Ortaklaşa Launches EU-Türkiye Cultural Partnership Call for Proposals

The Ortaklaşa EU-Türkiye Cultural Partnership Call for Proposals under the Ortaklaşa: Culture, Dialogue and Support Programme opened on 17 September 2026. The call will help foster arts- and culture-based cooperation networks among cities in Türkiye and Europe. The submission deadline is 18 December 2026.

Started by İKSV in 2023, the Ortaklaşa*: Culture, Dialogue and Support Programme is now entering its second phase with the support of the European Union. In this new phase which will span the years 2026-2029, Ortaklaşa joins forces with one of Europe’s strongest advocacy networks Culture Action Europe (CAE) as the partner and the Marmara Municipalities Union (MBB) as the associate.

*In Turkish, ortaklaşa means collectively, in cooperation, in collaboration.

The participatory and fair cooperation model developed between arts and culture organisations and municipalities in Türkiye during Ortaklaşa’s first phase is being extended to the European level in the new phase through the partnership with Culture Action Europe (CAE). As one of Europe’s largest cultural networks, CAE brings to the programme not only international reach, but also its experience in cultural rights, participatory governance and fair cultural cooperation.

The Ortaklaşa EU-Türkiye Cultural Partnership Call for Proposals will bring together the local knowledge and experience of arts and culture organisations and municipalities in Türkiye and Europe through equal partnerships through providing a total of EUR 890,000 in grant support for projects that aim to rethink cultural policies through an approach extending from the local level to international cooperation, support cultural and artistic production, and develop fair cooperation. The aim is for these collaborations to move beyond one-off project partnerships and develop into lasting relationships grounded in mutual learning, co-production and shared responsibility. Supported projects will broaden their sphere of impact through Ortaklaşa’s mentorship and advocacy activities and CAE’s links with cultural networks across Europe.

Within the scope of this call, applications are expected to be submitted through a four-institution cooperation structure consisting of:

• A culture-oriented CSO based in Türkiye as the lead applicant,
• A culture-oriented CSO based in an EU member state or candidate country (Albania, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo or Serbia) as the partner,
• One municipality from Türkiye and one municipality from an EU member state or candidate country (Albania, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo or Serbia) as associates.
• Grant support may cover between 70% and 95% of the projects’ total eligible costs. Details on application requirements, eligibility criteria and the evaluation process are provided in the Guideline for Grant Applications.

Following the opening of the call for proposals on 17 September 2026, two information sessions have been scheduled for interested parties. Next available information session will take place on 15 October 2026 at 14.00 (UTC+3).

Submission deadline:
18 December 2026, Time: 17.00 (UTC+3)

Announcement of results:
16 March 2027

Indicative project start date:
1 April 2027

For full information on the open call, please refer to the application guide below.

This form has been prepared to facilitate the search for partners among cultural organisations based in Türkiye and in EU Member States or candidate countries within the framework of the Ortaklaşa EU–Türkiye Cultural Cooperation Call. The form should only be completed by culture-oriented organisations that meet the requirements set out under the “Eligibility Criteria for the EU-Türkiye Cultural Partnership Call” in the relevant Guidelines for Grant Applicants.

Disclaimer: DutchCulture is not the initiator of this open call and assumes no responsibility for its administration or outcomes. All inquiries should be directed to the relevant parties indicated above.

DutchCulture is one of the organisations that has the mandate to implement the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ international cultural policy, which is a joint responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. There are 24 focal countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ International Cultural Policy 2025–2028, which Turkiye is one.

DutchCulture works closely with local Dutch embassies and cultural partners to bring together relevant insights for artists, cultural organisations and creative professionals.The policy focuses on a strong position for the Dutch cultural sector abroad through visibility, exchanges and long-term partnerships. Moreover, Dutch cultural activities can support bilateral relationships with other countries, for example promoting partnerships and contributing to exchanges and dialogue.

Another aim is to harness the power of the cultural sector and creative industries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, from Sustainable Cities and Communities to Gender Equality.