The call for grant applications was launched in May 2021. It aims to support non-capital cities and towns to develop and implement Cultural Development Strategies, following the approach of the European Capitals of Culture. Overall, 70 cities from 5 Eastern Partnership countries participated in the call. After evaluation of the submitted applications, the following three cities from Azerbaijan were selected: Shaki, Khirdalan, Lankaran.

Selected cities will receive up to 30,000 euros grants to develop the Cultural Development Strategies. At the final stage of the call, one town or city out of these three will be awarded a grant of up to 300,000 euros to implement its strategy.

The Ambassador of the European Union to Azerbaijan, Head of Department of the Ministry of Culture, representatives of the State Tourism Agency, mayors of the three cities, EU4Culture project representatives will attend the event. The event will open with a press conference, followed by the welcoming speeches and an award ceremony, where Ambassador of the European Union to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko will officially award grants’ certificates to the mayors of the selected cities.

EU4Culture is a four-year project funded by the European Union to support the culture and creative sector with a special focus on non-capital cities and towns in the Eastern Partnership Countries. The project aims to contribute to making culture an engine for growth and social development across the region.

EU4Culture is implemented by the Goethe Institute (lead), Institut Francais Georgie, Danish Cultural Institute, Czech Centers.

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