Now online: NEMO Webinar on cross‑border cooperation and EU funding

• Access the presentation of Margherita Sani
• Access the presentation of Lea Stöver
• Visit the European Commission's overview of Creative Europe Desks
• Discover funding opportunities for the Cultural and Creative Sectors

Margherita Sani, author of the toolkit, shared practical recommendations for moving from a project idea to a well‑structured proposal. Emphasis was placed on aligning projects with EU priorities, such as digital transition, sustainability, inclusion and international cooperation, and on developing clear objectives, realistic work plans and coherent budgets.

The webinar also highlighted Creative Europe Culture, the EU’s funding programme dedicated to the cultural and creative sectors. Lea Stöver, Head of the Creative Europe Desk KULTUR, presented key funding opportunities, including European Cooperation Projects and Culture Moves Europe, illustrating how museums can engage in international partnerships and mobility schemes.

In addition to programme guidance, the session addressed practical aspects of applying for EU funding, including the use of the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for partner search and proposal development. Participants were encouraged to invest time in building strong, trust‑based consortia and to develop detailed project plans in view of competitive success rates.

The discussion also touched on emerging challenges and needs identified across the sector, such as the demand for clear, up‑to‑date information on funding calls, more accessible guidance formats, and support in navigating application processes. While digital tools, including AI, can assist in drafting applications, the importance of human‑led project design and strategic thinking was emphasised.

Meet the speakers

Margherita Sani
Adjunct professor at the University of Bologna and Project Coordinator at NEMO. She worked in the Museum Department of the Institute for Cultural Heritage of the Emilia-Romagna Region from 1985-2021. She currently coordinates NEMO’s Working Group LEM - The Learning Museum. She is an active member of international museum associations. Since 2019 she is a board member of Europeana Education and since 2022 of ICOM Italy.

Lea Stöver
Lea Stöver has been Head of the Creative Europe Desk KULTUR (CED KULTUR) in Bonn, Germany, since 2018. Together with her team, she supports cultural organisations in understanding and applying for EU funding opportunities. CED KULTUR serves as the national contact point for the EU’s funding programme for the cultural and creative sectors, Creative Europe Culture.