The first (Perma)culture open call has selected its projects. The next call remains open for another month.
Only one month left until the deadline for the second (Perma)cultural Open Call. Until July 10, 2026, cultural organizations, artists, associations, schools, and other initiatives can submit projects to potentially become part of the program for České Budějovice – European Capital of Culture 2028.
We launched the first open call last year with the aim of expanding the ECoC program with new projects. A total of 11 projects were selected for the program, developing themes of cooperation, care for a place, communities, cultural heritage, contemporary art, education, and international reach. The supported projects represent a wide spectrum of cultural formats – from exhibition and residency projects through community and participatory programs to festival, educational, and interdisciplinary activities. The selected projects include:
The selected projects include:
Czech Artists and the Second School of Paris / Alšova jihočeská galerie
An exhibition project mapping the connections between Czech artists and the post-war Second School of Paris.
art PLAY ground – A Granary Full of Games / Kulturní Plantáž Blatná
An interactive exhibition project of gaming and kinetic objects inside the Blatná granary.
lAiKa – Expanding the Cultural Offer Using Local Potential / Kreativní institut, z.ú.
A project connecting municipalities, people, and culture with the aim of strengthening a vibrant cultural countryside.
Just Wanting to Be Together / hROM CB z.s.
A project focused on the development and preservation of Roma culture in the South Bohemian Region through cooperation with local and international partners.
Operation of the GarDance 2028 Residency Center: Art in Gentle Motion & Slow Seepage / RADOST z.s.
A residency center in Jemnice as a space for artistic experimentation, interdisciplinary creation, and engagement with the local community.
Layers of the Garden / Krafferova zahrada z.s.
A project uncovering the historical and contemporary layers of the Kraffer Garden in Jindřichův Hradec through events, a publication, and digital tools.
Habitat Broadcast: Exploring Rural Frequencies / Leštnice z.s.
An international interdisciplinary project focused on the culture of rural areas, sustainability, and social cohesion.
South Bohemian Jazz Festival – Final Touch / Jihočeský Jazzový Festival s.r.o.
Developing the largest genre-specific music event in the South Bohemian Region towards a more prominent international reach.
Laboratory of Self / Sladovna Písek o.p.s.
A participatory project focused on the mental health of children and adolescents, leading to the creation of an experiential exhibition.
Layering / Spolkový dům Slavonice
A long-term artistic and community initiative working with public space, architecture, and new layers of the town of Slavonice.
4Seasons č. k. / Kulturní centrum Prádelna, z.s.
The project was selected as part of the call, but in the end, it will not be implemented.
The selected projects are now gradually entering the next phase of preparation, during which they are refining their proposals, adjusting budgets, fine-tuning schedules, and preparing for the rollout of their first outputs in 2027.
The second (Perma)culture open call is running right now
The second (Perma)culture Open Call is running right now, and applications can be submitted for one more month.
The deadline is set for July 10, 2026 (23:59 CET). This time, the call is open not only to organizations from the South Bohemian Region but also to partners from all over the Czech Republic and abroad. A total of 25 million CZK is available to be distributed between small and large-scale projects.
We are looking for projects that want to become part of the official program of the European Capital of Culture 2028 and bring new artistic, cultural, community, or interdisciplinary impulses to it. The main output of the project must take place in 2028. The project must include cooperation with an international partner, and in the case of applicants from outside the South Bohemian Region, a partner from South Bohemia is also required. We are not looking for just one specific type of project. We are interested in projects that work with culture as a tool for caring for people, places, and the future. Projects that can create meaningful partnerships, engage the public, work with long-term impact, and think about the legacy they will leave behind in the region.
If you have an idea that could become part of the ECoC 2028 program, now is the perfect time to submit it. The complete terms and conditions of the call, application forms, and further information can be found in the Open Call section on our website.
When preparing your application, we recommend paying special attention to several areas:
Be realistic about your team's capacity.
The project should be ambitious yet feasible, taking into account the staffing, production, and time constraints of your organization.
Work consciously with the theme of (Perma)culture.
This is not a mandatory ecological topic or an aesthetic style. The important thing is to show how the project works with care for the place, people, resources, cooperation, and long-term impact.
Think about partnerships.
High-quality local, national, and international cooperation is one of the key evaluation criteria.
Be specific with your budget.
The budget should match the scope of the project, the planned activities, and realistic costs. The evaluation committee also assesses the adequacy of the budget and the feasibility of the funding.
Describe clearly what legacy the project will leave behind.
This could mean new collaborations, methodologies, community empowerment, skill development, new cultural formats, or a long-term transformation in the way you work.
Think about your audience.
The project should bring a meaningful experience to the residents and visitors of the city and region, while being clearly integrated into the ECoC 2028 program.
