Life: Contributions to Support Syrian Cultural Entities – Third Edition | 2024

Ettijahat – Independent Culture is pleased to announce the launch of Life programme’s third edition in 2024. This programme targets entities and collectives active in the Syrian arts sector, who have played a central role in building relationships with art creators and audiences in Syria in particular.

Life programme was first launched in 2021, providing operational support to fourteen Syrian institutions and collectives who work in the digital field or in Turkey, Europe, and the Arab region. In 2023, the second edition was launched within the framework of Ahliyeh initiative to respond to the urgent needs of the people affected by the February 2023 earthquake. It empowered seven cultural institutions to collaborate with civil institutions and provide diverse services to affected communities, in addition to designing a training framework and following-up with entities benefiting from support.

In 2024, Life programme seeks to support the efforts of seven cultural entities and institutions in designing their artistic and cultural programmes. These entities are either active in Syria and/or design programmes that strengthen the links between the independent Syrian cultural scene and the Syrian diaspora and Arab world, in alignment with the Ettijahat strategic plan 2023-2025, which focuses on developing in-kind support in Syria and addressing the isolation of its independent artistic scene.
This edition is directed, mainly, towards entities located in Syria, with the possibility of looking into applications of institutions working in Lebanon and/or Turkey, and which have direct partners or programmes in Syria. Life programme offers financial grants up to 10,000 euros to cover administrative and operational costs and provides virtual and in-person training programmes that tackle cultural projects planning in difficult circumstances, as well as shadowing programmes.

Application Guidelines

All independent and non-profit entities and collectives working in the arts sector in Syria are eligible to apply to this edition. It is possible to look into applications submitted by institutions working in Lebanon and/or Turkey, which have partners in Syria, or which implement direct programmes in Syria;
The support provided is of an institutional nature, and includes wages, the working group, internal training, workplace costs, equipment, as well as technical and service work systems;
Entities interested in applying for the edition must be licensed or must have a legal framework in place; exceptions are made for entities unable to obtain a license, and in this case, the entity must clarify the reasons for that and alternatives adopted to safeguard governance and ensure a clear work structure;
An independent and specialised committee whose members come from a variety of cultural and civic fields will assess applications and make its decision in two individual and group stages. The names of committee members will remain confidential until the results are announced;
The committee adopts several criteria in its arbitration process, namely:

The cultural approach adopted by applicants in their work, regarding the roles played by the arts in various aspects of Syrian cultural life;
The relationship of entities/organisations with their surroundings and the context in which they operate, as well as their beneficiaries;
The clarity of the role the entities play in paving the way for a civic inclusion narrative that promotes the values of freedom, creativity, liberation, the right to arts, and the intersection between arts and public issues;
The level of organisation and governance adopted by the entities, including systems and mechanisms of action, as well as team roles;
The ability of these entities to benefit from the Life programme in promoting the continuity, effectiveness, and organisation of their work.

Entities that already received support from the Life programme are not eligible to apply to this edition of Life programme. Entities that had received support from other programmes by Ettijahat (such as Laboratory of Arts, Create Syria, Maharat, or Douroub) are eligible to apply for the third edition, provided that the grants ended in 2023.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Open call for applications: 5 February 2024
Q&A session: 21 February 2024
Deadline for applications: 31 March 2024 at midnight (23:59 in Beirut time)
Results Announcement: Throughout the second half of May 2024
Signing the agreements: June 2024
Training and shadowing programme: Throughout the second half of 2024.
For inquiries, feel free to send an email to life@ettijahat.org
Life programme is launched with the support of the Dutch Postcode Lottery – DOEN, Mimeta and the British Council.

To check the FAQ and to apply, please click here.