European funding "Melina Mercouri Prize"
Through its Culture programme, the EU usually makes a financial contribution of €1.5 million to each Capital of Culture, to help fund events.
Since 2010, this funding has been in the form of the Melina Mercouri prize – awarded in recognition of sound preparations by the host city.
Melina Mercouri prize
The prize is not automatic – the host city must meet the commitments it made during the selection phase and follow the recommendations made by the monitoring panel, particularly ensuring the event has a "European dimension".
The Melina Mercouri prize:
- is paid 3 months before the event – to the body responsible for running the city's programme during the year.
- must be used to finance projects which are part of the programme or which follow on from it.
- constitutes the full amount of EU co-financing for the event (replacing the grant that used to be awarded to the Capitals).
