This call for proposals aims to encourage an alliance between the cultural sector on the one hand and the education or social action sectors on the other, through a joint project aimed at young people. The project brings together organizations belonging to at least two sectors, of which the cultural sector is compulsory.

It is specifically intended for structures that wish to devise a new model of cooperation in the field of cultural and artistic education.

Its objectives are:

• To awaken the minds and curiosity of children and young people between the ages of 0 and 25 by allowing them to discover artistic creations and to express themselves through the arts.
• To give participants new tools to enable their personal and creative development.
• To inspire children and young people to reflect on issues in our society through art.
• To develop new skills for project partners through mutual learning.
• To design and implement new forms of cooperation.

Target audience of the projects: children, teenagers, young adults, families.

Recipients of the call

The projects must be proposed and implemented by individuals and teams from Luxembourg non-profit organisations. Any organisation whose registered office and activities are based in Luxembourg may submit a project.

The following are eligible to submit a project:

• Cultural institutions and associations
• Artist collectives
• Educational and pedagogical structures in the formal and non-formal sector
• Active structures for citizenship, integration and social action
• Societal impact companies (SIS).

Projects must be submitted in pairs by at least one cultural organization, with a main project leader. The project may have additional partners outside the core pair. The form of collaboration must remain consistent, and the partners should be clearly identified at the time of submitting the application.

Selection criteria

The selection will be based on various criteria such as:

• A strong artistic and educational dimension,
• The participatory nature of the project,
• The composition of the pair,
• The target audience and the strategy to reach it,
• The technical and financial feasibility.

General and financial conditions

The amount of aid is determined according to the requirements and scope of the project and the estimated budget. It may not exceed EUR 10,000 per project.

The financial aid allocated to the selected projects should be considered as ad hoc support, allotted to specific projects of a specific duration. Under no circumstances may the financial support received from the Sommer Foundation be used to finance general or operating expenses. It must be directly related to pedagogic activities carried out within the framework of the selected project. Expenditure generated prior to the submission of the application and prior to the official agreement of support from the Foundation is not eligible for funding (principle of non-retroactivity). Fondation Sommer will verify the use of the amount received by requesting a financial statement, with accounting documents, at the end of the project.

Evaluation

Projects receiving financial assistance from Fondation Sommer must participate in an evaluation procedure in order to assess the impact of the project.

Submission of applications

In order to confirm that your project is admissible and in line with the visions of Fondation Sommer, we advise you to contact the Foundation’s office early enough before submitting your application.

To apply, the partnering organizations are asked to carefully read the rules of the call for projects (to be downloaded at the bottom of the page with the application form). The main project leader is requested to send an application to the following e-mail address: info@fondation-sommer.lu

The application must include the following documents:

• The official application form.
• A detailed description of the project in terms of objectives, general artistic concept, implementation and target group(s).
• A plan to reach the audience, detailing how you will contact the target audience and involve them in the project. It is important to specify: 1/ who you are targeting, 2/ how or by what means you plan to reach this target, 3/ what the steps and timelines are for forming the group, 4/ how you plan to keep the group engaged. Any additional information addressing this question is appreciated.
• A balanced budget detailing expenses and revenues confirmed or currently requested from other public or private funders.
• Proof of involvement of project partners in the form of a letter of intent.
• A recent annual activity report.
• A copy of the body’s articles of association.
• A recent extract from the Luxembourg Business Register (LBR).

Optional documents: presentation brochures, newsletters, press kits or articles, video links, etc.

Failure to provide the requested supporting documents shall be considered as a ground for inadmissibility. On the basis of the documents sent, it is up to Fondation Sommer to examine the administrative admissibility of the application before forwarding it to the Selection Committee.

The decision of the Selection Committee is final and cannot be appealed.

Deadlines for submission

The next deadlines for sending the applications are:

• October 8, 2024 (jury decision: October 22, 2024)
• February 18, 2025 (jury decision: March 20, 2025)
• May 20, 2025 (jury decision: June 19, 2025)
• September 30, 2025 (jury decision: October 30, 2025)

Contact and information

Veronika Meindl, Project Coordinator
info@fondation-sommer.lu
Telephone: (+352) 28 80 07 53

Regulation and application form