VAHA Round III: Open Call for Cultural Initiatives

The VAHA programme is now accepting applications for its third round, running from March 2025 to April 2026. Cultural initiatives and civil society actors from Turkey, other Council of Europe (CoE) member states, and Kosovo are invited to form hubs in collaboration with local partners to develop local and transnational cultural programming. This round will select eight hubs (four from Turkey and four from other CoE countries and Kosovo) to reclaim common spaces through art and culture, fostering solidarity in times of growing socio-political polarization and oppression. VAHA III builds on the successes of previous rounds to tackle pressing issues such as rising censorship, funding cuts, and systemic oppression. It offers a vital opportunity to counter these challenges by amplifying suppressed voices and fostering spaces for connection, dialogue, and artistic freedom. Open to cultural venues, art initiatives, and civil society organisations, VAHA III aims to empower actors to reimagine public spaces and strengthen solidarity networks across borders. Interested organisations must form hubs consisting of two or three partners, which can be local or transnational. Selected hubs will receive grants of EUR 12,000 for local activities, alongside opportunities for transnational exchanges, mobility grants, and participation in public events. VAHA is an initiative of Anadolu Kültür and zusa, funded by Stiftung Mercator and the European Cultural Foundation.