European Cultural Foundation

The European Cultural Foundation was set up in Geneva in 1954 by the Swiss philosopher Denis de Rougemont.[3] ECF’s first President was Robert Schuman,[3] one of the principal architects of the European Economic Community, which later evolved into the European Union.

From the start, ECF focused on implementing a European grants programme, based on the idea of putting culture at the intersection of education, social sciences and history.

In 1960, ECF moved to Amsterdam at the initiative of Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, who was ECF’s President from 1955-77.[3]

Since then ECF’s programme has evolved with the shifting dynamics of European politics. In the 1960s, ECF focused on the future of Europe through a youth forum on education and an initiative called Plan Europe 2000.[4] In the 1970s, the emphasis shifted towards student mobility – and from 1987 to 1995, ECF managed the Erasmus student exchange programme.[3]

As Europe continued to expand, ECF’s focus turned to the cultural dimension of European integration and enlargement – encompassing the wider European Neighbourhood and including capacity building work in the Mediterranean area and Eastern Europe.[3][5]

The foundation’s work continues to support cultural exchange and creative expression across wider Europe today, through advocacy work, media activism, partnerships, events and grant programmes. This includes STEP travel grants,[6] which encourage mobility; and the TANDEM Cultural Exchange[7] programme, which facilitates the exchange of cultural managers.[8]

Since 2013, ECF has been working in close collaboration between cultural organisations in Croatia, France, Poland, Moldova, Spain and Sweden as part of the Connected Action for the Commons network[9] this has led to a series of Idea Camps in France, Sweden and Spain – inspiring several special editions of Eurozine.[10][11]

Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands[12] is currently the President of ECF and Extraordinary Member of ECF’s Board.[13]

ECF is a registered charity and is funded by BankGiro Loterij[14] and Nederlandse Loterij[15] in partnership with Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds.[16][17]

The European Cultural Foundation has initiated multiple awards, to recognise the work of artists and academics.

From 2004 to 2013, ECF granted the Cultural Policy Research Award in collaboration with ENCATC (European Network on Cultural Management and Cultural Policy) and the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation. The award served to encourage talented researchers to address issues, relevant to Europe, in the academic field of cultural policy studies. The award consisted of a €10,000 cash prize to enable the winners to conduct a research project. Laureates include Nina Obuljen Koržinek (elected Minister of Culture in the Government of Croatia in 2016), Sophia Labadi, Claire Bullen, Davide Ponzini, Aleksandar Brkić, Christiaan De Beukelaer, and Višnja Kisic.[18]

In 2008, ECF launched the ECF Princess Margriet Award for Culture[19] to recognise cultural change-makers across Europe. The annual award is made in honour of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, who served as ECF President from 1984 to 2007.[20] Past laureates include the late cultural theorist Stuart Hall, museum director Charles Esche and film director John Akomfrah.

• Strangerfestival

• Official website