Organizer Information
The (Perma)culture Open Call 2026 is part of the cultural programming for the European Capital of Culture 2028 initiative led by organizers in České Budějovice. The broader European Capital of Culture (ECoC) framework is an EU cultural initiative designed to highlight the richness and diversity of cultures across Europe while fostering long-term cultural development in selected host cities.
The 2028 edition in České Budějovice is structured around an expanded program that integrates local, national, and international artistic contributions. The organizing body is focused on commissioning projects that respond to contemporary European cultural, environmental, and social challenges, while also embedding themselves in the local context of the South Bohemian Region. The open call is part of a multi-year funding strategy distributing approximately 50 million CZK across several calls between 2025 and 2027.
Title & Description
(Perma)Culture Open Call 2026 – European Capital of Culture 2028 Contribution Program
This open call invites cultural and artistic organizations to submit projects that will become part of the official program of the European Capital of Culture 2028 in České Budějovice.
The central concept of the call is “(Perma)culture,” not as an aesthetic or thematic label, but as a structural and methodological framework for cultural production. Projects are expected to embody principles of sustainability, long-term cultural impact, and collaborative creation. These principles are defined through three key dimensions:
- Process: participatory development, transparent collaboration, engagement with local communities, and cross-border cooperation
- Content: exploration of place, memory, society, European cultural identity, and responses to contemporary challenges
- Impact: long-term contributions such as skills development, community building, infrastructure, or methodological innovation in cultural practice
The call prioritizes projects that integrate artistic production with social engagement and sustainable cultural ecosystems, rather than one-off artistic outputs.
Categories
The call is open to all artistic disciplines, with preference given to:
- Contemporary and conceptual visual art (installations, participatory art, curatorial projects)
- Audiovisual, multimedia, and digital arts (VR/AR/XR, video games, AI-based art, immersive installations, film festivals)
- Architecture (temporary pavilions, tactical urbanism, participatory design, public space interventions)
- Contemporary design and fashion (circular design, interdisciplinary design, experimental fashion)
- Contemporary music and sound art (site-specific compositions, multimedia performances, participatory music projects)
- Photography (documentary, conceptual, participatory, and interdisciplinary photography projects)
Interdisciplinary and hybrid formats combining multiple media are strongly encouraged.
Eligibility
- Open to legal entities only (organizations, institutions, NGOs, companies, collectives with legal registration)
- International eligibility: applicants may come from the Czech Republic, EU countries, and worldwide
- Individuals cannot apply directly but may participate as collaborators or team members within an organization’s submission
- Projects must demonstrate the ability to operate in or connect with the Czech cultural context, particularly the South Bohemian Region
- Strong emphasis on collaborative, cross-regional, and international partnerships
Program Benefits & Awards
- Inclusion in the official European Capital of Culture 2028 program
- Financial support is divided into two categories:
- Small projects: CZK 750,000–1,500,000 (up to 70% funding)
- Large projects: CZK 2,200,000–4,000,000 (up to 50% funding)
- Visibility within a major EU cultural program
- Opportunity for long-term cultural impact and institutional collaboration
- Potential networking with European cultural institutions, artists, and municipalities
- Support for production, implementation, and presentation in 2028
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed project description (full application form)
- Letter of intent, including cooperation strategy (international and regional partners)
- Organizational founding documents
- List of beneficial owners
- Power of attorney (if applicable for legal representatives)
- Submission must include all required attachments as part of the registration package
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 10 July 2026
Location
České Budějovice and broader South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic (EU)
Additional Details
The evaluation framework prioritizes how deeply projects integrate the concept of (Perma)culture as a working methodology rather than a visual theme. Key evaluation dimensions include:
- Degree of participation and collaboration
- Relevance to local and European cultural contexts
- Long-term sustainability and legacy potential
- Innovation in artistic form and interdisciplinary practice
Preference is given to underrepresented genres in the ECoC program, especially immersive digital arts, experimental architecture, participatory projects, and hybrid media formats. Projects are expected to contribute meaningfully to cultural sustainability and collaborative ecosystems.