Deadline: February 13, 2026
Proposals are invited for the Goethe-Institut Grants for Co-Creation of New Heritage Narratives 2026. The Goethe-Institut invites non-profit, non-governmental organisations in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to apply for grants under the “Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture: Southern Africa” project.
This initiative, funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen cultural cooperation within Southern Africa as well as between Southern Africa and Europe, to enhance regional cultural production capacities, and promote intercultural dialogue through the co-creation of new narratives around tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
This Call for Proposals seeks to select at least 8 organisations to lead “Narrative Clusters,” collaborating with interdisciplinary groups of artists/creatives to develop innovative stories that increase the visibility and contemporary relevance of their heritage.
Financial Support
- Grant Amount: Up to €55,000 per selected organisation, based on a detailed budget submitted with the application. Budget template will be provided on GAP. No other template will be accepted.
- Number of Grants: At least 8 grants will be awarded across the six project countries.
- Payment Structure: Grants will be disbursed in instalments, subject to milestone-based progress and financial reviews to ensure compliance with project objectives.
- Eligible Costs: Staff costs, event organisation (narrative development retreats, local presentations), co-production funding (materials, equipment hire, etc.), travel, accommodation, outreach activities, and costs related to accessibility (e.g., adaptations for persons with disabilities) and environmental sustainability.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- The applicant must be a non-profit, non-governmental legal entity registered in one of the six project countries (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe).
- The organisation must be legally registered and operational in one of the project countries for at least two years, with a demonstrated track record of heritage-related activities.
- The organisation must manage a tangible heritage site (e.g., archaeological site, historical building) or an intangible heritage practice (e.g., folklore, music, traditional crafts) of one of the six project countries (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe).
- Preference will be given to organisations representing lesser-known heritage sites or practices (with particular relevance and importance for local communities and with limited geographical reach.), particularly those outside major urban centres.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Thematic Approach: Relevance and clarity of the proposed heritage topics, themes, or stories, and their potential to resonate with contemporary audiences in southern Africa and beyond. (30%)
- Organisational Capacity: Ability to manage a Narrative Cluster, including administrative, financial, and logistical capacity to coordinate artists/creatives and events. (15%)
- Working Facilities: Access to adequate facilities (e.g., spaces for retreats, workshops, or presentations) to support artists/creatives in developing co-productions. (Heritage organisations do not necessarily need to own the facilities.) (20%)
- Motivation and Collaboration: Clarity of motivation and commitment to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary, international artists/creatives. (20%)
- Outreach Commitment: Quality and feasibility of proposed local outreach activities to engage communities, alongside a commitment to broader dissemination of co-productions/audience development. (15%)
Application
For more information, visit Goethe-Institut Grants.
