Cities Ahead | Funding program for cultural and creative cities

18.07.2024

The Cities Ahead program supports ambitious European cultural and creative cities on their way to greater international visibility and cultural appeal. In a two-day academy, renowned experts impart practical knowledge on topics relating to international cultural urban development. In addition, cities will receive further impetus from the cultural and creative industries through a worldwide open call.

European cities can now apply to take part in Cities Ahead in 2025:

Program overview

The program consists of two phases:

  1. Cities Ahead Academy
    • Expert impulses and workshops to train local administrations and cultural actors in the field of (international) cultural urban development.
    • The two-day Academy is organized in the participating city and consists of three freely selectable modules.
    • Target groups: Employees from cultural administration, economic development, urban planning, offices for international relations and tourism as well as employees of local cultural institutions.
  2. Cities Ahead Open Call
    • A worldwide open call to promote innovative and participatory creative projects in the participating cities.
    • Opportunity to involve artists and creatives as well as the local population in the urban development process.

Application deadline

Applications are now being accepted. The deadline for submission is September 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. CET.

Learn more