How EUcalls Helps Culture and Creative Actors Stay Ahead
Culture, creativity, democracy, and social inclusion are no longer peripheral topics in European policy. They sit at the core of how Europe understands innovation, resilience, and long-term growth.
This shift is clearly reflected in Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, part of the Horizon Europe programme, and right now, multiple Cluster 2 calls are open.
Yet, despite their relevance, these opportunities often go unnoticed by the organisations they are designed for.
Cultural institutions, creative hubs, municipalities, NGOs, and social innovators frequently assume that Horizon Europe funding is either too academic, too complex, or simply not meant for them. As a result, they miss calls that directly align with their work and impact. This is exactly the gap Cluster 2 aims to close and where EUcalls comes in.
What is Cluster 2, in Simple Terms?
Cluster 2 supports projects that strengthen European culture, creativity, democratic life, and social cohesion. Rather than focusing on technological breakthroughs alone, it invests in how societies function, evolve, and include their citizens.
At its core, Cluster 2 treats:
- Culture as a living, evolving system
- Creativity as a driver of economic and social value
- Democracy as a space for innovation and trust-building
- Inclusion as a prerequisite for sustainable growth
This makes Cluster 2 one of the most accessible clusters within Horizon Europe, especially for organisations working close to communities and local realities.
What Types of Cluster 2 calls are Open Right Now?
The currently open calls cover a broad range of themes, reflecting the diversity of Europe’s cultural and social landscape. Without diving into technical call codes, Cluster 2 funding typically supports projects such as:
- Cultural heritage protection and digitisation, including innovative uses of digital tools to preserve and promote heritage
- Cultural and creative industries, with a focus on new business models, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainability
- Cultural participation and inclusion, ensuring broader access to cultural life and creative expression
- Democracy and citizen engagement, addressing trust, participation, and resilience against disinformation
- Social innovation and skills, supporting education, inclusion, and social cohesion in times of transition
These opportunities are spread across multiple calls and topics, often published and updated at different times. For many organisations, simply keeping track of what is open and relevant becomes a challenge.
Some of The Calls Are
- Research and Innovation Network for a Union of Equality
- Boosting creative startups for disruptive innovation
- Strengthened implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and a focus on inclusion, integration, and health
- Fostering competences for the green transition
From Complexity to Clarity: The Role of EUcalls
This is where EUcalls plays a crucial role.
EUcalls is a platform designed to make European funding opportunities visible, understandable, and actionable. Instead of navigating fragmented portals and dense documentation, organisations can use EUcalls to identify opportunities that match their thematic focus, including culture, creativity, and inclusive society.
For Cluster 2, EUcalls helps:
- Centralise open and upcoming calls in one place
- Improve visibility for non-academic actors
- Reduce the time spent searching for relevant opportunities
- Support early awareness, which is critical for strong proposals
Rather than replacing strategic planning or proposal development, EUcalls acts as the starting point, turning EU funding from something distant into something concrete.
Who Should Be Paying Attention to Cluster 2 Now?
Cluster 2 is especially relevant for organisations that may not traditionally see themselves as “EU-funded actors”, including:
- Cultural organisations and institutions
- Creative hubs and cultural & creative industries (CCIs)
- Municipalities, regions, and public bodies
- NGOs and civil society organisations
- SMEs active in culture, tourism, education, or civic innovation
If your organisation creates cultural, social, or civic value at a local or regional level but thinks beyond borders, Cluster 2 is designed with you in mind.
Why Cluster 2 Matters Beyond Funding
Cluster 2 is not just about accessing financial support. It reflects a broader European understanding that culture and creativity are strategic assets.
Through Cluster 2, the EU supports:
- Long-term cultural resilience
- Cross-border collaboration and shared European identity
- Scalable social innovation
- Evidence-based policymaking in culture and society
In a context of social change, climate pressure, and democratic challenges, these calls provide a framework for organisations to expand their impact and contribute to Europe’s future.
A Timely Opportunity to Act
With several Cluster 2 calls already open, this is the right moment for organisations to assess their fit within the European funding landscape. Early awareness allows time for partnership-building, strategic alignment, and meaningful project design.
By using EUcalls to track and explore Cluster 2 opportunities, organisations can move from passive observation to informed preparation and from uncertainty to clarity.
Culture, creativity, and inclusive societies are not side projects in Europe’s agenda. They are central. And the opportunities to act on them are already here.
