Cultural Strategies for Peace: culture and creativity as catalysts for conflict prevention and post-conflict reconciliation

The main goal of this opportunity is to explore how culture, cultural heritage, and the arts can help prevent conflict and support reconciliation in areas affected by conflict. It aims to understand both the positive and negative roles culture can play in contemporary geopolitical challenges. The focus is on using creativity, digital technologies, and cultural heritage to strengthen social cohesion, promote economic recovery, and ensure long-term stability. Projects should address issues such as social fragmentation, extremism, and the integration of culture into peacebuilding efforts. This grant covers projects in EU Member States, Associated Countries, and certain other countries with special arrangements, but excludes legal entities established in China.

• Use culture and creativity to support conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and reconciliation.
• Study how culture can both foster peace and be misused in conflicts.
• Identify and assess successful cultural peace initiatives.
• Address social inclusion, including gender and minority perspectives.
• Provide long-term evidence on cultural impacts in post-conflict recovery.
• Deliver policy recommendations for using culture in peace strategies.
• Promote lasting collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and cultural actors.

Example projects:

• A project using digital arts to promote dialogue and reconciliation in a post-conflict community.
• An initiative that documents and restores cultural heritage sites to support economic recovery in a conflict-affected region.
• A program that trains local leaders in using creative methods to prevent the spread of extremism and foster social cohesion.

• Personnel costs for project staff
• Costs for equipment and materials needed for project activities
• Travel and accommodation for project-related events or fieldwork
• Subcontracting of specialized services
• Costs for organizing workshops, conferences, or community events
• Development and dissemination of digital content or communication materials
• Training and capacity-building activities
• Evaluation and monitoring expenses
• Project management and administration costs

All expenses are covered as a lump sum. Detailed eligible costs and any restrictions should be checked in the official guidance.

• Budget for this Call: 12.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 3
• Budget per project: 4.000.000€
• Minimum value per project: 3.000.000€

• Consortium must have at least three independent entities from three different eligible countries, with one in an EU Member State

• All partners must be from EU or Horizon Europe associated countries and show financial and operational capacity

• Action type is Research & Innovation Action (RIA)

• Project must focus on using culture and creativity for conflict prevention, reconciliation, and social cohesion

• Must involve SSH experts and relevant stakeholders (e.g. NGOs, cultural or peacebuilding actors)

• Must deliver case studies, policy recommendations, and collaboration models

• Standard Horizon Europe rules on ethics, conflicts of interest, exclusions, data protection, and compliance apply