Results of the 2nd Call for Proposals: The ACP-EU Support Programme for the ACP Cultural Sector, ACPCultures+, is funding 37 new projects for a total of €15,020,663.70.

Brussels, 15 March 2014/ ACPCultures+ PRESS RELEASE: The Secretariat of the ACP Group of States and the European Commission are pleased to announce the results of the ACPCultures+ programme’s second Call for Proposals, launched on September 20th 2012 and closed on December 20th of the same year. Following a rigorous evaluation process in compliance with the criteria of the Practical Guide to Contract Procedures for EU External Actions, 37 new projects were finally selected for funding. 23 of these are concerned with cinema and the audiovisual industry and 14 represent other cultural industries*.

These projects will be implemented in more than 60 ACP countries by 158 organisations (117 ACP and 41 European), working in partnership. The number of applicants from the Caribbean, Southern Africa and East Africa is marked by an important increase, which means that the Programme is raising more and more interest in all ACP regions.

Out of the 37 selected applicants, 19 come from ACP States and 18 from Europe. Six are established in West Africa, four in Southern Africa and four others in East Africa. The Caribbean counts 4 project beneficiaries, while the Pacific joins the beneficiary regions for the first time with one project granted.

15 Actions are related to the distribution, broadcasting and promotion of cultural goods and services, in particular through festivals and online digital platforms; 11 are concerned with the training sector; 10 are concerned with producing cinematographic and audiovisual works and one project is about strengthening regulations in the cultural sector.

Implemented by the ACP Group of States and funded by the European Union (10th European Development Fund – EDF), the ACPCultures+ programme has the overall objective of contributing to the fight against poverty by consolidating viable cultural industries in ACP countries. The specific objectives of the 2nd Call for Proposals are? the following:

  • Strengthen the creation and production of cultural goods and services within ACP States through an approach integrated with distribution networks,
  • Support improved access to local, regional, intra-ACP, European and international markets for ACP cultural goods and services,

Building the capacities of professionals of the cultural sectors in ACP States,

  • Improve the regulatory environment of cultural sectors within ACP countries.

Further to two Calls for Proposals launched in eighteen months, the ACPCultures+ programme now counts 57 projects that are being funded under the intra-ACP line of the 10th European Development Fund for a total amount in excess of €23,270,000.

In this way, the Secretariat of the ACP Group of States and the European Commission are confirming their commitment to cultural professionals in ACP States to work together side by side to protect cultural diversity and to develop ACP cultural and creative industries.

*Consult a descriptive overview of beneficiary projects : click here.

Information and contact:

ACPCultures+ Programme

Secretariat of the ACP Group of States

Office of the General Under-secretary

Department of Political Affairs and Human Development

451 avenue Georges Henri

1200 Brussels

Belgium

Tel: + 32 2743 06 29

Email: acpculturesplus@acp.int

www.acpculturesplus.eu