THEPS Newsletter #12: Did you manage to submit all the projects you wanted to?
Your weekly guide to writing better EU projects!
Hello,
At THEPS, we are firm believers that mental health should be prioritised at work – no extra work after working hours, no phone calls, no “urgent” messages or "quick" Zooms. Why won’t the partners do their job on time?
Did you manage to submit all the projects you wanted to? Last Thursday must have been horrific for many organisations that had to wait for partners to sign and stamp the accession forms 5 minutes before the deadline…
And while that deadline is now gone, more and more funding opportunities are available for all of us. This issue of the THEPS newsletter focuses on:
- Culture Helps Solidarity Collaboration Grants
- Quick News
- You are the Priority
- Tips & Tricks
- What the Future Holds
The Culture Helps Solidarity Collaboration Grants
The Culture Helps Solidarity Collaboration Grants support cross‑border arts and culture projects that help Ukrainian creatives and displaced communities stay connected, resilient, and active during and after the war. This programme is funded by Creative Europe and implemented by the European Cultural Foundation, Insha Osvita (Kyiv), zusa (Berlin), and the VETERANKA Movement (Kyiv). It runs until 2028 and offers several rounds of support.
Your projects must use arts and culture to strengthen:
- community connection
- mental well‑being
- inclusion of internally displaced people and refugees from Ukraine
- intercultural dialogue
- professional development for cultural workers
They also must:
- clearly address the needs of displaced Ukrainians or Ukrainian cultural professionals
- use culture as a tool for resilience, care, and community building
- demonstrate equal partnership between organisations
- be feasible within 12 months
Not eligible:
- purely commercial activities
- projects without Ukrainian leadership or meaningful involvement
The eligible applicants include:
- Ukrainian cultural organisations (leading applicants are strongly encouraged to be Ukrainian)
- Cultural NGOs, arts collectives, museums, theatres, creative hubs
- Organisations in Creative Europe countries partnering with Ukrainian entities
Again, your projects must involve at least one Ukrainian organisation and one partner from a Creative Europe country!
Funding available
- Grants of up to €30,000
- Project duration: up to 12 months
- Includes access to mentoring, learning activities, and peer‑exchange opportunities
Deadline: 31 March 2026 (current round)
Quick News
One: The ARLEM Award 2026 is now accepting applications, celebrating outstanding young local entrepreneurs from Mediterranean partner countries. The award, organised by the Euro‑Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), highlights innovative young people who are helping their local economies grow, with a special focus on how local and regional authorities support their success.
The 2026 edition marks the eighth year of the award and continues to shine a light on entrepreneurship that creates jobs, strengthens communities, and drives sustainable development across the Mediterranean.
Read more about it here.
You are the Priority
We are launching a section of the newsletter that will be more personal. Starting with the next issue, we’re opening a new space in THEPS dedicated entirely to you. We want to understand how you experience the Erasmus+ programme, what works, what doesn’t, what inspires you, and what you wish more people knew.
You’ll receive a short survey where you can share your thoughts about Erasmus+. Anonymously, but still, your voice will help us shape future editions of THEPS and highlight the topics that matter most to you and your organisations.
In the near future, we’ll also invite you to send us your success stories, project results, and initiatives worth celebrating.
Whether it’s a mobility that changed someone’s life, a partnership that grew into something bigger, or a project you’re proud of, this is your chance to put it in the spotlight. We need to stop losing project results to social media posts that get 20 likes.
Tips & Tricks
Second chances are for the romantic movies.
Create a list of the organisations you work with. Colour code it: “future collabs” are green, “maybe” are yellow, and "never again” are red. It will give you real clarity of your partnerships. You’d be surprised how many “romantic leads” were the evil character.
What the Future Holds
A Report, a Survey, funding opportunities, more statistical data, a little bit of humour and better-written projects. This is all we can promise you for now.
In the meantime, follow us on LinkedIn (and soon on European-based social media!).