EU funding opportunities
There is a vast array of EU funding possibilities available for museums in Europe. These different funding programmes support museums from the local to the international level – either as big cross-border consortia or for specific activities. NEMO helps museums to navigate their way through the EU funding maze. Below are some of the most prominent EU funding programmes that are relevant for museums.
NEMO toolkit on EU funding
This toolkit helps museums, museum associations and other cultural organisations across Europe to better access EU funding and increase their international activities. The toolkit gives an overview of the benefits of international cooperation and the existing funding opportunities. With the toolkit, we want to increase the number of museums participating in EU funding programmes.
Guide on EU funding 2021-2027
The interactive guide CulturEU, published by the European Commission, maps 75 funding opportunities available for the cultural and creative sectors. It helps direct cultural actors to appropriate funding opportunities based on a quick questionnaire about their sector, type of organisation and the kind of support they are looking for.
Do you know how to build a European Project?
EU funding programmes
The most prominent EU funding programmes relevant for museums are listed below.
We recommend that you also seek out the national contact points, which are able to provide you with additional information in the local language.
Creative Europe
Creative Europe is the EU funding programme that supports the cultural and audiovisual sectors.
- Funding period: 2021-2027
- Budget: €2.4 billion
Erasmus+
Erasmus+ is the EU education and training programme. It also supports cultural heritage institutions to develop educational programmes and supports learning through and with cultural heritage.
- Funding period: 2021-2027
- Budget: €26 billion
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the EU research and innovation programme that includes support for the innovation potential of cultural heritage in order to protect and preserve it.
- Funding period: 2021-2027
- Budget: €95.5 billion
Digital Europe
Aims at improving and fostering the digital capacities and to expand and facilitate the access and use of digital technologies. Two of the five key areas are of particular interest to cultural organisations, namely "Deployment and accessibility of digital technologies" and "Digital skills".
- Funding period: 2021-2027
- Budget: €7.588 billion
Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values
Promotes and protects fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy inside the EU. CERV consists of four pillar and especially the strand "Citizens' engagement and participation" is of interest for museums and museum organisations.
- Funding period: 2021-2027
- Budget: €1.55 billion
Asylum and Migration Fund
The EU’s support in the field of asylum, integration and migration. A large part of this funding is managed by the individual Member States, but a smaller part is administered by the European Commission, thereby facilitating transnational projects.
- Funding period: 2021-2027
- Budget: €8.705 billion
EU Structural Funds
The EU Structural Funds aim to reduce regional disparities in income, wealth and opportunities. The European Social Fund+ (ESF+) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) belong to the structural funds and both are managed nationally by the EU Member States.
- Funding period: 2021-2027
- Budget of ESF+: €88 billion
- Budget of ERDF: €226.9 billion
Interreg
As part of the European cohesion policies, Interreg aims at bridging the gap between Europe and its citizens by improving the social cohesion and quality of life.
- Funding period: 2021-2027
- Budget: €7.95 billion