Trying “Culture in small municipalities”: contributions up to 130.000 euro for the cultural regeneration of territories

Expiration: 31 August 2026 ore 12.00 (Door opening: to be defined)

The public notice is part of the national policies of cultural regeneration and territorial development, valorising culture as a tool to strengthen social cohesion, stimulate local innovation, encourage citizen participation, support the economy and improve the quality of life of communities.

The initiative aims to support and enhance the cultural vitality of small Italian municipalities, promoting social cohesion, civic participation and protection of the identity of the territories in order to enhance and promote cultural projects in municipalities with a population of less than 25.000 inhabitants.

Territory of intervention:

The Notice is open to the entire national territory, but with a clear demographic requirement: Only Italian municipalities under the can participate 25.000 inhabitants (ISTAT data al 01/01/2025). Projects capable of responding in a targeted way to the critical issues of territories characterized by a high level of territorial fragility will receive a higher score, socio-economic or cultural.

Direct recipients
Local communities resident citizens, the general public and vulnerable individuals who live or frequent the territories of the small municipalities involved.

Proposing Entities Requirements
Italian municipalities with resident populations below 25.000 inhabitants (based on ISTAT data referring to 01/01/2025).

The Municipality can present the application as:

• single proposer, the individual presents the project and carries it out independently;
• in associated form, as a network of municipalities, established or being established, identifying a common leader.
• The activities must have a duration of between 7 e 30 days (even non-consecutive).
• All projects must be completed strictly by 28 February 2027.

Additional requirements
The proposing municipality must present a proposal that involves the involvement of at least one project partner, constituted or constituting, that falls into one of the following types of non-profit entities:

• public administrations and public bodies established pursuant to current legislation;
• Third Sector entities referred to in the Legislative Decree. 117/2017 registered or in the process of registering for RUNTS. This second
  case, registration in the register must be completed by the date of acceptance of the contribution;
• associations or committees established pursuant to the Civil Code, equipped with a deed of incorporation registered with the Revenue Agency and a tax code.
• each partner and/or co-financier cannot participate in more than one project in the same action of the Notice, under penalty of exclusion.

Type of interventions:

• Reviews, festival, exhibitions, artistic residencies and installations;
• Dating, round tables, participatory seminars and workshops;
• Training courses and workshops (also online);
• Enhancement of heritage (storytelling territoriale, multimedia archives);
• Digital platforms, tourist apps, podcasts and innovative communication tools.

Eligible expenses
All expenses must be incurred after the publication of the ranking, be consistent with the project and adequately documented

• Professional and artistic performance
• Events and production
• Services functional to the project
• Communication and promotion
• Administrative expenses.
• Utilities and insurance
• Travel and accommodation: Max 20% of the financing.
• Durable goods and technological equipment: max 30% of the financing.
• Ordinary maintenance: max 20% of the financing.

Ineligible expenses

• Municipality employees
• Sanctions and disputes
• Flat rate expenses
• Non-traceable accounting documentation that explicitly reports the title of the project and the reference to the Notice.
• Expenses incurred by non-beneficiary third parties
• Advance expenses

Resources available:

• Budget total: 2.890.200,00 euro

The resources are divided into two distinct annual actions which refer to “specific periods of implementation of the activities:

• Summer Action: 1.445.100,00 euro.
• Winter Action: 1.445.100,00 euro.

Contribution/Financing:

• Maximum amount per individual project funtil 130.000,00 euro (VAT included) at a loss, which covers up to 80% of eligible costs.
• The remainder 20% must be guaranteed by the proponent or by partners/co-financiers. Attention: co-financing is permitted exclusively in cash (goods or services in kind are excluded).

Eligible interventions: