At Creatives Unite, we like to think of September as a second New Year’s Eve, a moment for fresh starts, new ideas, and setting intentions for the months ahead. It’s also the perfect time to look for opportunities that can help you grow both personally and professionally. This September, our selection brings together opportunities for artists, cultural professionals, creative ventures, and organisations looking to develop their practice, explore new ideas, and build international connections. Explore the calls below and keep an eye on the deadlines, as several applications close throughout September and early October.
1. EFFEA | Call for Two Residency Categories
Sector: Performing Arts, Interdisciplinary Arts, International Collaboration
Deadline: November 3, 2026
EFFEA Call #5 will support around 50 residencies bringing together festivals from across Europe to help emerging artists and collectives develop their work and expand their international networks. The programme offers dedicated time, mentoring, exchange, and opportunities to present work across partner festivals.
Support provided:
EFFEA Discovery: €8,000 grant for artists at an early career stage
EFFEA Springboard: €15,000 grant for artists ready to expand internationally
Who can apply:
- Emerging artists and collectives working across eligible artistic disciplines
- Artists at an early career stage (Discovery) or established nationally and ready for international development (Springboard)
- Practices spanning architecture, dance, circus, design, digital arts, film, heritage, literature, music, theatre, visual arts, and other disciplines
- Projects involving a leading festival and at least two partner festivals from different eligible countries
2. České Budějovice ECoC 2028 | Ars Biologica ArtXScience Residency
Sector: Art & Science, Environmental Sustainability, Interdisciplinary Practice
Deadline: September 28, 2026
České Budějovice – European Capital of Culture 2028 and Ars Electronica invite artists, designers, creatives, and collectives to apply for the Ars Biologica ArtXScience Residency. The programme supports collaboration between artists and local scientists to explore how interdisciplinary approaches can respond to environmental challenges, including climate change, sustainable agriculture, water management, and ecology.
Selected participants will work towards the co-production of a new artistic project while engaging with scientific research and local communities.
Support provided:
- €6,000 artist fee
- Up to €15,000 production budget
- Up to €3,000 for travel, accommodation, and subsistence
- Accommodation for a one-month stay in České Budějovice
- Direct collaboration with scientists and participation in the Ars Electronica network
Who can apply:
- Artists, designers, creatives, and artist collectives with at least five years of professional experience
- Practitioners with experience in interdisciplinary collaboration, ArtXScience, or community engagement
- Applicants interested in collaborating closely with scientists to develop a new artistic output
- Applicants aged 18+ who are eligible to work and travel within the EU
3. NUMO 2026 | Mobility Programme for Ukrainian Cultural Professionals
Sector: Arts & Culture, International Mobility, Cultural Exchange
Deadline: December 7, 2026
NUMO 2026 offers mobility funding for Ukrainian artists, researchers, and cultural professionals to participate in internationally relevant cultural events in Germany. The programme aims to strengthen the visibility of Ukrainian culture and support professionals in building international connections and representing Ukraine on the European cultural scene.
Funding is available for participation in a range of formats, including festivals, exhibitions, conferences, cultural forums, competitions, and short-term residencies.
Support provided:
- Up to €500 for stays of 1–2 days
- Up to €700 for stays of 3–4 days
- Up to €1,000 for stays of 5–10 days
- €1,500 for residencies lasting one month or longer
- Additional support of up to €500 for participants with special needs
Who can apply:
- Ukrainian artists working across all artistic disciplines
- Cultural researchers and scholars
- Cultural managers
- Individual applicants and groups of up to five people
- Applicants participating in internationally relevant cultural events or short-term residencies in Germany
4. EIT Culture & Creativity | Financial Support to Startups and Scaleups
Sector: Creative Industries, Entrepreneurship, Innovation
Deadline: October 12, 2026
EIT Culture & Creativity invites startups and scaleups in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) to apply for financial support through its Shape Acceleration and Scale Post-Acceleration programmes.
The call supports tech-enabled, market-driven and IP-leveraged ventures looking to strengthen their business models, attract investment, and expand internationally. Alongside financial support, selected ventures will receive tailored services focused on venture development, fundraising, investment readiness and international growth.
Support provided:
- Shape Acceleration: up to €100,000, with an additional €100,000 available for top-ranked ventures following the Demo Day
- Scale Post-Acceleration: up to €200,000, or up to €500,000 for ventures headquartered in an EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) country
Total financial support allocation of €8.6 million across both programmes
Who can apply:
- Startups and scaleups operating in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries
- Legally established for-profit entities in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries
- Ventures developing tech-enabled, market-driven and IP-leveraged solutions
- Startups with demonstrated market traction and scaleups with product-market fit, recurring revenues and international growth potential
5. The Supporting Act Foundation | 2026 Artist Grant
Sector: Arts, Social Practice, Community Engagement
Deadline: October 1, 2026
The Supporting Act Foundation offers 10 unrestricted grants to emerging artists from underrepresented groups whose practices involve collaborative or creative processes that benefit their communities. The grant aims to give artists greater financial stability and more time to develop their practice, while increasing the visibility and impact of their work.
Support provided:
- 10 grants of €10,000
- Monthly instalments of €1,000
- Unrestricted funding to support artistic development
Who can apply:
- Emerging artists with 2–10 years of professional experience
- Artists whose practice involves collaborative, collective, or community-based processes
- Artists from underrepresented groups or those facing systemic barriers to equal opportunities
- Artists based in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain or the UK
6. The Supporting Act Foundation | 2026 Impact Grant
Sector: Arts, Cultural & Creative Industries, Artist Support
Deadline: October 1, 2026
The Supporting Act Foundation offers grants to nonprofit arts organisations that provide non-financial support to emerging artists from underrepresented groups. The programme aims to strengthen organisations that help artists develop their practices, improve their working conditions, and gain greater visibility and confidence.
Support provided:
- 10 unrestricted grants of €25,000 per year
- €50,000 total funding per organisation over two years
- Flexible funding to support the organisation’s ongoing work
Who can apply:
- Nonprofit arts organisations registered between 2016 and 2024
- Organisations based in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain or the UK
- Organisations with annual expenditure between €50,000 and €300,000
- Organisations providing non-financial support to emerging artists from underrepresented groups or those facing systemic barriers
- Organisations able to provide evidence of relevant active projects
