Cross-border cooperation will be the theme of Operation Pirkanmaa’s open call for project proposals – a total of 100,000 euros at maximum will be distributed to the Region’s cultural operators

Operation Pirkanmaa is a cultural development project headed by the City of Tampere with participation from the 19 other municipalities in the Region, and it was set up to implement the goals of the Tampere 2026 European Capital of Culture bid. 

The three-year project has already partnered with and supported dozens of project ideas dating back to the Capital of Culture bid. In addition, Operation Pirkanmaa supports the piloting of new operating models and new cultural programming. 

In 2022, through an open call for proposals, the project provided funding for more than 60 cultural events, big and small, implemented in the Pirkanmaa Region by professionals in the field of culture. 

This time, a maximum of 100,000 euros will be distributed on the basis of the evaluation of the proposals received and possible further negotiations. For the 2023 call for proposals, we are hoping to receive project ideas from professionals in the fields of art and culture in the Pirkanmaa Region for different kinds of cross-border activities – crossing the borders between different arts or fields, or municipalities or countries, for example. The proposals should ideally offer people in the Region new experiences: inhabitants can be participants in the process, or they can be invited to experience the final result of the project, no matter in which format it may be.  The funding decisions will be made in June, and the projects will be implemented between the 1st of July and the 31st of December 2023.  

Instructions for applying

The selection will be made on the following basis:

• Link to the Pirkanmaa Region
• “Cross-border cooperation” – the format and uniqueness of the project idea
• Professional and high-quality implementation plan, resourcing, and budget
• Promotion of the inclusion and equality of audiences

Applicants may include registered communities, such as associations, companies, private traders, and cooperatives (not private citizens). The application is submitted through an online form.  Implementors of selected projects must commit to the reporting required by the project. Additionally, the implementors must attend and present, upon request, their project in an event to be organised in January 2024.  The amount to be applied for may be between 2,000 and 30,000 euros. Applicants must cover at least 10% of the cost with their own funding, which may be in-kind funding. 

The payment schedule of the granted amount will be agreed on a case-by-case basis. The activity must be non-profit, but the costs of the project may be covered through ticket sales, for example. 

The call for proposals is now open and will close on Sunday, 4 June at 23:59. Applications may be processed already while the call for proposals is still open. We may contact the applicants if we need additional information to process the application.  The projects to be funded will be selected during June, and these decisions made by municipal office holders may be appealed within 14 days. The projects must be implemented between the 1st of July and the 31st of December 2023. Application form for the open call. Click the language selection on the top right corner for English version.