Culture Makes Strong
BMBF program for the promotion of extracurricular cultural education projects for disadvantaged children and young people (ages 3–18) with up to €50 million annually until the end of 2027. Applications can be submitted continuously to selected funding bodies.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Since 2013, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has been promoting extracurricular cultural education programs through the "Culture Makes Strong. Alliances for Education" initiative to support children and young people with limited access to education in their personal development, open up new perspectives, and improve their educational opportunities.
Eligible expenses
- Material expenses (rent, catering, consumables)
- Personnel and fee costs for artistic and educational professionals
- Expense allowances for volunteers
- Expenditures for networking activities of alliance partners
Non-eligible expenses
- Existing educational programs
- Programs that are otherwise funded by public funds
Eligible to apply
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
- Foundations
- Non-profit Organizations
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Recognition as a selected program partner of the BMBF (funder)
- Alignment of projects with extracurricular cultural education offerings
- Implementation within the framework of an alliance for education
Description
Since 2013, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has been supporting the program Kultur macht stark. Bündnisse für Bildung to strengthen extracurricular cultural education opportunities nationwide for children and young people aged three to 18 with limited access to education. Up to €50 million per year will be available as grants until the end of 2027, which selected program partners (funders) allocate through local alliances. Eligible applicants include recognized interest groups, foundations, non-profit organizations, and public institutions. A prerequisite for funding is recognition as a funder within the BMBF program as well as the implementation of creative, media-related, musical, or intercultural projects outside regular school hours. Applications can be submitted continuously until December 31, 2027.
Funding is provided for one-time workshops, regular courses, and holiday camps in the fields of children and youth, culture, media, music, as well as work & social affairs. Eligible expenses include material costs (rent, catering, consumables), personnel and fee costs for artistic and educational experts, expense allowances for volunteers, and costs for networking activities of alliance partners. Existing educational offers or those already publicly funded are not eligible for funding. The aim is to open up new learning perspectives for children and young people at risk – for example, due to unemployment, low family income, or low parental educational attainment – and to sustainably promote their personal development. Schools may participate as alliance partners provided all projects take place outside of regular class time. Further details on the application procedure and funding modalities are available to program partners in the program’s official application system.