VAHA III: Reclaiming Common Spaces through Art and Culture in Solidarity
VAHA Round III - Open Call for Council of Europe Countries and Kosovo
Application deadline: February 2, 2025 - Sunday (until 23:59 CET)
We are excited to welcome applications for the third round of the VAHA programme that will take place from March 2025 to April 2026. For VAHA round III, we invite cultural initiatives and civil society actors from Turkey, other Council of Europe (CoE) countries, and Kosovo to apply as hubs in collaboration with local partners to develop and implement both local and transnational cultural programming activities.
For more information about the VAHA programme and application requirements, please refer to the call text below, as well as the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, available both in English and in Turkish.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, feel free to leave us a message here: [email protected].
To apply, please complete the online application form along with your hub partners and upload the Budget and Activity Plan document. We will notify the applicants of the results via email starting March 3, 2025.
In solidarity,
VAHA Team
Application deadline: February 2, 2025 - Sunday (until 23:59 CET)
We are excited to welcome applications for the third round of the VAHA programme that will take place from March 2025 to April 2026. For VAHA round III, we invite cultural initiatives and civil society actors from Turkey, other Council of Europe (CoE) countries, and Kosovo to apply as hubs in collaboration with local partners to develop and implement both local and transnational cultural programming activities.
For more information about the VAHA programme and application requirements, please refer to the call text below, as well as the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, available both in English and in Turkish.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, feel free to leave us a message here: [email protected].
To apply, please complete the online application form along with your hub partners and upload the Budget and Activity Plan document. We will notify the applicants of the results via email starting March 3, 2025.
In solidarity,
VAHA Team
Reclaiming Common Spaces
VAHA (meaning “oasis” in Turkish) is a programme designed for amplifying the voices of independent arts and culture spaces that advocate for public discussion and dialogue in cities across Turkey and the broader European region. Our goal is to bring together initiatives that foster public discussions through cultural and artistic activities, especially in contexts of oppression, to expand the spaces of encounter and critical thinking, and to support transnational solidarity. Since its inception in 2020, VAHA has navigated an ever-transforming geopolitical landscape marked by rising authoritarianism, socio-political upheaval, wars and regional conflicts, pandemic, disasters, shrinking financial resources, and significant challenges to democratic norms, political freedoms, and artistic expression. The upcoming round of VAHA, titled "Reclaiming Common Spaces through Art and Culture in Solidarity," presents itself as a resistance to the ongoing poly-crises that the previous round tackled as well as a proactive response to common challenges from the cultural actors in Turkey and across Europe.
Recently the rise of far-right political movements throughout Europe has become a pivotal factor shaping the cultural and political landscape in which VAHA operates. Cultural actors working under authoritarian regimes, where human rights and artistic freedoms have long been suppressed, contended with systemic oppression and have developed some strategies to manoeuvre the pressures on their work. However, recent elections and developments suggest that the threats facing independent cultural organisations are now expanding across Europe. This has led to reduced funding for art and culture, increased censorship, and heightened oppression of cultural organisations that challenge white supremacy, racism, sexism and cis-heteronormativity. At the same time, social divisions and political polarisation are deepening, diminishing the prospects for the coexistence of diverse communities and increasing incidents of violence within societies.
What can be done to prevent social fragmentation and conflict? How can we counter the rising fear and anxiety? There is a growing need to safeguard common spaces, and harness the creative force of the arts and culture to restore the cracks in the public dialogue, both within societies and across borders.
VAHA, as the “fertile ground in the desert”, aims to empower organisations that are doing this vital work—just as underground waters nourish and sustain communities in challenging environments.
VAHA (meaning “oasis” in Turkish) is a programme designed for amplifying the voices of independent arts and culture spaces that advocate for public discussion and dialogue in cities across Turkey and the broader European region. Our goal is to bring together initiatives that foster public discussions through cultural and artistic activities, especially in contexts of oppression, to expand the spaces of encounter and critical thinking, and to support transnational solidarity. Since its inception in 2020, VAHA has navigated an ever-transforming geopolitical landscape marked by rising authoritarianism, socio-political upheaval, wars and regional conflicts, pandemic, disasters, shrinking financial resources, and significant challenges to democratic norms, political freedoms, and artistic expression. The upcoming round of VAHA, titled "Reclaiming Common Spaces through Art and Culture in Solidarity," presents itself as a resistance to the ongoing poly-crises that the previous round tackled as well as a proactive response to common challenges from the cultural actors in Turkey and across Europe.
Recently the rise of far-right political movements throughout Europe has become a pivotal factor shaping the cultural and political landscape in which VAHA operates. Cultural actors working under authoritarian regimes, where human rights and artistic freedoms have long been suppressed, contended with systemic oppression and have developed some strategies to manoeuvre the pressures on their work. However, recent elections and developments suggest that the threats facing independent cultural organisations are now expanding across Europe. This has led to reduced funding for art and culture, increased censorship, and heightened oppression of cultural organisations that challenge white supremacy, racism, sexism and cis-heteronormativity. At the same time, social divisions and political polarisation are deepening, diminishing the prospects for the coexistence of diverse communities and increasing incidents of violence within societies.
What can be done to prevent social fragmentation and conflict? How can we counter the rising fear and anxiety? There is a growing need to safeguard common spaces, and harness the creative force of the arts and culture to restore the cracks in the public dialogue, both within societies and across borders.
VAHA, as the “fertile ground in the desert”, aims to empower organisations that are doing this vital work—just as underground waters nourish and sustain communities in challenging environments.
Through Art and Culture in Solidarity
The ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war on Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank, the critical turn of events in Syria, the aftermath of the European Parliament election and the presidential election in the United States as well as national elections across Europe and its neighbouring regions have major implications for the global geopolitical landscape. These crises underscore the interconnectedness of political, social, and cultural struggles, and the urgent need for a collective response from the cultural community across borders. However, exchanges between EU and non-EU actors are becoming increasingly difficult due to tightening border politics. Over recent years, EU visa policies have become stricter, while some member countries have begun to reinforce national frontiers by implementing expanded border controls within the Union. In this climate of rising tangible and intangible barriers, cultural actors are becoming more isolated in their struggles, leaving them vulnerable to internal pressures. In this context, the VAHA programme's mission to reclaim common spaces in solidarity across borders, and promote the basic freedoms concerning movement and expression becomes even more urgent. There is a necessity for alternative narratives that inspire critical and creative thinking, the circulation of diverse discourses and perspectives, and practices of togetherness focusing on collective and mutual care. The most important contribution of culture is to activate “radical imagination”—to bring forward the forgotten, the erased, and the unthinkable while ensuring that our relationships remain alive. Art and culture can offer ways to revitalise the commons, imagine alternatives to the status quo, and sustain hope for the transformation.
Against this backdrop, and building on the experiences and contributions of VAHA I and VAHA II, the third round of VAHA seeks to strengthen the solidarity network of cultural spaces and actors across Europe and Turkey, fostering a sense of shared purpose and resilience in the face of growing challenges. The programme will continue to provide strategic support and resources to cultural spaces and initiatives that are grappling with issues such as funding cuts, censorship, and unlawful political pressures. Through local and transnational collaborations, learning and mobility opportunities, and dynamic public programming, VAHA III will continue to support cultural actors and organisations in resisting oppression and discrimination, while fostering a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape that reflects the diverse voices and perspectives of the wider European region.
As Édouard Glissant once said, “Cultures can be shared when States have been in confrontation. The limits -the frontiers -of a State can be grasped, but a culture's cannot”. Therefore, with our faith in collectivity, solidarity and borderless cultures, we invite you to join the VAHA circle in these dire times to imagine together how we can push beyond the limits of current policies and their violent realities, and envision what we can build instead. While we may not be able to immediately change the course of the present, we cannot give up on working for our shared future, building the ground for change, slowly but firmly.
Once again, in Glissant’s words: “No imagination helps avert destitution in reality, none can oppose oppressions or sustain those who "withstand" in body or spirit. But imagination changes mentalities, however slowly it may go about this” (The Poetics of Relation).
The ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war on Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank, the critical turn of events in Syria, the aftermath of the European Parliament election and the presidential election in the United States as well as national elections across Europe and its neighbouring regions have major implications for the global geopolitical landscape. These crises underscore the interconnectedness of political, social, and cultural struggles, and the urgent need for a collective response from the cultural community across borders. However, exchanges between EU and non-EU actors are becoming increasingly difficult due to tightening border politics. Over recent years, EU visa policies have become stricter, while some member countries have begun to reinforce national frontiers by implementing expanded border controls within the Union. In this climate of rising tangible and intangible barriers, cultural actors are becoming more isolated in their struggles, leaving them vulnerable to internal pressures. In this context, the VAHA programme's mission to reclaim common spaces in solidarity across borders, and promote the basic freedoms concerning movement and expression becomes even more urgent. There is a necessity for alternative narratives that inspire critical and creative thinking, the circulation of diverse discourses and perspectives, and practices of togetherness focusing on collective and mutual care. The most important contribution of culture is to activate “radical imagination”—to bring forward the forgotten, the erased, and the unthinkable while ensuring that our relationships remain alive. Art and culture can offer ways to revitalise the commons, imagine alternatives to the status quo, and sustain hope for the transformation.
Against this backdrop, and building on the experiences and contributions of VAHA I and VAHA II, the third round of VAHA seeks to strengthen the solidarity network of cultural spaces and actors across Europe and Turkey, fostering a sense of shared purpose and resilience in the face of growing challenges. The programme will continue to provide strategic support and resources to cultural spaces and initiatives that are grappling with issues such as funding cuts, censorship, and unlawful political pressures. Through local and transnational collaborations, learning and mobility opportunities, and dynamic public programming, VAHA III will continue to support cultural actors and organisations in resisting oppression and discrimination, while fostering a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape that reflects the diverse voices and perspectives of the wider European region.
As Édouard Glissant once said, “Cultures can be shared when States have been in confrontation. The limits -the frontiers -of a State can be grasped, but a culture's cannot”. Therefore, with our faith in collectivity, solidarity and borderless cultures, we invite you to join the VAHA circle in these dire times to imagine together how we can push beyond the limits of current policies and their violent realities, and envision what we can build instead. While we may not be able to immediately change the course of the present, we cannot give up on working for our shared future, building the ground for change, slowly but firmly.
Once again, in Glissant’s words: “No imagination helps avert destitution in reality, none can oppose oppressions or sustain those who "withstand" in body or spirit. But imagination changes mentalities, however slowly it may go about this” (The Poetics of Relation).
Who can apply & how?
The first open call of VAHA III is now open for applications from the organisations operating in the 46 Council of Europe member states (CoE) and Kosovo that organise public cultural and artistic programmes. Through this call, up to 8 VAHA hubs (4 from Turkey and 4 from other CoE countries and Kosovo) will be selected to begin their local activities.
Two or three different organisations come together to form a “hub” in order to apply for the programme. Hub partners can consist of cultural venues, art initiatives, and civil society organisations with varying structures, profiles, and fields of interest, as long as at least one of the partners is an officially registered non-profit organisation.
You can form either a geographic hub, with partners from the same city and neighbouring cities, or a thematic hub, with partners from your country who share the same interests and areas of work.
Hub partners can include collectives, art spaces, cultural houses, literary houses, bookshops, municipal cultural venues, public libraries, civil society organisations, social enterprises, etc. (It is not required but encouraged to form hubs in collaboration with municipal or public cultural institutions.)
For application requirements and additional questions, you can refer to the FAQ section in English or in Turkish.
You can access the application form here.
In summer 2025, a second open call will be issued for cultural venues and art organisations again in Turkey, other CoE countries and Kosovo to be invited to the Transnational Networking Meeting, which will take place in September 2025 to encourage transnational exchanges. Following this meeting, new organisations and existing hubs can apply for the Transnational Exchange Grant for their joint activities. For more information on the transnational phase, please consult the FAQ section.
The first open call of VAHA III is now open for applications from the organisations operating in the 46 Council of Europe member states (CoE) and Kosovo that organise public cultural and artistic programmes. Through this call, up to 8 VAHA hubs (4 from Turkey and 4 from other CoE countries and Kosovo) will be selected to begin their local activities.
Two or three different organisations come together to form a “hub” in order to apply for the programme. Hub partners can consist of cultural venues, art initiatives, and civil society organisations with varying structures, profiles, and fields of interest, as long as at least one of the partners is an officially registered non-profit organisation.
You can form either a geographic hub, with partners from the same city and neighbouring cities, or a thematic hub, with partners from your country who share the same interests and areas of work.
Hub partners can include collectives, art spaces, cultural houses, literary houses, bookshops, municipal cultural venues, public libraries, civil society organisations, social enterprises, etc. (It is not required but encouraged to form hubs in collaboration with municipal or public cultural institutions.)
For application requirements and additional questions, you can refer to the FAQ section in English or in Turkish.
You can access the application form here.
In summer 2025, a second open call will be issued for cultural venues and art organisations again in Turkey, other CoE countries and Kosovo to be invited to the Transnational Networking Meeting, which will take place in September 2025 to encourage transnational exchanges. Following this meeting, new organisations and existing hubs can apply for the Transnational Exchange Grant for their joint activities. For more information on the transnational phase, please consult the FAQ section.
What awaits participants during VAHA III?
The 8 selected hubs will begin by launching their local cultural and artistic activities. Later in the programme, they will have the chance to establish transnational partnerships with selected networking organisations through the second open call. This will allow them to visit each other, participate in each other’s activities, and collaborate on joint cultural programming.
The following supports will be offered to the hubs within the scope of VAHA III:
Local Activity grant: A grant of EUR 12,000 per hub for organising local cultural activities and events.
Transnational networking meeting: Participation in the networking meeting will provide an opportunity to develop transnational exchanges. VAHA hubs will meet with the selected organisations from the VAHA transnational networks. In total 16 new organisations will be invited: 8 from Turkey, 8 from other CoE countries and Kosovo.
Learning and mobility grants: A grant of EUR 2,000 per organisation (up to 20 organisations) for training and networking trips that contribute to participants’ professional knowledge and experiences, for visiting other organisations in the VAHA network, or for short residency trips aimed at supporting individuals working in challenging conditions. Please note that there will be a selection process based on the evaluation of applications, and the coordination team may consider a first-come, first-served basis due to the limited availability of the funds.
Transnational exchange grant: A grant of EUR 8,000 per exchange for co-programming activities and events carried out in collaboration between hubs and their transnational partners.
Public Events: Two public events—one in Turkey and the other in Germany—will be organised by the VAHA coordination team in collaboration with the VAHA hubs. These events will focus on public dialogue and critical discussions through arts and cultural productions within VAHA, addressing social and political fragmentation.
In addition to being part of the VAHA Network, participants will gain access to other transnational networks such as iac Berlin - Bosch Alumni Network and Stiftung Mercator Alumni Network, which offer valuable opportunities even after the end of the VAHA programme.
VAHA is an initiative of Anadolu Kültür and zusa, funded by Stiftung Mercator and European Cultural Foundation.
The 8 selected hubs will begin by launching their local cultural and artistic activities. Later in the programme, they will have the chance to establish transnational partnerships with selected networking organisations through the second open call. This will allow them to visit each other, participate in each other’s activities, and collaborate on joint cultural programming.
The following supports will be offered to the hubs within the scope of VAHA III:
Local Activity grant: A grant of EUR 12,000 per hub for organising local cultural activities and events.
Transnational networking meeting: Participation in the networking meeting will provide an opportunity to develop transnational exchanges. VAHA hubs will meet with the selected organisations from the VAHA transnational networks. In total 16 new organisations will be invited: 8 from Turkey, 8 from other CoE countries and Kosovo.
Learning and mobility grants: A grant of EUR 2,000 per organisation (up to 20 organisations) for training and networking trips that contribute to participants’ professional knowledge and experiences, for visiting other organisations in the VAHA network, or for short residency trips aimed at supporting individuals working in challenging conditions. Please note that there will be a selection process based on the evaluation of applications, and the coordination team may consider a first-come, first-served basis due to the limited availability of the funds.
Transnational exchange grant: A grant of EUR 8,000 per exchange for co-programming activities and events carried out in collaboration between hubs and their transnational partners.
Public Events: Two public events—one in Turkey and the other in Germany—will be organised by the VAHA coordination team in collaboration with the VAHA hubs. These events will focus on public dialogue and critical discussions through arts and cultural productions within VAHA, addressing social and political fragmentation.
In addition to being part of the VAHA Network, participants will gain access to other transnational networks such as iac Berlin - Bosch Alumni Network and Stiftung Mercator Alumni Network, which offer valuable opportunities even after the end of the VAHA programme.
VAHA is an initiative of Anadolu Kültür and zusa, funded by Stiftung Mercator and European Cultural Foundation.