The city of České Budějovice will host the title of European Capital of Culture in 2028 and they now have an Open Call, which aims to enable cultural actors to participate in the ECOC 2028 programme.
The theme of the Open Call 2026 is (Perma)culture as a content framework, not as an aesthetic style or a single theme that needs to be illustrated. (Perma)culture is a way of thinking, planning and collaborating that respects the principles of caring for the Earth, caring for people, and caring for the future (responsible use of resources). This is reflected in the content of the project, its implementation, and its impact.
The call is looking for projects that have the following:
- Artistic or cultural output for the public in 2028.
- Implementation in České Budějovice or the South Bohemian Region.
- Cooperation – regional, national, and international.
The ECOC programme currently consists of over 60 projects, however, the following genres are under-represented or not represented and will be given preference: contemporary and conceptual fine art; audiovisual, multimedia and digital arts, immersive content, video game development, film; architecture; contemporary design and fashion; contemporary music; photography.
The call for proposals in 2026 is open to legal entities and is not restricted by territory. Individuals cannot apply, but they can join project implementation teams. Each project must involve at least one international partner and at least one partner from the South Bohemian region.
In 2026, projects can be submitted in two categories:
- Small projects: 750,000 CZK (minimum budget) – 1,500,000 CZK (maximum amount of support) with 70% maximum share of support in total costs
- Large projects: 2,200,000 CZK (minimum budget) – 4,000,000 CZK (maximum amount of support) with 50% maximum share of support in total costs.
The applicant submits a budget for two years of preparation and implementation (2027, 2028) and the above amounts are for these years together.
