← The Grant Desk (interactive)

Cross-Disciplinary and Social Impact Grants in Africa

Currently 4 active cross-disciplinary and social impact grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in Africa. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.

Subscribe: RSS feed · Calendar (.ics)

Open calls

  1. Goethe-Institut: Africa-Europe Mobility Grants (15 September 2026 Cut-Off)

    Goethe-Institut (with Expertise France and Institut francais) · Mobility within Sub-Saharan Africa (primary focus) and between Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe · Deadline: 15 Sep 2026 · Award: Up to EUR 4,000 per mobility. Eligible costs: travel (including visa and insurance), accommodation, subsistence, digital costs, and top-up support for family, disability, and green mobility. No application fee.

    Sub-Saharan Component (Connect & Create) of the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme, an EUR 8 million 42-month initiative (2025-2028) implemented by the Goethe-Institut in partnership with Expertise France and Institut francais. PRIMARY FOCUS: transcontinental Africa-Africa short-term mobility for artists and culture professionals. European artists and organisations may also apply, provided they have an existing partnership with an African artist, institution or organisation. ACTIVITIES: artistic and professional development (research, co-creation/co-development, non-formal learning, building international professional relationships); cultural exchange and networking (residencies, exhibitions, conferences, workshops, training, collaborative international projects). Mobility may be physical, digital/virtual or hybrid. ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES: all Sub-Saharan Africa countries and all EU Member States. DISCIPLINES: visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, film, media arts, cultural heritage, design, architecture, fashion design. SCHEME TOTALS: up to 195 grants across the programme period; rolling intake with quarterly cut-offs. DEADLINE: this card is for the 15 September 2026 cut-off (other cut-offs each have their own card). APPLY via the Goethe-Institut Africa-Europe Partnerships page.

  2. Goethe-Institut: Africa-Europe Mobility Grants (15 December 2026 Cut-Off)

    Goethe-Institut (with Expertise France and Institut francais) · Mobility within Sub-Saharan Africa (primary focus) and between Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe · Deadline: 15 Dec 2026 · Award: Up to EUR 4,000 per mobility. Eligible costs: travel (including visa and insurance), accommodation, subsistence, digital costs, and top-up support for family, disability, and green mobility. No application fee.

    Sub-Saharan Component (Connect & Create) of the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme, an EUR 8 million 42-month initiative (2025-2028) implemented by the Goethe-Institut in partnership with Expertise France and Institut francais. PRIMARY FOCUS: transcontinental Africa-Africa short-term mobility for artists and culture professionals. European artists and organisations may also apply, provided they have an existing partnership with an African artist, institution or organisation. ACTIVITIES: artistic and professional development (research, co-creation/co-development, non-formal learning, building international professional relationships); cultural exchange and networking (residencies, exhibitions, conferences, workshops, training, collaborative international projects). Mobility may be physical, digital/virtual or hybrid. ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES: all Sub-Saharan Africa countries and all EU Member States. DISCIPLINES: visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, film, media arts, cultural heritage, design, architecture, fashion design. SCHEME TOTALS: up to 195 grants across the programme period; rolling intake with quarterly cut-offs. DEADLINE: this card is for the 15 December 2026 cut-off (other cut-offs each have their own card). APPLY via the Goethe-Institut Africa-Europe Partnerships page.

  3. Goethe-Institut: Africa-Europe Mobility Grants (15 March 2027 Cut-Off)

    Goethe-Institut (with Expertise France and Institut francais) · Mobility within Sub-Saharan Africa (primary focus) and between Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe · Deadline: 15 Mar 2027 · Award: Up to EUR 4,000 per mobility. Eligible costs: travel (including visa and insurance), accommodation, subsistence, digital costs, and top-up support for family, disability, and green mobility. No application fee.

    Sub-Saharan Component (Connect & Create) of the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme, an EUR 8 million 42-month initiative (2025-2028) implemented by the Goethe-Institut in partnership with Expertise France and Institut francais. PRIMARY FOCUS: transcontinental Africa-Africa short-term mobility for artists and culture professionals. European artists and organisations may also apply, provided they have an existing partnership with an African artist, institution or organisation. ACTIVITIES: artistic and professional development (research, co-creation/co-development, non-formal learning, building international professional relationships); cultural exchange and networking (residencies, exhibitions, conferences, workshops, training, collaborative international projects). Mobility may be physical, digital/virtual or hybrid. ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES: all Sub-Saharan Africa countries and all EU Member States. DISCIPLINES: visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, film, media arts, cultural heritage, design, architecture, fashion design. SCHEME TOTALS: up to 195 grants across the programme period; rolling intake with quarterly cut-offs. DEADLINE: this card is for the 15 March 2027 cut-off (other cut-offs each have their own card). APPLY via the Goethe-Institut Africa-Europe Partnerships page.

  4. Goethe-Institut: Africa-Europe Mobility Grants (15 June 2027 Cut-Off)

    Goethe-Institut (with Expertise France and Institut francais) · Mobility within Sub-Saharan Africa (primary focus) and between Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe · Deadline: 15 Jun 2027 · Award: Up to EUR 4,000 per mobility. Eligible costs: travel (including visa and insurance), accommodation, subsistence, digital costs, and top-up support for family, disability, and green mobility. No application fee.

    Sub-Saharan Component (Connect & Create) of the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme, an EUR 8 million 42-month initiative (2025-2028) implemented by the Goethe-Institut in partnership with Expertise France and Institut francais. PRIMARY FOCUS: transcontinental Africa-Africa short-term mobility for artists and culture professionals. European artists and organisations may also apply, provided they have an existing partnership with an African artist, institution or organisation. ACTIVITIES: artistic and professional development (research, co-creation/co-development, non-formal learning, building international professional relationships); cultural exchange and networking (residencies, exhibitions, conferences, workshops, training, collaborative international projects). Mobility may be physical, digital/virtual or hybrid. ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES: all Sub-Saharan Africa countries and all EU Member States. DISCIPLINES: visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, film, media arts, cultural heritage, design, architecture, fashion design. SCHEME TOTALS: up to 195 grants across the programme period; rolling intake with quarterly cut-offs. DEADLINE: this card is for the 15 June 2027 cut-off (final cut-off for this programme). APPLY via the Goethe-Institut Africa-Europe Partnerships page.