12/04/2012 - CORRIGENDUM: The EU financial contribution rate has been changed to maximum 75% of total eligible costs. The call for proposals and FAQ document have been updated accordingly.

CORRIGENDUM: The indicative date of 03/08 2011 on page 21 of the call for proposals should read 03/08/2012.

Information Day (12 April 2012) news article

The “European Creative Districts” will support traditional industrial regions in their transition from a traditional economy with strong “heritage” value and cultural identity to a sustainable and innovative economy. This notably includes the promotion of all forms of creativity and the better use of service innovation and creative industries to stimulate structural change for cultural, craft and manufacturing-based industry. In this respect, the “European Creative Districts” should, on the one hand, address the specific needs of innovative creative industries companies to strengthen their capacity to innovate and grow and, on the other hand, stimulate the demand for their services by companies or organisations from other sectors with a view to boosting the role of creative industries as a catalyst for regional development.

The call for proposals will be implemented through a two-stage procedure: In a first stage, applicants are requested to submit a "concept note" of maximum five pages and then, in a second stage upon selection, a full proposal aimed at launching a “European Creative District” to be co-funded by the European Commission. Following the evaluation of the “concept notes”, a maximum of five applicants will be invited to prepare full and detailed proposals. A maximum of two proposals will be awarded a grant.

Stage 1 deadline for submission of concept notes: 4 May 2012.

An information session on the call for proposals will be organised in Brussels on 12 April 2012. The agenda and registration form for the event are available in the "documents & links" section below.

Do note that additional information, such as answers to questions, will be posted on this webpage during the publication stage. Therefore, we encourage you to visit this page regularly.