Fosters cultural exchange and creative expression across Europe.
The European Cultural Foundation (ECF) is an independent organization based in the Netherlands, founded in 1954 to foster cultural exchange and creative expression across Europe. Its mission is to strengthen European sentiment through cultural initiatives that allow people to share, experience, and imagine Europe. ECF focuses on four main areas: connecting European libraries to create a social network, empowering European digital citizenship, growing a culture of solidarity, and reimagining philanthropy for Europe. The foundation supports various programs, including the Europe Challenge for libraries, the European Pavilion for arts and cultural organizations, and the Culture of Solidarity Fund. The Culture of Solidarity Fund, established during the COVID-19 pandemic, supports cultural initiatives that reinforce European solidarity. It has since expanded to address other crises, such as the war in Ukraine. The fund typically provides grants ranging from €5,000 to €50,000 for projects that promote pan-European collaboration and solidarity. Recent beneficiaries include "Walk with Amal," a theater project featuring a giant puppet of a refugee girl traveling across Europe, and a biodiversity initiative by the Jordi Rubió i Balaguer Library in Spain. ECF also partners with other organizations, such as Kultura Nova Foundation in Croatia, to implement various cultural projects across Europe.