertise: calls for applications open in January, information about contents available now (StructuralFunds.fi)

Find out more about the national theme: Creative and Cultural Innovation Expertise

Calls for applications

• Call for applications for traditional development projects (in Finnish and Swedish, EURA 2021)
• Call for applications for development and pilot projects (in Finnish and Swedish, EURA 2021)