Our Picks | Cultural Opportunities you can't miss this June

June brings summer opportunities for cultural and creative professionals. This month’s curated list highlights six diverse open calls ranging from artistic residencies focused on environmental challenges, to awards promoting new audience engagement strategies in heritage, opera, and media. With generous grants, international exposure, and community-based collaboration at their core, these calls span multiple sectors and support artists and institutions working across Europe and beyond.

1. Carmen Mateu | Young Artist European Award 2025

Sector: Opera, Performing Arts, Arts Education
Deadline: July 10, 2025

The fourth edition of the Carmen Mateu Young Artist European Award supports the creation of a new artistic-educational opera aimed at teenage audiences. This prize awarded by Fundació Castell de Peralada encourages multidisciplinary, inclusive projects that redefine opera for young people. The winning project will premiere at the Peralada Festival in 2026.

Support provided:

- €20,000 commission for the creative team
- €20,000 for production costs

Who can apply:

- Individual artists or collectives (all members under 35 years old)
- Applicants must be of European nationality or have developed their careers in a Council of Europe member state
- Projects must explore the theme “THE OPERA IS FOR YOU,” with a focus on accessibility and audience engagement

More details here

2. Académie des beaux-arts | Art Explora European Award 2025

Sector: All Art Forms, Cultural Participation
Deadline: July 9, 2025

The Art Explora – Académie des beaux-arts European Award celebrates innovative audience engagement strategies in arts and culture. Open to all non-profit cultural organisations across Europe, the award promotes inclusion, accessibility, and new cultural experiences by supporting pioneering initiatives that overcome social, economic, and geographic barriers.

Support provided:

- Category 1 (up to €500,000 annual expenditure): €30,000
- Category 2 (€500,000 to €2 million): €40,000
- Category 3 (over €2 million): €50,000 
Plus two additional awards

Who can apply:

- Non-profit cultural organisations from eligible European countries

More details here

3. Europa Nostra | European Heritage Awards 2026

Sector: Cultural Heritage
Deadline: September 9, 2025

The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026, supported by the European Commission and managed by Europa Nostra, recognize outstanding achievements in preserving and promoting Europe’s cultural heritage. From research and conservation to education and public engagement, the awards celebrate excellence across the sector.

Support provided:

- Grand Prix: €10,000
- Public Choice Award: €10,000
- Additional benefits include pan-European recognition, media visibility, and access to a prestigious heritage network

Who can apply:

Individuals, teams, and organisations engaged in cultural heritage projects across Europe

Eligible categories include:

- Conservation & Adaptive Reuse
- Research
- Education, Training & Skills
- Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-raising
- Heritage Champions

More details here

4. TIDAL ArtS | Lighthouse Calls

Sector: Arts, Environment
Deadline: June 14, 2025

TIDAL ArtS invites artists, collectives, and creatives to apply for its Lighthouse Calls, offering €15,000 grants to develop artistic projects that connect communities with aquatic environments. Part of the EU’s Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030, the initiative supports 20 artists working in one of four European “Lighthouse” regions.

Support provided:

- €15,000 grant per artist or collective
- Workshops with scientists and educators
- Project liaison, communication toolkit, and visibility across EU platforms
- Networking and participation in Mission Ocean events

Who can apply:

- Artists, collectives, and creatives based in eligible countries across the Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean, Baltic-North Sea, and Danube-Black Sea regions
- TIDAL ArtS encourages applications from underrepresented groups

More details here

5. S+T+ARTS | AQUA MOTION – Open Call for Artistic Residencies

Sector: Interdisciplinary Arts, Environment, Technology
Deadline: June 13, 2025

S+T+ARTS AQUA MOTION invites artists from any discipline to apply for its 2025–26 residency programme exploring the future of water in Europe. Through partnerships with scientists, technologists, and local communities, the programme supports artistic projects addressing pressing water-related challenges. The residencies will take place in Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, and Austria.

Support provided:

- €40,000 budget per residency, covering artist fees, production, travel, and event participation
- Access to facilities, technologies, and expert mentorship from host institutions
- 9-month Residency + 4-month Scale-Up programme

Who can apply:

- Artists with at least 5 years of professional experience and a valid fiscal ID
- Open to artists from all disciplines and nationalities able to travel to a host country
- Applicants must not have participated in another S+T+ARTS residency in 2025 or 2026

More details here

6. House of Europe | Grants for Cooperation with Cultural Institutions

Sector: Culture, Education, Media, Creative Industries
Deadline: July 31, 2025 (15:00 Kyiv time) – rolling until funds are exhausted

House of Europe offers grants of up to €20,000 to support collaborative projects between European and Ukrainian cultural institutions. Eligible initiatives may include conferences, educational programmes, artistic workshops, media collaborations, and more, addressing topics such as decolonization, community rebuilding, and knowledge exchange.

Support provided:

Up to €20,000 for fees, consultations, translations, materials, travel, venue and equipment rental, and production

Who can apply:

- Tandems of cultural institutions from EU countries and Ukraine
- Each organization must be a registered legal entity with relevant project expertise and experience

More details here